Fiona O’Malley (HR)

I would like to commend Fiona O'Malley and her colleagues in the employee relations office for the life-saving support they provide to staff members who have suffered or are suffering from domestic violence and abuse. As someone who has faced and is overcoming this challenge, Fiona's knowledge, compassion and discretion was instrumental in helping me find a way to regain safety and begin the journey of reclaiming my own self-esteem and life. The prevalence of abuse and violence in our society is far greater than many of us are aware of, and those suffering abuse are often terrified to break their silence. I would encourage any member of staff that feels they are in an abusive situation to please seek support from Fiona, even if other attempts to ask for help have failed. Safety should not be a privilege. You will be treated with kindness, dignity and given the power of choice. Your privacy will be maintained. I would encourage all faculty of the CMNHS, in particular those in management roles, to become familiar with the University DV policy and be aware of how to help someone find support when they need it. Finally, I would encourage all members of our staff and our wider community to uphold our values of openness and respect - anyone can be a victim, they walk beside us every day and often the workplace is one of few places a person gets some respite from abuse in their home. Our community makes us stronger when we are sometimes powerless as individuals. Thank you to Fiona, and thank you to all who read this and take it on board.