Respect at Work
Active bystander training for every employee.
Whether your organisation is strengthening Respect at Work capability, meeting Positive Duty obligations, or building a culture where harmful behaviour is addressed before it escalates, this program equips employees with the judgement and confidence needed to act safely when they witness harmful behaviour.
Book a ConsultationCulture Plus method
Behaviour-first. Evidence-based. Built to last.
Practical intervention capability, not just awareness
Addressing the gap most bystander training ignores — practical intervention capability, judgement, and risk awareness.
Active bystander training plays a critical role in preventing workplace harm. When employees have the confidence and capability to intervene constructively when they witness problematic behaviour, organisations are better positioned to prevent harassment, discrimination, bullying, sexual misconduct, and other workplace misconduct before they escalate.
However, many bystander programs focus primarily on encouraging people to "speak up" rather than equipping them with practical tools to act safely and effectively in real workplace situations. Here are concerns we often hear:
"We want people to speak up — but our surveys show few feel confident doing so."
"Our people care about doing the right thing, but they're unsure what the right action is."
"Our internal culture is strong, but our people are most at risk in customer interactions."
Programme snapshot
What you need to know at a glance.
For leaders who need to model bystander behaviour, an additional leadership module equips managers and people leaders to respond constructively when employees raise concerns and to foster an environment where speaking up feels safe and supported.
All employees, including managers, frontline teams, and hybrid or distributed workforces. Preventing harmful behaviour is a shared responsibility, and this training establishes a consistent behavioural foundation across the workforce.
Endorsed capability partner
Trusted by Australia's peak HR body.
Culture Plus Consulting is proud to design and deliver flagship DEI programmes for the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) — Australia's peak HR professional body — supporting HR leaders and practitioners to build capability for inclusive leadership and organisational change.
Connect with us to explore how evidence-based DEI training can help your organisation build capability, strengthen culture, and deliver meaningful, measurable change.
What this training covers
What this Active Bystander Training covers.
You know bystander intervention matters because it helps prevent harmful behaviours from escalating and becoming normalised within workplace culture. This training embeds practical intervention capability in everyday workplace situations.
What changes after this training
Real shifts that matter.
Employees gain sharper awareness of early warning signs — recognising harmful behaviour before it escalates. They understand the bystander effect, inaction norms, and how context and power dynamics shape what they see and how they interpret it.
Our methodology
The Practical Capability Model
Every Culture Plus programme is built on the same evidence-based methodology. Hover any step for detail:
Your facilitator
CEO, Author and Principal Consultant
Felicity Menzies
Every Culture Plus engagement is delivered with behavioural rigour and practical relevance by Felicity Menzies — organisational psychologist, author, and specialist facilitator.
- Role
- Founder, Culture Plus Consulting
- Qualification
- Bachelor of Commerce; Bachelor of Arts (Psych) — University Medallist; Fellow, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
- Experience
- 15+ years advising leading global and Australian private and government organisations; former senior executive in financial services and consulting
- Discipline
- Organisational psychology, behavioural science & trauma-informed practice
- Published
- A World of Difference (2016); contributor to leading business and HR publications globally
- Recognition
- LinkedIn Top Voice; commendation in NSW Parliament
From the book
Culture is the sum of behaviours leaders permit, model, and reward.A World of Difference — Felicity Menzies →
Free guide
Need to deliver active bystander training that drives real behaviour change?
This guide outlines the essential conditions for effective training that builds lasting capability — moving beyond awareness to practical skills that create safer, more inclusive workplaces.
Download the guideFrequently asked questions
Questions about active bystander training, answered.
If you have a question we haven't covered, write to us — a real human responds within one working day.
Active bystander training equips employees with knowledge and practical skills to recognise harmful behaviour and intervene safely. The focus is on practical intervention strategies considering risk, power dynamics, and workplace context.
While you're here
Related services
Respect at Work Training
Behaviour-change training that meets positive duty expectations across the workforce.
Respect at Work Training →Respect at Work for Managers
Practical capability for the layer that makes or breaks a respectful culture.
Respect at Work for Managers →Positive Duty
Meet the Sex Discrimination Act positive duty with evidence, controls and assurance.
Positive Duty →
Build a workforce that acts when it matters
This isn't about ticking boxes.
Active bystander capability helps organisations move from harm awareness to early intervention and prevention by reinforcing expectations about workplace behaviour. This program equips employees with judgement and practical skills to take safe, constructive action when witnessing harmful behaviour.
Discuss your organisation's needs