In an Australian first, the NSW Government has mandated all hospitality staff and liquor licence holders receive specialised sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention training as part of their Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certification.
The new course material was developed by Liquor & Gaming NSW and the international campaign body, Good Night Out.
Minister for the Night-Time Economy, John Graham, said the update provides “real-world tools and guidance to step in, defuse trouble, and assist patrons when it counts”.
“We want NSW to be the global gold standard for live music, nightlife and entertainment. That only happens if our venues are safe, welcoming and respectful for everyone who walks through the door,” Graham said.
The update builds on last year’s RSA training update, which included new guidance on drink spiking, giving clear explanations of the law, including the differences between sexual harassment, sexual assault and drink spiking.
The training reinforces that alcohol is not the cause of sexual violence and is often used to excuse perpetrators and shift blame onto victims. It explains how alcohol can affect a person’s ability to consent, and the role coercion can play.
Staff will also be trained in how to respond when patrons disclose sexual harassment, sexual violence or suspected drink spiking, and how to connect them with appropriate support services.
Licensee training has also been updated to reflect employers’ obligations under the federal government’s Respect@Work legislation, which requires businesses to take proactive steps to prevent workplace sexual harassment, including providing relevant education and training for all employees.
The licensee training now references workplace safety requirements for prevention of sexual harassment as well as guidance on patron safety requirements.
“One of the key priorities in the NSW Government’s 24-Hour Economy Strategy is safety for night-time workers and these changes are all about ensuring workers can look after their colleagues and customers,” Graham said.
Further allegations aired
This week, Nine Media (Channel 9, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age) revisited allegations of sexual misconduct and assault, on-shift alcohol and drug use, bullying and intimidation, and lack of leadership in the hospitality sector, specifically at venues owned by Swillhouse and Merivale as well as Icebergs.
It followed its initial reports in August last year about Swillhouse venues, which spurred the formation of the Sorry Not Sorry collective by ex-employees. Jenna Hemsworth, Rachelle ‘Rocky’ Hair, Alex Hooker, Britt Rowe, and Reuben Kahl bonded over their traumatic experiences, but even more so over their determination to drive change in the industry. Their goal is to build a platform that gives women in hospitality a stronger voice and to create a safer, more equitable workplace for all.
The result has seen a successful national bar takeover tour with the team are now overseas, taking their mission international.
We spoke to group while they were in transit to London. Look out for the July edition of Australian Bartender for the full story.