What does it mean to support inclusion in difficult times?
Employers are increasingly faced with situations where they need to support employees during difficult national or world events in which marginalised community members experience targeted violence or harm.
Difficult national or world events that concern specific diversity groups can have a significant negative impact on employees’ feelings of inclusion and wellbeing at work.
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Support services
This webpage discusses events and systemic discrimination which have harmed or continue to harm communities.
If you or someone close to you is in distress or immediate danger, call 000 as soon as possible.
Should you need support, please contact mental health support agencies, such as:
- 13YARN (13 92 76) – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders crisis support line
- 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) – Domestic, family and sexual violence counselling service
- Asylum Seeker Centre (02 9078 1900) & Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (03 9326 6066) – Support for people seeking asylum
- Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) – Mental health support for all Australians
- Brother to Brother (1800 435 799) – Crisis line phone support for Aboriginal men
- FASSTT (The Forum for Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma) is a network of Australia’s specialist rehabilitation agencies that work with survivors of torture and trauma, their families and their communities. Below are the specific services and their states/territory in Australia –
- ASeTTS (WA) 08 9227 2700
- Companion House (ACT) 02 6251 4550
- Foundation House (VIC) 03 9388 0022
- Melaleuca Australia (NT) 08 8985 3311
- Phoenix Centre (TAS) 03 6234 9138
- QPASTT (QLD) 07 3391 6677
- STARTTS (NSW) 02 9646 6700
- STTARS (SA) 08 8206 8900
- Government and state-specific crisis support services (link provides a list of services)
- Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) – For young people between 5-25 years old and their parent/carers
- Lifeline Australia (13 11 14)- Crisis support and suicide prevention phone line
- Lifeline with interpretation service (13 14 50) – say your language and then state Lifeline 13 11 14
- MensLine Australia (1300 78 99 78) -Telephone and online counselling service for Australian men in Australia
- Open Arms (1800 011 046) – Counselling for veterans and families
- QLife (1800 184 527) – LGBTIQ+ support and referrals
- SANE Australia (1800 18 7263) – For people with recurring, persistent or complex mental health issues and trauma, and for their families, friends and communities
- Suicide Call Back (1300 659 467) – Providing phone and online counselling to people affected by suicide
- Witness to War (1800 845 198) – A national multilingual phoneline for people affected by overseas conflicts
Much of this definition of difficult times events were based on definitions of “mega-threats” by Angela Leigh and Shimul Melwani. “Mega-threats” are explored in the following literature:
Leigh, A. & Melwani, S., "#Blackemployeesmatter: Mega-threats, identity fusion, and enacting positive deviance in organisations," Academy of Management Review, Vol. 44, No. 3, 2019, p. 564-591
Leigh, A. and Melwani, S., “‘Am I next?’ The spillover effects of Mega-Threats on Avoidant Behaviours at Work,” Academy of Management Journal, 2022, Vol. 65, No. 3
Leigh, A. & Melwani, S., "Supporting employees after violence against their communities" in Harvard Business Review, 5 October 2022, https://hbr.org/2022/10/supporting-employees-after-violence-against-their-community
Prengler, M. et al, "How to be an ally to colleagues after violence against their communities: Silence speaks volumes," in Harvard Business Review, 10 February 2023
- French, E. and Vyver, J. “Voice to Parliament referendum impacting mental health of Indigenous Australians as charities report increase in racism,” ABC News, 3 October 2023
- Diversity Council Australia/Jumbunna Institute (Brown, C., DAlmada-Remedios, R., Gilbert, J. OLeary, J. and Young, N.) Gari Yala (Speak the Truth): Centreing the Work Experiences of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians, Sydney, Diversity Council Australia/Jumbunna Institute, 2020, “The Burden of Identity Strain and Cultural Load,” p. 33-37