Leading Australian workplace trainer partners with RISE

RISE has officially partnered with Be There Group a leading Australian workplace trainer which helps build respectful, healthy and empowered workplaces.

Be There Group’s practical training and workshops are designed to give bystanders the tools or scripts they need to do something if they see or hear discrimination, bullying or harassment in their workplaces.

RISE has secured the exclusive licence to bring Be There Group’s evidence-based workshops to Aotearoa, New Zealand, and is already adapting Be There’s content so it speaks to New Zealand workplaces, people and values.

Pilot workshops start soon and RISE is looking to partner with organisations who are ready to walk the talk and build workplace environments that are respectful, thriving, inclusive and safe.

RISE’s Impact Management Lead Leigh Manson says, now more than ever, New Zealand needs to back its workplaces with tools so everybody feels safe to bring their best self to work, and colleagues know how to respectfully and safely call out bad behaviour.

Leigh says Be There Group’s kaupapa (purpose) is grounded in primary prevention – creating workplace cultures that stops harm before it starts.

“It’s about leading with mana-enhancing action and giving people the skills and confidence to be someone who steps up and takes action when they see, hear or sense something that isn’t right.”

Co-Founder and Director of Be There Group Shaan Ross-Smith says Be There is proud to partner with the incredible team at RISE after years of conversations, connection, shared values and dreaming big together.

“RISE is a powerhouse organisation grounded in the belief that people deserve to live free from violence. Their mahi in the prevention, response and recovery spaces is grounded, courageous, and deeply community led. Relationships like this are built on trust, respect, listening, and a shared belief in doing the work - the real work.”

Shaan says Be There Group is excited to be officially growing this movement together across both sides of the Tasman.

The training in New Zealand will be led by RISE’s Family Violence Prevention Representative Jaron Steffens and Practice Lead Joelene Whitfield.

Joelene says The Be There kaupapa (purpose) is a perfect match for RISE as RISE is all about early intervention and supporting safe and respectful relationships.

“Safer and more respectful and empowered workspaces means safer communities and therefore safer families.”

Be There Group’s training in New Zealand will be led by RISE’s Family Violence Prevention Representative Jaron Steffens and Practice Lead Joelene Whitfield. Also pictured is RISE’s Impact Management Lead Leigh Manson.

RISE General Manager Dee Creswell says RISE working with Be There Group builds on the workplace training RISE already offers. Be There’s prevention-based training supports RISE’s clinical intervention work, she says.

“We often get feedback from people working with RISE who wish they had learnt what RISE teaches earlier or that our programmes and tools were taught more widely.

“RISE wants to reduce the impact of family violence on whānau (families) and the community and ultimately reduce the need for our services.”

Dee says unhealthy relationships are something that affects all ages, communities and demographics and if we want to build safe communities free of harm need everyone to play a role.

“Creating a healthy safe work culture and modelling respectful behaviour is one way we can help make that change.”

For more information email leigh@rise.net.nz, or support@rise.net.nz.