My personal story - Part 9 - Faith

“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.”

Traditional All Souls Day prayer

Today, 2 November, is All Souls Day in the calendar of the Catholic Church. I’ll come back to why this is a significant date for me, in another post. 

For those who have been reading my story, it’s obvious that I’ve been handling and fighting multiple bad situations simultaneously. I may have written this before, but I’ll repeat it again. I believe it’s simple to be kind, but what I find easy, so many find really hard. And the kinder you are, the more you suffer in this world. 

I’ve learnt that no amount of kindness can combat cruelty in this world on its own. It needs faith and prayer. Spiritual warfare requires a spiritual weapon. I wasn’t in combat with individuals in my personal life or people at work or corrupt “systems” in this society. I believe good and evil, beyond our physical senses, do exist. 

Through all this suffering, my faith has become stronger. Perhaps I needed to go through all this to learn and to be closer to God. Faith is something personal to me and my journey.

Even so, I struggle to understand why all this is happening. I really don’t know how to bring light and kindness to such a cruel world so devoid of feeling. How can people hurt others so much and not care at all? It’s been too much in my lifetime already. I can’t let it happen to me again. Did I work hard and fight all these difficult battles for nothing?

When I was 18, I had a disturbing dream. I’ll quote from my journal entry what I wrote at the time:

“It was a dream I had a month ago. I had a dream that there were all these incredibly scary-looking demons dancing on top of my cupboard. One jumped off and grabbed my hand, pulling me to join them in their dance. I was fighting it and managed to escape, and started running. The demon chased me. I ran to the kitchen… where I said to my family, “the demons are after us”. I woke up then. I don't usually get scared of nightmares after I wake up, but this seemed so real, like I actually fought with it. I was so scared, I couldn't sleep the following night in fear that I would see it again.”

I felt like it was something I could not ignore, but something I’d have to fight, only not on my own. When all these concurrent battles got too much and I finally screamed out, “Why God? Why so much unfair pain in my life?” I used the gifts He gave me to search for the answer. I researched and read and read and read. The more I read, the more revealing and clear things became for me. 

My suffering has strengthened my faith. I’ve been attacked by so much evil since 2017, I now understand the dream that warned me.

Many times I get into the human habit of trying to do it myself, to resolve conflict, fight back on my own, losing sight of the one I should have trusted my fears, pain, sorrow, and suffering to. I needed to let in the light of Christ to bring peace, love, forgiveness, kindness, humility, understanding, compassion and wisdom. On my own, I became frustrated and made mistakes. 

In our human nature, we try to make sense of everything. We try to apply reason to a situation. The irony is, how many times are we unreasonable? 

When a person can learn to silence the screaming in their head (that is, ego and thoughts that are lies and hurt others), only then can a person listen to the whispers in their heart. God whispers, He doesn’t scream. And that’s where instinct lies. 

For me, the biggest lesson in this life journey was finding out that when you are true to your values, open to wisdom, discernment, and being insightful about events that happen, you will be attacked and persecuted. When you stand up for justice, for what you believe is right; when you ask challenging questions; or refute an argument that has no evidence, there are people who will either fight you or flee. Those reactions are motivated by pride in people who don’t want to change for the better. They don’t want to learn and grow in truth and love. They don’t want to learn from their mistakes. 

That’s why history repeats itself. If people learnt from the past, then why are we still in conflict on a personal level and war on a global level? But it is a choice each one of us can make. We have the gift of God’s free will to choose what we know to be right in our hearts, or follow the crowd because it feels “safe”, at least for now. But for how long? Peace, love and kindness for a better world requires a collective effort, but it starts with each individual. 

I’d love to visit places like Medjugorje and Fatima. I’ve read all the messages from Our Lady Queen of Peace at Medjugorje. For me, they bring comfort.

There was a Jubilee Pilgrimage to Medjugorje and Rome I wanted to join from 30 September to 13 October 2025. It is a sad irony that I could not fund this, and therefore could not go, because of the persecution, including wage theft and fraud as adverse action, by institutions of the Catholic Church in Australia. At the moment it feels like demons are chasing me from church institutions no matter where I turn. They will not win. 

The official theme of this Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church, in other words, a special “Holy Year”, is “Pilgrims of Hope”. I love that. It’s exactly what we need. Hope. 

It was Pope Francis who chose the theme to help “restore a climate of hope and trust.”

As I mentioned, given the institutional abuse I’m still a target of, a spiritual battle I never expected to be fighting at such a level, I could not go. 

It turned out God had other plans, because the day before the pilgrims departed, on the 29 September, 2025*, I was invited to give evidence in person at a hearing of the Public Accountability and Works Committee inquiry into a proposed workers compensation bill. It was an important contribution to make, for the common good and dignity of the human person. We are also a democracy, despite the Minns government having tried to undermine due process. 

I had written a letter to the chaplain accompanying the pilgrimage. I needed the prayers of the pilgrims that were going.

I’ve sent multiple petitions to Medjugorje over the years that I’ve had to fight these battles, now all alone and frightened. I wasn’t protected from battle, but surely I wasn’t alone. There were many times I asked God to take this bitter cup from me, but then I said, “Your Will, not mine.”

My faith, however, is and always will be separate from this hypocrisy. Jesus had already called out hypocrisy in His ministry (Matt. 23), and they crucified Him for it. He didn’t allow me to go through anything He didn’t go through first. But my hope lies in the Resurrection. I need to keep clinging to hope. I’m trying, but many times, it is difficult. 

I hope that what I’ve done, using the gifts God gave me, to serve the greater good of society, will save lives. Sometimes, I ask in my weakness and fear, “But who’s saving mine?” Then I remember that Pope Francis dedicated this Jubilee Year to one of Hope. I hope that I too, will be saved.

* 29 September is also the Feast Day of St. Michael the Archangel in the Catholic Church calendar. With everything I have been through, for me, in my heart, there are no coincidences. (http://mystory-myvoice.blogspot.com/2025/09/my-personal-story-part-8-bethany-college.html). 

Interlude - Mrs. Harris goes to Paris

“It’s not sewing. It’s making moonlight.”

Mrs. Ada Harris

A couple of weeks ago I watched the movie Mrs. Harris goes to Paris. 

It’s a beautiful movie that offered me a tiny break from a genre that’s not a movie but my reality: a psychological thriller. (Read my blog posts so far). 

There was something nostalgic and magical about this movie. 

I relate so much to Ada Harris, and some of the other characters. 

The dreamer

Ada Harris was a dreamer. She was determined to save her “pennies” and go to the House of Dior in Paris to buy a gorgeous haute couture dress. 

An elegant haute couture Dior dress was a symbol of dreams: of elegance, grace, style and being visible. 

Set in 1957, it was also a time where societal values included greater respect and dignity, even though society was still recovering from the damage caused by WWII. The movie portrayed a time of hope, brighter future, joy, community and healing.

It was a time of chivalry and manners. Where has this gone? Are we even aware how much our contemporary society has changed in how people treat each other? 

I think a huge contributing factor that causes harm is unrealistic overwork in our jobs and careers, including unmanaged and unregulated overreach by too many toxic organisational cultures. It is unhealthy for individuals, families and society. 

That leads into how most people in our society now meet and date, which I also find risky. See http://mystory-myvoice.blogspot.com/2025/02/my-personal-story-part-2-there-is-no.html.

This movie touched on the theme of work and industrial action. Now, we have a new WHS and fair work issue. It’s worse because it stems from toxic organisational cultures and unethical governance practices everywhere. 

My story is but one confronting reality of institutional betrayal and moral injury. It’s too common. Many of us had to become revolutionaries to stop the harmful organisational behaviour and hold our governments accountable to fix the system. 

Ada Harris was viewed as a “revolutionary” by Madame Colbert. When you watch the movie, you wouldn’t initially perceive her as a “revolutionary”. But she became revolutionary. 

Ada Harris was a dreamer, an inspiration, an honest and kind hearted woman, grounded in values. She needed to find the courage to stand up for what she knew was right and inspire others to do the same. That courage came. 

Paris taught her more than how ateliers construct haute couture dresses. 

Ada Harris was both a dreamer and a revolutionary. 

Kindness taken for granted

For too long, Ada Harris’ kindness and generosity were taken for granted and even exploited by those who thought only about themselves, like Pamela Penrose and Lady Dent.

When Marquis de Chassagne invited Mrs. Harris to tea, he said to her, “You give comfort to those in need without asking for anything in return.” 

“Is that how you see me?” was Ada’s reply. 

In my own life, I do wonder:

Is that how people see me too? 

The pastoral associate at my work said to me once, “Everyone needs you Vicki.” I replied, “Yes, that’s good and well. But what’s coming back to fill me up to keep giving?” This was before I was exploited and defrauded beyond being completely stripped of my dignity by “leaders” in a university committed to the dignity of the human person in the very Mission. 

On her return from Paris, Ada Harris finally said to Lady Dent:

“Them days are over when you can treat people like scum and expect loyalty in return.”

Well done to Mrs. Harris for finally standing up for herself. 

Satre, existentialism and feeling invisible

Natasha, the beautiful Dior model, the “face” of Dior”, felt “invisible”, despite a seemingly glamorous image. She wanted something more than being paraded around like a beautiful accessory, an ornament. She loved philosophy, studying the French philosopher Jean-Paul Satre. She was reading Being and Nothingness when she met Mrs. Ada Harris. 

“Is there another person behind the facade?” Natasha asks at dinner with Ada Harris and Andrè Fauvel, as they discuss the themes of Satre’s Being and Nothingness. 

Natasha finds herself dining with Dior investors as part of her work obligations, or accompanying movie stars to premieres, when she’d prefer to be at home reading a good book. In the evenings, the Dior accounts manager, Monsieur Andre Fauvel, was at home reading a good book from his book collection. 

“Why does he tolerate the fashion house compared to his world of Satre and the intellect?” Natasha asks. 

He remained at Dior because he was secretly in love with Natasha. They had more in common than appearance and perception would allow. 

And so I ask:

Are we what people label us as and perceive us to be or is there more that truly defines us? 

 

A guy I dated had said to me, "I'm authentic and not another so-so and I want to get to know everything about you." But was he what he said or perceived himself to be, and did he truly take the time to find out who I am? 

How I dreamed of love, joy, and some magic in my life, in a world that’s become so farcical and shallow. 

“We need our dreams, now more than ever,” said Mrs. Harris.

Monsieur Fauvel replied, “Perhaps it is you who wishes to be in love. You must attend to your own heart.” 

Very true. But for me, after all I’ve been put through by the “modern man”, who only attends to himself, my dreams have been shattered. It’s been too much reality of how men treat women. Where have kindness and respect gone?

Make the invisible visible

Ada Harris felt invisible. 

She finds that she shares this feeling with Madame Claudine Colbert. It shows how women hold the fort together, sometimes feeling like an invisible woman behind the great man. Good women get taken for granted many times, both at work and in their personal relationships. When will “great” men recognise, appreciate and respect "great" women? 

The “modern man” excels at making a good woman feel invisible. It’s heartbreaking and tragic. I can only talk from personal experience. 

After another betrayal or disappointment, I once asked my dad, “Am I not good enough?” My dear dad said, “No Vicki. You’re too good.” 

Good women are made to feel invisible, only “seen” and there when others “need” something, for their own needs without respecting the needs of the woman they keep taking from. 

“Them days are over when you can treat people like scum and expect loyalty in return.”

The most tragic thing is that I feel the dreamer in me is dead. Can that be resurrected? Brought back to life? Ask each selfish narcissistic man I had the misfortune of meeting. They’ll give you an answer that’s insensitive and focused solely on themselves. 

I despise what our society has become. It’s a dark lonely world for those who dared to dream. 

When everyone takes a good woman’s kindness for granted and makes her feel invisible:

Do something. Don’t snuff out the light of kindness, generosity and the dreams of great women. 

“It’s what you do that defines who we are”

“If they are breaching their own Code of Conduct.

You are not in a safe workplace.” Steve McDowell. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mcdowell-471a29184

The quote above was posted by Steve McDowell on LinkedIn. He went on further to say: 

“Rules that are supposed to guide behaviour become meaningless if leadership treats them as optional. 

If the standards they proudly publish don’t apply to those in power, then integrity, respect, and accountability are illusions. 

A workplace that breaks its own promises isn’t just inconsistent. It’s unsafe. 

Pay attention to the gap between what’s written and what’s lived. That gap is where trust erodes, and where harm begins.”

—————

The title of this post is the slogan that introduces the staff code of conduct. Many staff have been loyal and committed to abiding by the staff code of conduct, the mission and values espoused. For me, what’s written is a way of being. 

Once upon a time, the leaders were role models in applying the staff code of conduct. Not anymore. The abuse inflicted on staff, who do apply the staff code of conduct, is horrendous. 

It is called the code of conduct for all staff - does that not include the senior leaders? 

Let’s unpack some of the staff code of conduct for all staff: 

“…It’s your values, action and passion that makes the difference. … We expect the highest standards of social and ethical conduct, and believe all our staff deserve a fair workplace, and treatment with the utmost dignity and respect.”

But leaders are treating those staff who displayed the highest standards of social and ethical conduct with contempt. The VC and senior executives are ostracising and harassing staff, isolating them while engaging in malicious and vexatious actions, defrauding them as though they were slave labour for twenty years, tearing to shreds the staff member’s dignity, and even intimidating and disrespecting family members in greater WHS violations. 

“[The] Mission is central to the University, and informs every area – integrating the dignity of the human person, the common good, and ethical and social justice considerations...

…It complements our policies, employment and industrial agreements, and relevant legislation.”

But the VC and senior executives don’t apply the policies or honour the employment agreement with staff, nor the injury management plan agreement or relevant WHS and workers compensation regulations and other legislation, including privacy and anti-discrimination laws. 

“This Code outlines the behaviour we expect of all our staff and affiliates of the University... We expect our people to take ownership of their actions, and accept responsibility for any inappropriate/unethical behaviour or wrongdoing.”

But the VC and senior executives DO NOT take ownership of their actions, nor accept responsibility for seriously inappropriate and unethical behaviour and extremely serious wrongdoing. They “connect” with other “leaders” in the system, going to extreme immoral lengths to cover up the offences committed, rather than compliance with WHS Regulations and their legal obligation to ensure a safe work environment. 

“Our managers should be modelling proper and principled behaviour in all that they do.

We know that there may be times when you have a question, or experience an issue in the workplace. If there is anything you’re unsure about, please run it by the appropriate person, which in most cases will be your nominated supervisor.”

I DID RUN IT BY THE APPROPRIATE PERSON. AND LOOK WHAT THEY DID TO ME! 

READ MY BLOG POSTS SO FAR. http://mystory-myvoice.blogspot.com/

——

People are not garbage, especially in an organisation that has a commitment to the dignity of the human person in its mission. Where is the commitment and integrity? 

I was all alone trying to figure it out myself. Without mental clarity due to bullying, harassment and discrimination, I couldn’t make the best decision. I was thrust into the realm of HR to be victimised and taunted further. Why aren’t the policies and procedures followed and applied? How does this display zero tolerance for harassment, discrimination and bullying behaviour?

My work was never the issue. Unreasonable and unrealistic work expectations and bullying, harassment and discrimination were the issue. So much for policies and zero bullying tolerance.

I want to go back to my job. I had said repeatedly, I just want to do my job with dignity, in a safe environment, with a clear and realistic workload. Any logical and reasonable attempt I made to resolve this was ignored and I was taunted and harassed. 

In the end:

o How do you put a monetary value on all the additional injury suffered from HR and WHS staff, who also chose to bully, harass, victimise and NOT apply the staff code of conduct?

o How do you calculate the value of having one’s dignity torn to pieces from an organisation that has a commitment to the dignity of the human person in its very mission statement?

o How do you calculate the value of the effects of humiliation, taunting, hostile behaviour, feeling isolated and abandoned, treated like a criminal for requesting a right to a safe work environment?

o How do you calculate the value on the damage from gaslighting, malicious rumours, vexatious gossip, judgement and disrespect from leaders and managers who don’t apply the staff Code of Conduct or the Policy and Procedures for bullying, discrimination and harassment?

I need to finally be truly protected from further bullying and ensure I do return to a safe work environment.

Those who have committed these offences need to be investigated and held accountable. 

—————

This will be my last post on my professional psychological thriller story for this year. I’ll continue to unpack the code of conduct for ALL staff in 2026. 

The last thing I’ll do is begin listing the financial damage caused by ongoing self-insurer fraud as severe adverse action for requesting a safe work environment.

Let’s start with a total cost of employment law fees paid for a non-existent matter, but something that is the employer’s legal obligation and duty of care to comply with WHS regulations.

Total employment law fees for $0 Return on Investment regarding any procedural fairness (and unnecessary given the university’s WHS legal obligations):

TOTAL = $16, 231

I now have added distrust and trauma caused by lawyers.

Other than professional negligence / negligent advice from three employment law firms, I was betrayed, harmed and failed to be protected by NSW Police, the local court registrar, SafeWork NSW and the National Tertiary Education Union. Some assumed I knew the workers compensation “process” (SafeWorkNSW) or deliberately omitted information regarding my workers compensation entitlements being withheld (NTEU). The union also deliberately ignored my distressing pleas to stop the harassment from the national manager of employment relations and SAFETY.

The university is grossly negligent and intentionally reckless to continue the abuse rather than comply with WHS regulations.

This is an “at fault” claim or whatever legal jargon describes the cause of my workers compensation claim (still unprocessed) for continuing to harass and intimidate me and even my family, under workers compensation regulations. The very WHS senior executive responsible for the “wellbeing” of an entire national university community went to great immoral lengths, even hiring Clayton Utz lawyers as “hitmen”. But the VC and senior executive group authorise this reckless conduct with intent to cause harm. 

Does the staff code of conduct for ALL staff not apply to these leaders? 

—————

Reference

Vedelago, C. (2020, 22 December). ‘Catholic Church’s insurance company in financial trouble over abuse payouts’. The Sydney Morning Herald. Online: https://www.smh.com.au/national/catholic-church-s-insurance-company-in-financial-trouble-over-abuse-payouts-20201222-p56pg0.html

This article was published not long after leaders in Catholic Church Insurance, a self-insurer registered non-profit with the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission (ACNC), agreed to continue the most immoral adverse action for having requested a safe work environment. CCI, as you now know from my story so far, agreed to do so by committing the crime of workers compensation fraud. They have not passed on legally owed weekly payments and refuse to cooperate to implement the injury management plan agreement drawn up by them! See http://mystory-myvoice.blogspot.com/2025/06/injury-management-plan-legally-binding.html.

Thank you to the lovely and ethical case manager for doing her job efficiently, before “leaders” in Catholic Church Insurance removed her, never to be replaced. 

One would think CCI committing workers compensation fraud by withholding legally owed compensation payments, is not good business sense. They caused me massive financial damage on top of greater injuries for which they are now liable to compensate.

Had they complied with regulations, like they were meant to, it would have been minimal cost for everyone involved. And “businesses” should be held accountable and liable as any company. They shouldn’t be registered as charities or be given religious charity privileges. They need to be de-registered and forced to pay tax like everyone. Given I’ve documented all the evidence, the “risk” of theft from an injured worker wasn’t worth it.

But NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA NSW) let’s it happen. They are equally responsible and reckless for allowing such serious self-insurer misconduct and workers compensation fraud to happen.

Silence is complicity

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends”. Martin Luther King Jr.

On 21 December 2020, I attempted to communicate with colleagues for support. I received more silence. 

Why did this happen and how was it achieved? 

I sent this email via yet another personal email account, an old Hotmail account, for security and privacy reasons. It included four colleagues, two of whom were union reps.

The subject was: WHS & Safety risks even under workers compensation law to be reported to SIRA.

To quote from my email, “I had to fight for my rights and for all of our right to a safe work environment, on my own. No support was offered to me, even when I joined the union, at the same time I made a workers compensation claim. Ironically, I was charged my quarterly membership fee last week. No employment lawyer assisted me either, and I went through three legal firms. 

What I have fought for, on my own, could present bargaining power for the union regarding a clause in the current Enterprise Agreement that was repeatedly used in an attempt to destroy my career, my reputation, my dignity and my life. Yet I had no support when I needed it from my colleagues and the union. I will complain to the union next year, and ask why I and other professional staff, should be members. I don’t want it sold to me with words (I’m done with talk but no action), I want an action plan and communication…

What my employer has done is serious and could result in penalties and prosecution. I have an obligation and my right to report it to SIRA. And we all have a right to be respected, supported, valued and work in a safe environment…

Part of the RTW Plan will include a support network - you, my colleagues…it’s important for you to know what I’ve been put through and how serious the unsafe practices of the university have been.

I wish you a good Christmas and let’s hope for a healthier, safer and productive new year, with no more bullying and bureaucracy.”

I feel exploited, used as a bargaining tool by the National Tertiary Education Union, for better conditions for everyone else, excluding my employee rights. Refer to http://mystory-myvoice.blogspot.com/2025/10/unconscionable-conduct-is-choice-nteu.html.

Further to the above, I received a letter in the post from the PCBU around 22 December 2020 (likely HR, but there was no indication of who sent it on the envelope). I’m unaware of its contents. I did not open the envelope. I wrote “return to sender” and posted it back. 

It was Christmas, and they had caused harm to the wellbeing and safety of my family, beyond me. I don’t accept immoral and unlawful mail as further harassment and cruelty, at Christmas. I have a right to recover in my job as per injury management plan agreement, with the support I was denied to do so. I need the workplace mobbing to stop and for support to begin. It is a legal obligation of my employer. They have a duty of care.

This post is based on document 133. It shows the harm caused when people choose to be bystanders.

References 

‘Don't be a bystander: It's time to speak out against workplace harassment.’ (2023, 10 August). Human Resources Online. [Online blog post]: https://www.humanresourcesonline.net/don-t-be-a-bystander-it-s-time-to-speak-out-against-workplace-harassment

But what happens when HR and WHS leaders are authorised or coerced to engage in workplace harassment against a target, as adverse action? What if staff are threatened into silence and fear by a very abusive organisational culture created by the “leaders” at the top? What is the answer to this? SafeWork NSW do NOTHING to stop the organisational terrorism towards employees and even extended to the families! 

“The way to deal with bullies is to unite with your co-workers. Grouping against a bully will provide victims with support for their feelings, since victims of bullies are at risk of becoming isolated. Through joining together and discussing the bully’s behaviour, co-workers can contain the bully, who, with their behaviour exposed, loses the power to terrorise – and faces the threat of isolation.”

The above is a quote from: Lamia, M. (2017, 28 March). ‘The psychology of a workplace bully.’ The Guardian. [Online]: https://www.theguardian.com/careers/2017/mar/28/the-psychology-of-a-workplace-bully 

Ng, K. and Niven, K. (2021, 30 October). ‘Workplace bullying and the role of bystanders.’ CIPD Manchester Branch. [Online blog post]: https://cipdmanchester.wordpress.com/2021/10/30/workplace-bullying-and-the-role-of-bystanders/

Ng, K. and Niven, K. (2022, 28 April). ‘Bullying: why most people do nothing when they witness it – and how to take action.’ Alliance Manchester Business School. [Online blog post]: https://www.alliancembs.manchester.ac.uk/original-thinking-applied/original-thinkers/bullying-why-most-people-do-nothing-when-they-witness-it--and-how-to-take-action/ 

Unconscionable conduct is a choice - NTEU

“In our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as 'right-to-work.' It provides no 'rights' and no 'works.' Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining…. We demand this fraud be stopped.” Martin Luther King Jr.

On 11 December 2020, the university branch president of the National Tertiary Education Union finally communicated by email, but only to insult my intelligence by lying to me. It was demeaning and patronising. The deceit has been obvious. I’m disgusted by such unconscionable conduct above and beyond any other offence in this entire case. 

The calculated lies and manipulation from the National Tertiary Education Union to cover up the withholding of important information about my legal entitlements under workers compensation was horrendous! That’s abuse! 

I’m not going to quote the manipulative and calculated lie from the NTEU branch president (a senior lecturer in PSYCHOLOGY), with the branch organiser and someone else from the NTEU copied in, likely the branch organiser’s boss! 

My response to that bullshit that’s cost me so much, is in this post: http://mystory-myvoice.blogspot.com/2025/09/nteu-first-complaint-october-2020.html

On 22 January 2024, this individual was STILL the NTEU branch president. I hope that is not the case now. 

The NTEU must be publicly exposed for what it does to members who are professional staff. Colluding in the crime of fraud and mobbing while being vocal about wage theft and WHS. Why didn’t anyone inform me how all this worked? Why was I the target of so much fraud, deceit and abuse the one time I needed support in my work in twenty years? I will keep speaking up until accountability happens!

On 18 December 2020, the NTEU sent an email of their achievements, that excluded my employee rights to be protected as a member. I felt traumatised by so much inhumanity and hypocrisy. I’m lucky I’ve survived so far, but others may not have been so lucky to get this far in similar circumstances of workplace mobbing and self-insured employer fraud. 

The national president of the NTEU has a lot to answer for. I was subjected to all this because I burnt out from serious psychosocial hazards and having no choice but to ask for help, to ensure a safe work environment. I need to get back to my job, with all my entitlements that were defrauded, returned to me. 

Can someone enforce compliance of NSW workers compensation regulations, on ALL stakeholders? SIRA NSW does not enforce compliance on all stakeholders. It makes exceptions when it comes to the crime of workers compensation fraud.

I share the log of claims for upcoming enterprise bargaining in 2021, while the NTEU were complicit in sacrificing my entire life’s work and accrued entitlements in fraud as wage theft. Professional staff, don’t join the NTEU. 

This post is based on documents 135-136.

My personal story - Part 8 - Bethany College

 “This is what God asks of you, only this – to act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

Bethany College Opening Mass Celebration

During Years 11 and 12, I was disciplined and focused on my studies. Like I said in a previous post, despite certain narcissistic “relations” trying to bring me down throughout my whole childhood, I succeeded in the things I had control over. I had control over my grades. I was a high achiever. 

During my senior high school years, and earlier, I had reflected a lot on what I wanted to have and to achieve in my life. I had dreams - nothing that would be considered unachievable or unattainable. Or so I thought.  

I didn’t have it all figured out yet (who does at 17-18 years old?). But I generally had a good idea about what I wanted in my life. 

What were my dreams, at this time, as I stood at the door I would soon open, to my future life after high school? 

Lately I’ve been reflecting on what my goals were when I successfully finished high school - which of these goals were achieved (before evil befell on my life once more), and which were not, and why. 

It’s too emotionally overwhelming to reflect and write about all of these in one post, especially in light of the fact that I’m still fighting unjust battles I should never have been forced to fight. I’ll reflect on them, one by one, in subsequent posts.

I’ve been pleading with God to finally bring these battles to an end, for good to finally triumph, for peace to be restored once more, and that my contribution to our society will save lives beyond just mine. 

————

Bethany College was formed by the merger of two schools: St. Joseph’s and my high school, St. Mary’s. Many students remember the parish priest at Rockdale, Fr. Frank Bendeich, who also became school chaplain at Bethany College. Some of my friends have shared stories and photos with me, as parishioners of the Catholic Church at Rockdale. We need more down to earth, approachable bishops like Bishop Cremin, and we need more approachable priests like the late Fr. Frank, now more than ever.

Fr. Frank would say (verbatim), “Women are leaders, not just breeders.” He was a true leader, supportive of future leaders and supportive of gender equity. 

It’s not surprising that the following was written in an obituary in the St. George and Sutherland Shire Leader newspaper:

“He regretted the fact that priests had become overburdened by administrative duties.

Father Bendeich hoped women would get to play an increasingly bigger role in the church.” 

(See https://www.theleader.com.au/story/2856305/long-time-priest-frank-bendeich-known-for-love-of-sport-and-sense-of-humour/). 

Leadership is not about job descriptions, fancy titles or post-nominals. Authentic leadership is so much more than that. 

I’ve already written posts on this topic. See http://mystory-myvoice.blogspot.com/2025/08/my-personal-story-part-7-st-marys-star.html and http://mystory-myvoice.blogspot.com/2024/07/when-we-are-born.html.

I do wonder what priests like the late Fr. Frank would say, if he knew of the persecution I’m suffering at the hands of “leaders” in Catholic Church institutions, for no reason other than my having applied the Catholic Identity, Mission, Ethos, Values and Social Justice principles, in my own workplace, my university community, since August 2001.

I was taught well in my Catholic high school experience. It was a good experience, with good staff who inspired us to take our skills, knowledge and values into our future endeavours and for the greater good of the wider community. 

So why would the Catholic Church in Australia allow this to happen? Why would they teach you the way of Christ, His teachings and example, and then strip everything you worked honourably for; strip everything from you and mock you, like they did to Jesus before they crucified Him? 

My hope lies in the Resurrection. That is where I place my trust in Jesus. That is the victory of good trampling evil. 

But I’m tired. 

It’s been a very lonely fight for truth and social justice. Even God said, at Creation, it is not right for man (or woman) to be alone. 

We are made for community. We are made for family. 

We are not meant to be alone. 

The Catholic church next to my high school is St. Michael’s. Today is Michaelmas, and the Feast of the Holy Archangels. The parish church celebrates. 

Every time I drive toward St. Michael’s church next to my high school, I can see the beautiful Divine Mercy image, of Jesus taking the first step toward us, blessing us, with the words He told St. Faustina to include: Jesus I Trust in You. 

Every time I drive past the church and see this image, I humbly say a little prayer, “Lord have mercy on us and on the whole world. Jesus, I Trust in You.”

Throughout this entire battle, I’ve also prayed the prayer of St. Michael the Archangel, written by Pope Leo XIII:

St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

© JoeyWhisperz, Saint Michael the Archangel, CC BY-SA 4.0

Greater wage theft and fraud from the PCBU - December 2020

Respect for the goods of others

“The seventh commandment forbids theft, that is, usurping another's property against the reasonable will of the owner.”

Catholic Church. (1997). Catechism of the Catholic Church. (2nd ed.). Libreria Editrice Vaticana. (para.2408). Online: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P8B.HTM

On 1 December 2020, I received a letter from JFMLAW. I couldn’t view for my emotional safety and wellbeing. I assume unacceptable advice, again. 

It’s unethical and unacceptable for a client to plead for a meeting to brief their lawyer. I’m angry at the professional negligence. 

Honestly, I had a right to a safe work environment. I shouldn’t have needed a lawyer for that. It’s an employer’s legal obligation and duty of care as per WHS codes and regulations.

Institutional abuse and undisclosed conflicts of interest to obstruct justice, as illegal adverse action, including wage theft via fraud as per Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), is definitely not what a publicly funded PCBU, and its self-insurer registered with the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profit Commission, should be doing. 

But what a birthday gift from the employment lawyer, who was supposed to listen and take care of the interests of their client. This is my life’s work and these were serious offences committed by a publicly funded university and its “non-profit” self-insurer, as adverse action for requesting a safe work environment. It was this very same employment lawyer whose advice I followed to make a claim because, “It’s not worth your health”! See http://mystory-myvoice.blogspot.com/2025/05/i-advise-you-make-workers-compensation.html.

Is my safety at work exempt for Minister Sophie Cotsis, who authorised the latest SafeWork NSW campaign called IRREPLACEABLE? See https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/irreplaceable-new-safework-campaign-and-1277m-budget-injection-to-further-protect-workers and https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/advice-and-resources/campaigns/irreplaceable.

What about for Minister Jihad Dib regarding SIRA NSW’s failure and repeated refusal to enforce compliance on a self-insurer committing the crime of workers compensation fraud, for years! Finally, there’s a Public Accountability and Works Committee inquiry, where I made my own submission of evidence. See https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.aspx?pk=3108

Going back to the “services” of an employment lawyer at this time, how could I ever compete with such abuse of power and undisclosed conflicts of interest across jurisdictions, as I now know to be the case! How could anyone! 

See http://mystory-myvoice.blogspot.com/2025/04/employment-lawyer-3-part-5-unacceptable.html and http://mystory-myvoice.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-unfair-work-commission-denying.html.

• No one kept me safe! 

• No one protected me from WHS offences, especially when it was a core responsibility to do so;

• No one stopped the harm and injuries by the cause of my claim, still ongoing UNDER WORKERS COMPENSATION REGULATIONS;

• No one stopped the workers compensation fraud by the self-insurer and enforce the injury management plan agreement on both employer and self-insurer, who repeatedly refused to COOPERATE. 

On 7 December 2020, the mockery and harm from unethical governance practices and poor operational management within a publicly funded university, became worse. I received a degrading letter from payroll that added to my distress, indignity and injury. 

Payroll “claimed” that I was on unpaid leave, and they overpaid me. Payroll requested I pay back $5,871.69.

Wage theft via fraud + 305 days of stolen accrued leave entitlements since 2 July 2019 as adverse action for requesting a safe work environment.

I was NOT on unpaid leave. 

I was HARASSED through 305 days of accrued leave entitlements by HR senior executives, especially the national manager of employment relations and SAFETY, and her equally reckless WHS staff (two decades worth of personal, annual and long service leave).

This theft began from the day I reported serious psychosocial hazards. All that was required to resolve this issue were some agreed boundaries to MANAGE THE PSYCHOSOCIAL HAZARDS. 

See http://mystory-myvoice.blogspot.com/2025/09/theft-of-two-decades-of-accrued-leave.html.

Payroll wanted me to return money they were stealing from me. You cannot make this up, if you tried.

Here’s my question. Why didn’t the solicitor at JFMLAW pick up on this weird letter? This crap came via the employment lawyer. As I said, I was never on unpaid leave and this is the same solicitor who advised me to make a workers compensation claim, because it “wasn’t worth my health”. 

Why didn’t the employment lawyer agree to meet with me, so I could brief her on the sequence of events from 22 May 2020, when I submitted the first certificate of capacity? I needed to inform her about the serious misconduct from staff within the NTEU, who had agreed to allow the wage theft, workers compensation fraud, harassment and other WHS violations to happen. 

This abuse and crime of fraud was happening DURING my union membership, from the time we discovered the perpetrator, Rena Christmann, had intercepted my personal and private emails to my union reps. See http://mystory-myvoice.blogspot.com/2025/07/prohibited-workplace-surveillance.html

My career, university degrees and ethical hard work are of equal value to these legal professionals. But I don’t get paid what they do. Their professional negligence caused me harm financially, and to my health and wellbeing. I now distrust lawyers. They are triggers of trauma too. 

See http://mystory-myvoice.blogspot.com/2025/05/lawyer-client-relationship-in-workplace.html and http://mystory-myvoice.blogspot.com/2025/09/injury-management-and-rehabilitation.html

On 9 December 2020, I released the employment lawyer and enlisted a workers compensation lawyer to “dispute” the self-insurer’s decision. As I said in the previous post, I realised, in my case, I did not need to enlist an IRO funded workers compensation solicitor. But I did need a regulator who would enforce compliance on ALL key stakeholders.

Little did I know, at this time, more injury would be inflicted on me in the new year. Serious systemic abuse, especially caused by the dereliction and maladministration of both SafeWork NSW and SIRA NSW. 

As for payroll, see http://mystory-myvoice.blogspot.com/2024/07/part-2-organisational-culture-cons.html where another employee commented about a change in pay date, which meant pay would be delayed for three weeks. When the employee asked to receive one week in advance (which they had already worked, so it wasn't in advance, and it was to cover costs like fuel required to get to work), the employee was basically told “you must be joking we don't do that kind of thing here”.

This is NOT good governance in a publicly funded university. There is NO DIGNITY. There is NO RESPECT. There is NO SAFETY. Only abuse, slave labour, fraud and wage theft, serious psychological terrorism including theft of 305 days of accrued leave entitlements, stolen via relentless and ongoing harassment! 

Complete theft of everything from an employee who applied the university IDENTITY and MISSION, who worked with integrity and contributed ethically, for the benefit of the university community, for over twenty years. COMPLETE THEFT IN THE CRIMINAL ACT OF FRAUD. 

See an update on the Senate Inquiry that recently published 12 recommendations.  

“Public money comes with public accountability.”

Duffy, C. (2025, 19 September). 'Senate inquiry calls for cap to vice chancellor pay as chair lashes 'rotten culture' hurting university staff and students.' ABC News. [Online]:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-19/senate-inquiry-interim-report-university-governance/105795694  

Also: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Education_and_Employment/UniversityGovernance48 

This post is based on documents 130-131 & 134. It displays adverse action for requesting generally protected workplace rights, harassment, wage and leave entitlements theft, privacy violations, deception, workers compensation fraud and reckless conduct that condones engaging in WHS breaches and creating psychosocial hazards, not managing the risks as the PCBU is reasonably expected to do so, BY LAW.

Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Part 4AA: https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1900-040#pt.4AA  

Reading

Spring, C. (2017, 5 May). ‘Distress is not illness.’ Carolyn Spring : Reversing Adversity. [Online blog]: https://www.carolynspring.com/blog/distress-is-not-illness/