Curtin Bystander Project – Creating Respect in the Workplace
Respect is essential for fostering a healthy and productive work environment. The Curtin Bystander Project focuses on the bystander’s role in promoting respect and driving positive change. The training equips participants with the confidence to model proactive behaviour, encouraging their teams to take initiative and responsibility in challenging situations.
The program helps managers and leaders create an environment where open communication, individual accountability, and empowerment thrive. Participants learn how to set clear expectations, support team members in speaking up, and provide validation for those advocating for change, even in difficult group dynamics. This one-day masterclass explores the ‘bystander effect,’ shedding light on why individuals may hesitate to challenge entrenched attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours that normalise issues such as sexual harassment, bullying, and racism.
By understanding these barriers, managers and leaders can foster conversations, create opportunities for effective bystander action, and support meaningful cultural change in the workplace.
About the facilitators
Robyn Westgate
Robyn Westgate is the Program Manager of the Curtin Bystander Project at Curtin University, promoting cultural change by empowering bystanders to prevent abuse and harassment. She holds qualifications in Criminology, Sociology, Education, and Forensic Psychology and is a key member of Curtin’s Domestic Violence Communities of Practice.
A survivor of extreme abuse, Robyn is a trainer, advocate, and researcher specialising in bystander intervention, domestic violence, sexual harassment, and the societal impacts of pornography. She delivers programs across sectors such as mining, education, defence, and law enforcement and is a sought-after speaker and media contributor.
Sheldon Smith
Sheldon Smith is Curtin University’s Senior Diversity and Inclusion Advisor and Senior Advisor to the Curtin Bystander Project, specialising in Inclusive Practice, Family and Domestic Violence, Cultural Change, Gender, and LGBTQIA+ Inclusion. With over 30 years of experience as a trainer and educator, Sheldon chairs Curtin’s Global Diversity Taskforce and LGBTQIA+ Advisory Group and is an executive member of the university’s Domestic Violence Communities of Practice.
A thought leader and advocate, Sheldon has driven impactful policies and initiatives that champion allyship, gender equity, and LGBTQIA+ inclusion. His expertise and engaging communication style have influenced organisations across Australia and audiences in Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal, and Mongolia.