At the University of South Australia (UniSA) our mental health researchers are tackling the critical frontline issues and delivering enterprising solutions.
From prevention, through to complex and acute responses designed for people in crisis – right up to the point of care, our work spans the whole spectrum.
One of these researchers is Professor Michelle Tuckey whose inspiring work is already having meaningful impact.
Workplace bullying is a serious health and safety hazard in Australian workplaces, with one in 10 Australian workers experiencing ongoing bullying at work.
It can be tempting to see bullying as a behavioural problem caused by a small number of staff members; however, the balance of scientific evidence suggests instead that bullying is an organisational problem that reflects poor conditions in the organisation.
To uncover which unhealthy conditions enable bullying at work, UniSA researchers looked at 342 real-life bullying complaints.
Their analysis identified 10 root cause risk factors for bullying that all stem from how well people and tasks are coordinated. In a fiveyear program of research, a risk assessment tool and intervention process to tackle these root causes were developed, tested, and refined.
Through this collaboration with a range of industry partners, UniSA researchers – led by Professor Michelle Tuckey, Professor of Work & Organisational Psychology at the Centre for Workplace Excellence – have created a risk assessment tool and intervention process that recognises and resolves bullying as a work health and safety issue arising from the work culture and environment.
The effectiveness of the approach has been demonstrated in industries such as health, custodial corrections, youth justice, retail, community services, and transport.
Using the intervention process and assessment tool, Professor Michelle Tuckey and her team work together Professor Michelle Tuckey with partner organisations – from the frontline to the boardroom – to identify where and how to change work systems and practices in order to bully-proof the organisation.
This evidence-based approach is unique in the world in effectively identifying and addressing the root causes of bullying, enabling organisations to build mentally healthy work environments and workplace cultures. Early results suggest marked improvements can be quickly delivered in workplace conditions, measurable in metrics such as absenteeism.
The team is now setting its sights on robust and scalable delivery systems to address the scope of this workplace challenge, creating bully resistant organisations nationwide.
The UniSA Mental Health Research Fund has been established to source more support for our key researchers to address current mental health challenges. To learn more about UniSA’s Enterprising Minds for Mental Health and our research click here.
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At UniSA, our researchers are dedicated to helping people who strive to live a better life. Join us in making mental health a priority by donating to the UniSA Mental Health Research Fund today.
Contact the Advancement team on +61 8 8302 7375 or email us
UniSA respectfully acknowledges the Kaurna, Boandik and Barngarla First Nations Peoples and their Elders past and present, who are the First Nations’ Traditional Owners of the lands that are now home to our campuses in Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Whyalla.
ARTWORK: Ngupulya Pumani
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