Real Stories
The purpose of this page is to provide readers with de-identified accounts of real-life experiences of Commonwealth employees who have been targets of workplace bullying, harassment, victimisation and discrimination, and other unethical and incompetent conduct.
This page also provides readers with experiences of stakeholders who have used Commonwealth external investigation/review agencies. The need for such agencies to serve their legislative purposes and to deliver high quality service to stakeholders is of the utmost importance. Stakeholders, who are suffering detriment, rely on these agencies to provide the necessary system checks and balances. Once these agencies fail in their roles (or worse, add to stakeholders' problems), then the justification for the existence of these agencies' functions comes into serious question.
Exposure is one of the best ways to ensure governmental transparency and accountability, improve workplace practices, and give some comfort to sufferers that they are not alone in their experiences. When reading these stories, please be aware that summaries of targets/stakeholders' experiences can never truly capture the complexity and trauma that has been suffered.
This page also provides readers with experiences of stakeholders who have used Commonwealth external investigation/review agencies. The need for such agencies to serve their legislative purposes and to deliver high quality service to stakeholders is of the utmost importance. Stakeholders, who are suffering detriment, rely on these agencies to provide the necessary system checks and balances. Once these agencies fail in their roles (or worse, add to stakeholders' problems), then the justification for the existence of these agencies' functions comes into serious question.
Exposure is one of the best ways to ensure governmental transparency and accountability, improve workplace practices, and give some comfort to sufferers that they are not alone in their experiences. When reading these stories, please be aware that summaries of targets/stakeholders' experiences can never truly capture the complexity and trauma that has been suffered.
1. APS Agencies
Terry's Story - Victimised and Sacked for Blowing the Whistle on Workplace Safety
| terrys_story.pdf |
Maree's Story - A Neurotic APS Director on a Power Trip
| marees_story.pdf |
Jacob's Story - 'Voluntary' Redundancy: An APS Oxymoron
| jacobs_story.pdf |
2. Commonwealth External Investigation/Review Agencies
Melinda's Story - Frustrating Incompetence by a Senior Officer of the Australian Public Service Commission
| melindas_story.pdf |
Sarah, Vicki and Amanda's Stories - Fair Work Ombudsman Wrongly Turned Us Away
| sarah_vicki_and_amandas_stories.pdf |
Lauren's Story - Victimisation-Enablers: The Fair Work Ombudsman, Comcare and the Australian Public Service Commission
| laurens_story.pdf |
Julie, Nadia, Tracey and Kathleen's Stories - Australian Human Rights Commission Left a Sour Taste
| julie_nadia_tracey_and_kathleens_stories.pdf |
Chloe's Story - The Australian Public Service Commission Condones Compulsory Psychiatric Referrals and Other Unfair Conduct
| chloes_story.pdf |