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Home , Intimidation

: fact sheet

(Australia) 1800 892 491 or (New Zealand) 0800 787 470

WHAT IS VICITIMISATION? People can make DBSH complaints to RACS The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons if they have been affected by , (RACS) is committed to building a culture of and sexual in the training respect in surgery and improving patient Victimisation occurs when a person is subjected and practice of surgery. safety through identifying and addressing to or threatened with any form of detriment or RACS will seek to resolve such complaints in unacceptable behaviours. Unacceptable for raising a complaint, providing accordance with its complaints management behaviour adversely affects our co-workers information about a complaint or otherwise processes. as well as our patients, and it is up to all of being involved in the resolution of a complaint. Victimisation can also occur when a person is To ensure the efficacy of this framework, RACS us to take appropriate action to address it. planning to make a complaint or be involved in will not tolerate victimisation of complainants, Legislation in Australia at Federal, State and complaint resolution. Victimisation can include their witnesses or support persons, nor Territory levels, and in New Zealand, defines reprisal, bullying or intimidation. respondents, witnesses or support persons. specific types of unacceptable behaviours. Under the RACS Code of Conduct, victimisation Knowing the relevant legislation is the means subjecting or threatening to subject responsibility of every professional in the Statement regarding victimisation in the a person to some form of detriment or workplace. raising of a complaint as a breach of the RACS punishment because they have lodged, or Code of Conduct. intend to lodge, a DBSH complaint, or because Unacceptable behaviour covers a broad Every patient has a right to expect that they have supported a complainant, or co- range of behaviours. Colloquially, terms their healthcare is uncompromised by operated with an investigation of a DBSH such as bullying and harassment are often discrimination, bullying and complaint, or plan to do so. used interchangeably but sometimes (DBSH) in the practice of surgery. Victimisation is prohibited by New Zealand incorrectly to describe rude or disrespectful Every surgical Fellow, Trainee, International and Australian Federal, Territory and State behaviour. Legislation, however, defines Medical Graduate, and every healthcare worker discrimination laws, and it is a breach of the and differentiates bullying, discrimination – including every surgeon – has a right to a RACS Code of Conduct. and sexual harassment as specific types of workplace free of discrimination, bullying and Victimisation can be the subject of a complaint unacceptable behaviours. sexual harassment. to RACS and it can attract serious penalties. These principles and rights are enshrined in the RACS Code of Conduct.