About APSbullying.com
This website was the brainchild of JA James - a law and public policy graduate. JA James started to become aware of the frequency that workplace bullying, harassment, victimisation and discrimination occurred in the APS whilst working for the Commonwealth, but only became acutely knowledgeable of its extent and effects during her postgraduate studies.
To complement her postgraduate studies and inspired by increasing open government initiatives, JA James decided to create a website in September 2011 addressing the issue of workplace mistreatment in a particular APS agency and then decided to expand the website to cover the whole of the APS in November 2011.
JA James broke new ground in terms of publicly articulating the surreptitious tactics that are used by APS agencies against targets who speak up about workplace mistreatment, most notably the abuse of compulsory psychiatric referral powers.
In August 2012, APSbullying.com was passed on to APS Dignity - a network of independent professionals with backgrounds in social work, medicine, law, public policy, human resources and education. In April 2013, Steve Davies, Founder of OZloop.org, subsumed APS Dignity's body of work. You can contact Steve Davies at [email protected].
If you would like to raise awareness about this website, you can circulate the print-out poster contained in the PDF document below and you can refer to this website's affiliated Facebook.
To complement her postgraduate studies and inspired by increasing open government initiatives, JA James decided to create a website in September 2011 addressing the issue of workplace mistreatment in a particular APS agency and then decided to expand the website to cover the whole of the APS in November 2011.
JA James broke new ground in terms of publicly articulating the surreptitious tactics that are used by APS agencies against targets who speak up about workplace mistreatment, most notably the abuse of compulsory psychiatric referral powers.
In August 2012, APSbullying.com was passed on to APS Dignity - a network of independent professionals with backgrounds in social work, medicine, law, public policy, human resources and education. In April 2013, Steve Davies, Founder of OZloop.org, subsumed APS Dignity's body of work. You can contact Steve Davies at [email protected].
If you would like to raise awareness about this website, you can circulate the print-out poster contained in the PDF document below and you can refer to this website's affiliated Facebook.
| poster_-_dignity_in_ps.pdf |
Some Feedback From Readers...
"I've had a comprehensive look at your website over the past few days and in particular find The Reality page fantastic! Anyone with experience of APS culture will be mentally ticking off the strategies employed against them as they read though the page. Your hard work through your website has provided much valuable insight into the best strategies to employ to effect a good result.
Some lessons we have learnt the hard way include:
What I saw in your website was an opportunity to connect people with similar experiences and to provide the potential for common approaches in dealing with such issues across the APS and other statutory bodies. I guess the best thing anyone can do in these situations is to share experiences and stories."
Some lessons we have learnt the hard way include:
- A single voice can be ignored and generally is, whereas a collective voice must be answered.
- The best way to be heard is through either legal action, financial imposition, public exposure or any combination of the above.
- Government investigators don't like investigating other government agencies and generally will not do so unless given no other alternative.
What I saw in your website was an opportunity to connect people with similar experiences and to provide the potential for common approaches in dealing with such issues across the APS and other statutory bodies. I guess the best thing anyone can do in these situations is to share experiences and stories."
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"I'm very happy to have found your website. The possibility that your site is capable of marshalling a critical mass of 'complainants' from the APS I think is something worth supporting.
I see the problem of workplace bullying in the APS as structural and cultural, and until strategies employed by the APS as a whole to address these problems takes account of the fundamental causes which allow bullies (and the corrupt) to operate as they do in the APS, nothing will be achieved. A 'code of conduct', such as the formulation used by the APS, isn't worth the paper it's written on as it currently stands. Similarly, the protocols for addressing harassment in APS workplaces do little more than individualise the problem and diminish the possibility of achieving effective outcomes.
To the extent that your website expresses support for those experiencing workplace bullying whilst attempting to work in the service of the public, I am very grateful that you have created it. So thank you."
I see the problem of workplace bullying in the APS as structural and cultural, and until strategies employed by the APS as a whole to address these problems takes account of the fundamental causes which allow bullies (and the corrupt) to operate as they do in the APS, nothing will be achieved. A 'code of conduct', such as the formulation used by the APS, isn't worth the paper it's written on as it currently stands. Similarly, the protocols for addressing harassment in APS workplaces do little more than individualise the problem and diminish the possibility of achieving effective outcomes.
To the extent that your website expresses support for those experiencing workplace bullying whilst attempting to work in the service of the public, I am very grateful that you have created it. So thank you."
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"I just wanted to congratulate you on putting in the public domain such a useful website. It is invaluable to have access to information about how cleverly public sector agencies play the game without tackling the real problems. Many people who get caught up in bullying in the workplace have the naive view that the organisation is committed to its legislation and policy, just waiting to respond to a complaint. It is only when it actually happens to someone that they realise this is often not the case."
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"Congratulations on the quality of your website - I love it. I share with you a passion and commitment to address and eliminate bullying. Your analysis is comprehensive, awesomely thorough and readable. Keep up the great work."
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"Your website is a gift! I was moved by your meticulous understanding of the processes and how they can be abused by senior management in the APS to demoralise and drive out competent staff perceived as a threat. In fact, I was moved to tears as someone has finally dared to speak out about the big white elephant in our alleged democratic public service. Well Done!"
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"Thank you so much for your website with its information and support network for targets of workplace bullying in the APS. The website captures everything: what they do, why they do it, how they do it, what it is doing to us - the bad, the bad and the ugly. There is nothing good in being a target of workplace bullying.
What you state on your website resonates with my own experience, that is, mobbing by management and the process of 'containment' through denial, discrediting, falsifying and burying information, and obstruction tactics - all causing further psychological harm.
With this comprehensive website, I will be able to navigate better through this ugly situation. It confirms my experience, what I have observed, and the conclusions I have arrived at, that is, an embedded endemic culture where like protect like up the perpetrator ladder - the metastatic cancer of the APS. I will no longer be silent and I stand with the collective against the human rights abuses perpetrated in the APS.
Thank you for the healing, the tips, the guidance, and how to protect myself mentally, physically and vocationally. I am grateful for your courage."
What you state on your website resonates with my own experience, that is, mobbing by management and the process of 'containment' through denial, discrediting, falsifying and burying information, and obstruction tactics - all causing further psychological harm.
With this comprehensive website, I will be able to navigate better through this ugly situation. It confirms my experience, what I have observed, and the conclusions I have arrived at, that is, an embedded endemic culture where like protect like up the perpetrator ladder - the metastatic cancer of the APS. I will no longer be silent and I stand with the collective against the human rights abuses perpetrated in the APS.
Thank you for the healing, the tips, the guidance, and how to protect myself mentally, physically and vocationally. I am grateful for your courage."
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"Great website... one that may help in encouraging people to work as a collective voice rather than face the establishment as a fairly powerless individual. Much of the current recourse infrastructure for complainants is weighted heavily in favour of the APS. The terms 'vexatious' and 'disgruntled employee' are favourite reproaches used in the APS against internal and external complainants (including members of the public who feel they are not being heard), as though the state of being vexed or disgruntled immediately discounts the credibility of the information being forwarded."
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"Fabulous website. The information in this website about negative grievance procedures unfortunately closely reflects what I, as a completely trusting and naive target, went through."
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"I was subjected to a psychiatric assessment when I questioned unethical and unsafe work practices. Your website and support has been a lifeline for me. This has been a traumatic experience, but your website has opened up new learning for me into workplace culture and behaviours. I am keen to expose this practice because it is workplace bullying. In some organisations, this is just the way they do their business. It's important to expose this culture."