VicHealth and Upstanders

This guide, developed by VicHealth, the Office for Women, Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Behavioural Insights Team, aims to help organizations introduce bystander initiatives (upstanders) as part of their efforts to reduce sexist and sexually harassing behaviours. It explains the concept of bystander action and provides four key steps for implementing effective bystander initiatives.

The guide also includes reports and tools from trials that were conducted at two Victorian universities in 2018-2019, in which participants were equipped with the skills to be active bystanders through email communications or an intensive online training program.

With workplaces moving increasingly online due to the coronavirus pandemic, the guide also includes tools to assist workplaces in creating a culture that effectively monitors and prevents sexism and sexual harassment while working remotely.