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Report on the Review into the Treatment of Women in the Australian Defence
Force Academy ............................................................................
................................................................. Phase 1 of the Review into the Treatment of Women in the Australian Defence
Force [pic]
[pic] 21 October 2011 The Hon Robert McClelland MP
Attorney-General
Central Office
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600 Dear Attorney, Review into the Treatment of Women in the Australian Defence Force - Phase
1 I am pleased to present to you the Commission's report of the Review into
the Treatment of Women at the Australian Defence Force Academy. This Report represents the first stage of a broader review into the
Treatment of Women in the Australian Defence Force. The Report is the first independent review into the Academy since its
inception in 1986 and has provided a significant opportunity to examine the
importance of women to the future leadership of the Australian Defence
Force. Yours sincerely, Elizabeth Broderick
Sex Discrimination Commissioner
Australian Human Rights Commission ............................................................................
.................................................................... Australian Human Rights Commission
Level 3, 175 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000 GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
Telephone: 02 9284 9600 Facsimile: 02 9284 9611 Website:
www.humanrights.gov.au
Contents Commissioner's Message 7
Terms of Reference 10
Acronyms and Abbreviations 11
Glossary of Cadet Terms 13
Executive Summary 14
(a) Commitment to ADFA 15
(b) Equity and diversity 15
(c) Selection, training and turnover of staff 16
(d) Cadets as young people 17
(e) Residential setting and supervision 17
(f) Gender relations 18
(g) Complaints process 18
(h) Sexual harassment and abuse 19
(i) Women's health and wellbeing 19
(j) A strong future for ADFA 20
Table of Recommendations 21
1. ADFA: Description of Current Culture 26
1.1 Military culture 26
(a) What is culture? 26
(b) Subcultures and the military 26
(c) Cultures create identities and boundaries 27
1.2 The culture for women at ADFA 27
(a) Inclusion of women at ADFA 28
(b) Sexist and sexualised language and behaviours 29
(c) Women as a minority 30
(d) The myth of the 'quota' 31
1.3 Residential setting 32
(a) Supervision: limitations of the current physical setting 34
1.4 Diversity and inclusion 35
(a) Demographics and diversity of the cadet body 35
(b) General attitudes to diversity and inclusion at ADFA 36
1.5 Cadets: recruitment, induction, training and mentoring 36
(a) Cadets: recruitment 36
(b) Cadets: induction 38
(c) Cadets: training 39
(d) Cadets: mentoring 40
(e) Squadron restructure and semi-formal mentoring 41
1.6 Social context 41
(a) Adjusting to ADFA life 41
(b) Support networks 42
(c) Socialising outside ADFA 42
(d) Social context - themes 43
1.7 Alcohol 44
1.8 Reputation management 46
1.9 Illness and injury 48
1.10 Military staff: recruitment, induction and leadership 49
(a) Military staff: recruitment 49
(b) Military staff: induction 50
(c) Military staff: leadership 50
1.11 Removal of underperforming staff and cadets 51
2. Women at ADFA: Harassment, Abuse, Discrimination and Assault 57
2.1 Introduction 57
2.2 Cadets' stated experiences of harassment, abuse, discrimination and
assault: The ADFA Unacceptable Behaviour Survey 57
(a) About the survey 58
(b) Key findings 59
(c) Gender and sex-related harassment 59
(d) General harassment and discrimination 60
(e) Electronic harassment 61
(f) Opinions on unacceptable behaviour 61
(g) Impact of unwanted behaviour 62
(h) Management of unwanted behaviour 62
(i) Concluding comments 63
(j) Comparisons and trends 64
2.3 Incidents of sexual harassment, discrimination and assault 69
(a) Sexual assault and related offences 69
(b) Sexual harassment and sex discrimination 70
(c) Qualitative data 70
2.4 Current policies, procedures and training in relation to complaints of
sexual harassment, discrimination, abuse and assault of women at ADFA 72
(a) Reporting sexual harassment, discrimination, abuse and assault of
women 72
(b) Complaints/incidents policy framework 76
(c) Flow Chart Tool: application of policies 79
(d) Options for resolution of complaints 80
(e) Training on Making and Managing Complaints 82
(f) Record keeping practices 83
(g) Conclusion 85
3. Women at ADFA: Measures to Promote Gender Equality and Assessment of
their Adequacy 89
3.1 Gender equality 89
3.2 Measures to promote Gender Equality and Assessment of their Adequacy
90
(a) Equity and diversity at ADFA 90
(b) Fraternisation and room policies 96
(c) Gender briefings 98
(d) Physical standards 102
4. A strong future for ADFA: Initiatives required to drive cultural
change in the treatment of women 106
4.1 Lessons from international research 106
(a) Inclusive defence services: greater integration of women 106
(b) Strong statements from leadership 107
(c) Leadership practices: leading by example 107
(d) Clear policies and effective training 107
(e) Cultural change essential 108
4.2 ADFA's role and purpose 109
4.3 Equity and diversity 111
(a) The business case for diversity 111
(b) Implementing equity and diversity principles 113
4.4 ADFA's structure and staffing 114
4.5 Midshipmen and cadets are young people and future leaders 119
4.6 Alcohol 122
4.7 Residential setting and supervision 123
(a) Improving supervision and women's safety 123
(b) Integrating staff support in the residential setting 124
4.8 Minimising risk and managing incidents: education 126
4.8 Minimising risk and managing incidents: advice and referral 129
4.9 Minimising risk and managing incidents: data 130
4.10 Minimising risk and managing incidents: injury, health and wellbeing
132
4.11 Implementation of the Review's recommendations 134 Appendix A - Brief Description of ADFA 139
Appendix B - Scope of Research and Methodology 147
Appendix C - 2011 ADFA Unacceptable Behaviour Survey Administered
14 June 2011 154
Appendix D - Survey Method and Analysis 170
Appendix E - 2011 ADFA Unacceptable Behaviour Survey Results 175
Appendix F - Diversity of the Cadet Body at ADFA 190
Appendix G - After Hours Supervision - the Academy Duty Officer System 192
Appendix H - Physical Fitness Standards 194
Appendix I - Cadet Boards of Review 196
Appendix J - Examples of Best Practice from International Contexts 197
Appendix K - Focus Group Schedule 212
Appendix L - List of Consultations (Interviews and Briefings) 216
Appendix M - Written Submissions 219
Bibliography 220
Commissioner's Message I am pleased to present the Report of the cultural review into the
Treatment of Women at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA). This
report concludes Phase One of the Review. Phase Two of the Review will
examine the treatment of women across the broader Australian Defence Force
(ADF). I wish to thank my fellow Review Panellists - Sam Mostyn, Mark Ney and
Damian Powell - for their wise and insightful observations and for being
actively involved in the Review process. Each panellist brought to the
Review a depth of experience in cultural change programs, the operation of
residential colleges in educational settings, command and control
environments, sex discrimination and gender. The Review Panel was ably
assisted by a small but highly skilled secretariat led by Alexandra
Shehadie. The Review was initiated by the Australian Human Rights Commission at the
request of the Minister for Defence, the Hon Stephen Smith MP. The
Commission developed the Terms of Reference and appointed the Panel members
who, after extensive consultation, designed the methodology. Our Review
represents the first independent examination of ADFA since its inception in
1986. This is an important distinction between this Review and previous
reviews as it has enabled us to bring a broad societal context to this
Review. The work of the Review was fully supported by senior military and academic
personnel and the leadership team at ADFA. Requests by the Review received
expeditious and comprehensive responses. I wish to acknowledge the
significant contribution and advice over the course of the last five months
from former Chief of the Defence Force ACM Angus Houston AC, AFC and his
successor GEN David Hurley, AC, DSC. In addition the Review benefited from
the assistance and insights of MAJGEN Craig Orme, AM, CSC, Commander
Australian Defence College; MAJGEN Mick Crane, AM, DSC, Head, Defence
Cultural Reviews Secretariat; RADM James Goldrick, Acting Commandant, ADFA;
COL Paul Petersen, Deputy Commandant, ADFA; SQNLDR Glenn van der Kolk,
Liaison Officer, Reviews and Inquiries; and Ms. Annebelle Davis, Director
General, Strategic Integration, Department of Defence; Professor Frater,
Rector and Professor Arnold, Deputy Rector. The Review consulted with CDRE
Bruce Kafer, AM, CSC who undertook an examination of ADFA's culture at the
behest of RADM Goldrick in mid 2010. These findings and observations helped
to inform the Panel's thinking. The Review has also been expertly advised
by LTCOL Natasha Fox who provided all assistance sought generously and
diligently. The Panel appointed by the Commission commenced its Review at the same time
as other investigations into behaviour in the ADF and at ADFA were being
undertaken. These examinations followed a widely publicised incident
involving allegations of inappropriate behaviour and use of technology
leading to a police investigation. Our Review did not investigate that
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