Private Sector Stepping Up to Support Employees

Bel isi PNG has 13 subscribing organisations who are providing supportive workplaces and services to employees and displaying visible leadership in order to influence attitudes towards Family and Sexual Violence (FSV).

Many CEOs and Human Resource leaders approach us and ask, what more can I do? In this article, we provide some examples of approaches other organisations are taking to communicate information about FSV. These approaches are seeing results with over 370 cases registered at the case management centre since opening last year.

We thought we would share with you some of their approaches which may give you some ideas for your own organisation.

BSP Leading the way

BSP is a founding partner and passionate advocate behind Bel isi PNG and providing support to their staff. Not only have they contributed the building which houses the Bel isi PNG safe house, they have also implemented a group wide FSV policy and established Voices of Hope. Voices of Hope is a support group within the business which allows survivors to reach out to each other to provide comfort and a safe space
to share their experiences through their healing journey.

“The interest and care shown through peer support has been overwhelming” says Alicia Sahib, Head of Support Services, who is the initiator of Voices of Hope as well as a key supporter behind Bel isi PNG.

“Without the leadership of BSP’s Group CEO, Robin Fleming, none of this would be possible. For sustainable change within an organisation on an issue that impacts our staff and their family’s well-being, support and
accountability of the Group FSV Policy from the highest level is critical” says Ms Sahib.

Recently, BSP hosted a Family Fun Day to promote happy families. This combined outdoor fun family activities together with information booths where families could seek information. Bel isi PNG was one of these booths and information on FSV and support services were available for staff and families.

Exxon Mobil Roadshow

Exxon Mobil conducted a service providers roadshow for its employees at its various sites from the 7th to 11th of October and was available for all staff and contractors to access. Bel isi PNG was one of many services providers who were invited to provide information. We shared information to all staff on FSV, the support services available to them and how they can access this.

Exxon Mobil staff were grateful for the expo as it gave them the opportunity to easily access different service providers such as Bel isi PNG, Nambawan Super, Internal Revenue Commission, banks and superannuation
funds to raise their queries. In a busy site-based environment, staff do not have much time to access different service providers and greatly appreciated their management’s leadership in organising the events.

Digicel

Digicel management wanted to ensure all staff had access to information about Family and Sexual Violence and the support services available for employees. They achieved this by making the Bel isi PNG one-hour awareness sessions were compulsory for all staff forming part of the mandatory annual training program. This means important information is made available to all staff including what is family sexual violence, the forms it can take, where to access help, what case management is as well as the essential medical services
that should be sought following sexual assault.

In order to ensure management was supportive, they also approached Bel isi PNG and asked for supervisor specific awareness sessions. This will ensure managers know how to talk to someone who is or has experienced family and sexual violence as well as what support they can confidently provide their staff.

These are just some examples of what companies are doing to visibly lead in changing attitudes to family and sexual violence through their workforce, as well as providing a supportive environment for survivors to
access services. If you would like to subscribe to services for your workforce, please contact us at info@belisipng.org.pg.

The Bel isi PNG initiative is an innovative public private civil society partnership. It is supported by the Australian Government in partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea as part of the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development Program, National Capital District Commission, Bank of South Pacific, Steamships Trading Co and Oil Search.