Scentre Group receives White Ribbon Australia Workplace Accreditation

Scentre Group is proud to announce it has successfully completed the White Ribbon Australia Workplace Accreditation Program.

The program, facilitated by community service organisation Communicare, involves a whole of organisation commitment to address issues of gendered violence and sexual harassment against women.

 
“It's an honour to be a White Ribbon Australia Workplace and to play our part in responding to and ending violence against women,” said Scentre Group CEO Peter Allen, who is also a member of the Champions of Change Coalition.

“We sought accreditation because we wanted to make a public statement about our commitment to creating a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace, which is fundamental to the way we operate as a responsible, sustainable business.

 “We all have a responsibility to stand up and speak out against behaviours that contribute to gendered violence, support women affected by it, and hold perpetrators accountable.

“I would like to publicly thank our employee-led working group for Domestic and Family Violence who have been instrumental in achieving this accreditation status.”

To achieve accreditation, organisations must meet 15 criteria under three standards to create a safer and more respectful workplace which is taking active steps to stop violence against women. The program is internationally recognised and to date has reached more than 600,000 employees nationally.

Scentre Group offers 10 days additional paid leave for victims of domestic and family violence, as well as a range of support measures. These include access to legal assistance and financial advice, access to funds for emergency or temporary housing and medical support. Online training and education supports Scentre Group's people to increase their awareness of domestic and family violence including the signs to look out for and how to find support for themselves or potential victims, removing the stigma of speaking up.

White Ribbon Australia Executive Director Brad Chilcott congratulated Scentre Group for joining the more than 240 Australian workplaces to have achieved accreditation.

“Violence against women impacts on the health and safety of employees, their wellbeing and their productivity,” Mr Chilcott said. “It also has a negative impact on workplace culture, organisational reputation and bottom-line profit and loss.

“We urge all Australian workplaces to take the lead of Scentre Group and demonstrate a culture of zero tolerance of violence against women,” he 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 our workplaces.