Q&A WITH ‘BULLYOLOGIST’ JESSICA HICKMAN

work to create systemic cultural change. I think people are really receptive to the training because they feel empowered.

because they just don’t want to get involved. I could clearly see bad behaviour was becoming the norm in workplaces, so I decided to teach people what they could do to be an Upstander. The Upstander Movement is about helping people become the champions and custodians of workplace culture through awareness, dedicated training and capability building.

What has the reaction been like from the schools and workplaces that participate in your workshops?

Extremely positive, people are loving the proactive approach to building a speak-up culture. It’s been really exciting to see organisations doing more than just ticking a box. They’re putting in the hard

As well as creating healthier workplace cultures, are there any major changes you feel Australia needs to make as a whole?

I think we need to start by reframing thoughts around bullying. With the workplace becoming more and more multicultural and multi-generational, old ideas just aren’t going to fly. We need to be purpose driven, with the values of empathy, ethics and equality. To stay current and relevant, businesses need to be proactive and fight to be better.

Your new book, The Upstander Leader: How to Develop a Speak-up Culture, came out last year. What inspired you to write this guide?

A lot of business leaders were reaching out to me saying that they wanted to create change. They wanted to make sure that they were not unconsciously becoming involved in unethical practices. After running workshops for many years on the Upstander Movement, I decided that it was time to package it in a book for leaders. It’s ultimately a toolkit for existing and emerging leaders on how to create a thriving workplace culture and spark change.

What can we be doing on an individual level in order to support this move towards healthier working environments?

Grab a copy of the book, engage in a session within your workplace and commit to being an upstander!

What’s next for you and the Upstander Movement?

Lots of exciting things are happening. The book is out now, and I’m also going to be doing lots of talks and workshops with proactive organisations across Australia. The new version of the Upstander Academy has launched, so I’m very excited for this new chapter to begin.