Workplace Respect Lived Experience Advisory Panel
Circle Green’s Workplace Respect Project is informed by experts.
What is the Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP)?
The LEAP is a consumer panel of advisors who have lived experience of workplace sexual harassment.
At Circle Green, we believe that the voices and views of people who have personal experiences of workplace sexual harassment are vital in shaping our work. The LEAP provides expert advice to Circle Green in regards to the design and delivery of our services.
Who are the LEAP members?
Current LEAP members include:
Emily
Emily is an engineer in the resources industry, with 10 years experience. She has worked on a wide range of significant resources projects, managing complex stakeholder relationships and technical challenges both onsite and in corporate offices. At significant personal cost, she has excelled in these challenges despite being subjected to sexual harassment. In one instance although the perpetrator admitted to the sexual harassment through a formal investigation, the company she was working for did not fire the employee. Emily was later told by the VP of HR that if they were in charge at that time the person would have been fired; but ultimately, retrospective action was not taken and her sense of value to the company remained irreparably damaged. As a result, she suffered PTSD as the inaction delegitimised her trauma and suffering. The experience did however empower her to speak up.
When she experienced sexism and bullying at her new company, she spoke up and the perpetrator was fired. These experiences occurred in an office environment dispelling the myth that sexual harassment only prevails on site. Emily is passionate about channeling her experiences into advocating for a better space for the next female, which is why she is excited about the opportunity to contribute to Circle Green.
Rachel
Mental health lived experience educator, academic, consultant, speaker, advocate, and research associate. Rachel has experience at state, national & international levels in the various hats she wears. She is a multiple scholarship recipient who is passionate about breaking down the stigma and discrimination faced by her peers, utilising her diverse skills to empower and educate. She holds the esteemed Curtin University Valuing Lived Experience (VLEP) Educator Certificate and thrives in the Mental Health, Sexuality and Disability education and training space. Rachel’s vocation comes from her own lived experience of overcoming the negative impacts of mental distress and its associated treatments. She draws deeply on this wisdom along with her background in education, business ownership and leadership. A major strength of Rachels’ is her inter-personal relations, particularly showing empathy for others. After attaining various accreditations in Mental Health, she will be soon utilising this inherent compassion for others in a professional setting as a Peer Supervisor. Rachel appreciates humour, loves a good giggle and is enthusiastic about being an agent for change for consumer rights and social justice
Alex
Alex is currently in her final year of her double degree in Psychology, Human Resources Management and Industrial Relations, an area she became interested in after experiencing sexual harassment at her first ever job. The experience highlighted extensive systemic barriers to accessing help and attaining justice for workplace sexual harassment, especially in the age of social media where workplaces are no longer confined to a physical space. For Alex, this was further complicated by the lack of education and resources available on sexual harassment for young workers to be able to identify it when it occurs. As a result of this experience, Alex wants to fix the system that failed her to ensure other workers can access support in similar situations. She aims to do so by studying to work in Human Resources and engaging in projects like LEAP that advocate for change. Alex also wants to increase others’ understanding of the nuances of trauma and how this can impact survivors of workplace sexual harassment.
Letti
Letti is a non-binary, late-diagnosed neurodivergent person who was sexually harassed while working in the manufacturing and mining industry as a welder/fabricator. Working in a male-dominated industry in remote locations, she was targeted by harmful gendered bullying and harassment due to being perceived as female, yet not fitting the stereotypical female characteristics projected onto her by colleagues. The impact of this was significant.
They are passionate about more accountability, equity, and fairness. Being a parent has given Letti even more experience and understanding of not only gendered, but also ableist lenses we apply as a society and the ways we marginalise women and non-binary people, as well as the importance of respect, regardless of gender. They would like to see a system in which people who are targeted by sexual harassment are kept from being re-traumatised as part of help-seeking and reporting processes.
How can I join the LEAP?
We welcome applications for the LEAP on a rolling basis, prioritising applications from people representing communities who experience particularly high rates of workplace sexual harassment including women, LGBTQI+ people, people with a disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Frequently asked questions
What does the LEAP actually do?
The voices of our Lived Experience Advisors are vital in informing the Workplace Respect Project.
Convening about 4 times yearly, LEAP members draw on their lived experience to provide valuable feedback and insight into the design and development of project elements such as education resources and training and legal assistance models.
Are LEAP members volunteers?
)LEAP members are contracted to provide support to Circle Green in a consultancy role, in recognition of the value of including and amplifying the voices of people with lived experience in our work.
Each member is offered $70 per hour for each LEAP meeting (not including preparation time). In addition, members are also offered access to personal and professional development opportunities as they arise, such as access to training and events.
What “level” of sexual harassment do I need to have experienced to be considered?
We recognise that sexual harassment occurs as part of a continuum of sexual harm and violence, in a variety of different contexts.
Anyone can experience sexual harassment. Attributes such as gender, age, sexuality, race and disability can also increase likelihood of occurrence, and increase the likelihood of physical or psychological harm. In recognition of this, we welcome membership enquiries from a diverse range of applicants with diverse experiences of workplace sexual harassment and discrimination.
I had to sign a non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreement as part of my settlement. Does this mean I can’t join the LEAP?
If you’ve signed a settlement agreement with your employer in relation to your matter, it’s possible it might contain a clause that prevents you from talking about your matter, including things like the circumstances of your matter, the settlement amount, etc.
You should review anything you signed and consider if being a LEAP member may create a risk of breaching your agreement. If you are unsure whether or not you may be breaching a settlement agreement or other written document, we recommend that you seek legal advice before participating.
How can I keep up to date with the LEAP's work?
We post recap blogs summarising the key findings from each of our LEAP meetings. You can find our latest blogs on LEAP meeting themes below. You can view all LEAP meeting blogs and and other Workplace Respect Project updates here.
