In late October, we learned disturbing allegations about an iconic service long associated with heroics and saving lives in dramatic circumstances across NSW: the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

The allegations of a toxic culture came thanks to Nine reporting, and the incredible courage of people involved in the organisation who spoke up.

So are rescue-type and emergency services especially prone to these issues?

When so-called "heroes" are involved, is it easier to overlook problematic cultures and behaviour?

And what more can organisations do to prevent these issues in the first place?

We took these questions and more to human rights lawyer Prabha Nandagopal.

Prabha’s someone who is deep in the kind of work organisations need to do if not to prevent the kind of allegations that have come out against them – then at least to effectively respond.

She has led the development of recommendations on numerous high-profile workplace cultural reviews, including the Independent Review into Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces, and in 2020 was a senior legal advisor to the Respect@Work National Inquiry and helped shape the positive duty regulatory scheme.

Now, she is the founder of Elevate Consulting Partners, supporting organisations in their commitment to positive social change.

This conversation was recorded in late October and some things may have changed at the time of publishing.

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