Media Release: Workplace anti-bullying program takes out top prize at Excellence Awards

A gas company’s innovative program aimed at stamping out workplace bullying by highlighting real examples from within the organisation has been recognised with the top award at Australia’s oil and gas industry’s night of nights.

At a gala dinner last night in Perth during the 2024 Australian Energy Producers Conference & Exhibition, Chevron Australia won the Chair’s Award for the training programs, ‘Be an Upstander’ and ‘Stand Up to Bullying’.

Chevron Australia General Manager – Asset Development Michelle LaPoint accepts the award from Australian Energy Producers Chair Meg O’Neill

The ‘Stand Up To Bullying’ learning program, based on real incidents which have occurred at Chevron Australia and then been portrayed by actors in educational material, helps participants recognise and respond to inappropriate and harmful behaviours when they see or experience them.

The ‘Be An Upstander’ initiative has created a safe space for people to share their personal stories of witnessing or experiencing inappropriate behaviours, as well as taking action in response.

The award recognised the training programs, ‘Be an Upstander’ and ‘Stand Up to Bullying’

Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said the programs highlighted the industry’s zero tolerance approach to unsafe workplace behaviour.

“Congratulations to Chevron Australia for winning an extremely competitive field representing the largest group of entrants we have received since the awards began in 2001,” she said.

“Bullying has no place in our industry and initiatives like this show how we weed it out of workplaces.”

Safety Project Excellence Award

The Chevron Australia ‘Be an Upstander’ and ‘Stand Up to Bullying’ programs won this individual award category.

Finalists included ExxonMobil’s ‘Practice as You Play’ initiative and a Santos program, ‘Fugro Blue Essence Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USV)’.

Environment Project Excellence Award

Senex Energy was recognised for its Circular Economy Solutions in the Drilling Lifecycle, which has championed reuse and recycling across the drilling process, including reusing steel tubing and rods during gas well operations and recycling high density polyethylene (HDPE) when transporting equipment to sites.

Darren Stevenson, Chief Operating Officer, Senex Energy, accepted the award last night

The project saw significant environmental, time and cost savings for Senex’s well drilling campaign in 2023 – including the removal of 126 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions through the reuse of steel.

Finalists in this category included Shell Australia’s Environment in Design on the Crux Project and Santos’ CSG Water Network Design Optimisation.

Workforce Development Excellence Award

This award went to Santos for its ‘Healthier Me – Helping you live well and work well’ program to improve the health of staff.

Santos Vice President People Experience Amanda Bald speaks to the crowd during the presentation

It includes free on-site and telehealth GP services, mental and respiratory health support, a customised health digital portal for staff to discuss health, a nine-day fortnight, and field- based health checks by GPs.

Finalists in the Workforce category included Bridgeport Energy’s People and Performance Program – Building resilience, agility and self leadership in times of change; and Esso & UGL’s One Team in Decommissioning.

Community Development Excellence

Shell Australia took out the award for its Indigenous Scholarships Program, which supports First Nations peoples to undertake pathways to employment, increasing educational opportunities for Indigenous people within Shell QGC’s operational footprint in Queensland.

While recipients receive funding as per standard scholarship programs for a lifetime of study, the program goes beyond this to also include bespoke Indigenous and industry mentoring, leadership opportunities and career capacity building support.

Shell Australia Senior Vice President East Kim Code accepted the award for the company

In 2022, the Program’s first year, it attracted 91 applicants and awarded 46 scholarships to participants who will be supported for the lifetime of their education. In 2023, an additional 26 recipients were awarded scholarships. And in 2024, 120 applications were received with 18 scholarships expected.

Finalists included Worley Services for its Broome STEM Innovation Challenge – Follow the Dream program and Woodside Energy’s City of Karratha Service Worker Accommodation

Ms McCulloch congratulated all the entrants for contributing to their organisations and communities.

“With so many entrants this year, the winners and finalists should know they are the pick of an extraordinary collection of initiatives by our member companies to support our workforce and the local communities in which we operate,” she said.

Media Contact: 0435 113 224