Review into the treatment of women at the Australian Defence Force ...

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Chapter 10: Minimising Risk, Managing Incidents and Ensuring the Safety of the Workplace – Recommendations 22-3110.3 DataKey findings of Review• ADFA’s data systems were complex and confusing, and the information that they wereproviding was patchy and difficult to access.• ADFA’s record keeping regarding complaint management processes required improvementand regular review to ensure appropriate responses to incidents.• The Unacceptable Behaviour Survey administered in 2011 was methodologically flawed, andhad not been administered annually in the recent past.• There was no set process for instigating a strategic organisational response to findings ofUnacceptable Behaviour surveys.In order to better understand, track and respond to complaints and incidents, the Review madefive recommendations that called for better surveying processes at ADFA and a rollout of these atcomparable Defence and tertiary establishments, reformed data systems, better reporting mechanisms,and the establishment of quality assurance mechanisms.In summary, the findings of the Audit indicate that:• Progress has been made on all of these recommendations. Further work is required in a smallnumber of areas.• The Directorate of Strategic People Research (DSPR) 1 and ADFA have improved theUnacceptable Behaviour Survey, and the new instrument was administered for the first timeat ADFA and RMC Duntroon in late 2012.• DSPR is preparing to administer versions of the Unacceptable Behaviour survey in otherDefence and tertiary institutions throughout 2013, in order to benchmark, share informationand provide comparisons where possible.• ADFA’s complaints and incidents registers are much improved. More information is beingcollected in a more organised and systematic way, and regular reports are being provided toADFA’s leadership.• An annual quality assurance process would improve the integrity of the system. While thereare currently some inbuilt checking mechanisms, a more formal annual process would offermore stable long term assurance.• A strategic follow up to the survey had not occurred prior to the completion of the Audit.Providing swift feedback and follow up will help inform and engage the ADFA population anddevelop targeted strategies to address areas of concern.The Audit’s findings in respect of each recommendation follow.104
Recommendation 25: ADFA develop and annually administera survey in order to more accurately measure the level of sexualharassment and sexual abuse among cadets. This survey shouldbe followed up with a strategic organisational response by theCommandant, with feedback provided to cadets and staff to ensurethat they have an investment in any reform arising from the surveyresults.Intent of RecommendationDSPR noted in the 2011 Unacceptable Behaviour Report that additions and changes made to thesurvey instrument over time had made it unwieldy and compromised its value. 2 This Recommendationwas intended to improve the quality of data gathered in the surveying process, as well as the way thatthis information was deployed.Implementation actionsADFA and DSPR have redesigned and administered the Unacceptable Behaviour Survey that ADFA andthe ADF have been using in various formats since the 1990s. 3From late 2011, DSPR conducted a literature review, consulted with ADFA’s COMDT, DCOMDT (nowDAU), senior equity adviser and other staff, and examined other Defence surveys. 4 A working group wasformed, and a new survey was designed with the aim of addressing the issues that had been identifiedin previous versions of the survey. The redesigned Unacceptable Behaviour Survey received ethicsapproval on 19 September 2012, and was administered at ADFA shortly thereafter. 5The Audit received the 2012 ADFA Unacceptable Behaviour Survey Report on 21 December 2012. 6 Thisreport is further discussed below.DSPR has provided feedback to the leadership team at ADFA, and intends to provide a fact sheet thatleadership can use to inform the broader undergraduate and staff bodies about the survey results. 7Audit findingsThe 2012 ADFA Unacceptable Behaviour Survey Report appears to be a better designed instrumentthan previous versions of the survey. The new survey will provide a good basis for comparisons overtime, and be adaptable for use in other settings.DSPR’s research identified five main issues with the 2011 Unacceptable Behaviour Survey, and madefive major reorganisational changes in the 2012 survey. This was done with the aim of obtaining moreaccurate prevalence data, giving better context to the information gathered, offering respondents agreater degree of anonymity, and collecting a greater range of follow up information.Audit Report: Review into the Treatment of Women at the Australian Defence Force Academy • 2013 • 105
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Chapter 1:Audit ApproachThe Report
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Chapter 1: Audit ApproachThe Audit
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