Fortescue
Metals Group (Fortescue) has successfully completed the White Ribbon Australia Workplace
Accreditation Program, which recognises the Company’s ongoing commitment to
addressing family and domestic violence.
Facilitated
by community service organisation Communicare, the program requires businesses
to meet 15 criteria under three standards to demonstrate a safer and more
respectful workplace which is taking active steps to stop violence against
women. The internationally recognised program has reached more than 600,000
Australian employees to date.
Fortescue
Chief Operating Officer and White Ribbon Community Partner Greg Lilleyman said,
“It is an honour to be recognised as a White Ribbon Australia accredited workplace
and to play our part in responding to and ending violence against women.
“As
a leader in the mining industry, we have a responsibility to speak out against family
and domestic violence. Driven by our culture and values, we are committed to
creating a workplace where every team member is safe and to positively
contributing to social change in our community.
“The
accreditation process helps ensure our team members are strong advocates,
equipping them with the knowledge and skills to address family and domestic
violence and provide support to those experiencing it,” Mr Lilleyman said.
In
a further demonstration of Fortescue’s commitment, Mr Lilleyman will today
participate in a Family and Domestic Violence Collaboration Virtual Panel Event,
facilitated by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy, to mark Human Rights Day and
the end of the 16 Days in WA – Stop Violence Against Women campaign.
White
Ribbon Australia Executive Director Brad Chilcott said, “Violence against women
impacts on the health and safety of employees, their wellbeing and their
productivity. It also has a negative impact on workplace culture, organisation
reputation and bottom-line profit and loss.
“We
urge all Australian workplaces to take the lead from Fortescue and demonstrate
a culture of zero tolerance of violence against women,” Mr Chilcott said.
White
Ribbon Australia is a part of a global social movement working to eliminate
gendered violence, striving for an Australian society where all women and
children are safe, including in the workplace.
