Court Services Victoria has been fined close to $380,000 for a toxic workplace culture which led one of its employees to take her own life.
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CSV was sentenced in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to a single charge of failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace.
From at least December 2015 to September 2018, Coroners Court employees were exposed to traumatic materials, high workloads and inappropriate workplace behaviours.
Staff made multiple complaints to management, including allegations of bullying, verbal abuse, intimidation and invasions of privacy.
A number of workers took leave throughout the three-year period after reporting feelings of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, fear and humiliation.
Some workers never returned, including the principal in-house solicitor Jessica Wilby.
The 45-year-old was diagnosed with work-related major depressive disorder while on three months of personal leave.
She died by suicide in September 2018.
Court Services Victoria admitted it failed to conduct any adequate process to identify risks to the psychological health of employees at the Coroners Court.
CSV was convicted and fined $379,157, with Magistrate Glenn Walsh also ordering the organisation to pay $13,863 in legal costs.
WorkSafe executive health and safety director Narelle Beer said it was an employer's legal duty to support their workers to thrive in their roles.
"Everyone in an organisation has a role to play in creating a healthy and safe environment," she said.
"But the development of a positive culture and appropriate risk control measures depends on leadership from the top."
Chief Justice of Victoria Anne Ferguson said the loss of Ms Whilby and the ongoing pain of those who knew her has driven Court Services Victoria to build a culture where employees feel free to speak up and there is accountability for providing a safe workplace.
"We have and will continue to work to ensure that our actions live up to the high standard we set ourselves," Chief Justice Ferguson said.
Victorian State Coroner Judge John Cain said the Coroners Court had made positive changes to create an environment where people feel safer.
"The health and wellbeing of our people is of the utmost importance," Judge Cain said.
"That is why we have worked together as a court over the past five years aiming to build a stronger culture of support and respect, and to make staff health and wellbeing a key focus."
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Australian Associated Press
