Charity accused of toxic environment, inappropriate behaviour, excessive spending
The Narang Bir-rong Aboriginal Corporation has responded to allegations of a toxic environment, inappropriate behaviour, and excessive spending in its workplaces, following claims from former employees and board members.
The NBAC, which provides services to Indigenous children removed from their homes, released a series of statements to the Sydney Morning Herald clarifying the alleged incidents.
"All matters raised have been thoroughly investigated and have either been found to have no basis or have been resolved to the board's satisfaction," it told the Herald.
"We have sought, and will continue to seek, appropriate advice, to engage with relevant authorities, and take steps to ensure the organisation operates with integrity and accountability."
The statement comes in the wake of allegations against the organisation, including against its CEO Heidi Bradshaw, who was reportedly sexually grinding on a colleague at a Christmas party and texting about which member of a sponsored sports team she was interested in.
The NBAC board, however, stated that the dancing involved a secondary "willing participant" at a social setting with long-term colleagues and friends.
"Bradshaw acknowledges that, in hindsight, it was not appropriate. Since then, she has remained mindful of her leadership role and the expectations that come with it," the statement read as quoted by the Herald.
Another allegation against the company is the excessive alcohol consumption at staff events, including an alleged instance in which a staff member was reportedly intoxicated to the point of urinating on bushes during a 2023 Christmas party.
But the board clarified that such behaviour was addressed at the time, and the employee was told off by staff at a rural venue. It added that they are compliant with the Responsible Service of Alcohol policies when it comes to serving alcohol in its events.
In addition to the allegations of inappropriate behaviour, former employees raised concerns about the organisation's spending priorities.
Several former staff members questioned the focus on sports sponsorships and extravagant events, which they argued were funded at the expense of the children the charity was supposed to serve.
The NBAC board responded to these concerns by defending its use of funds, stating that "events are funded from organisational funds, not operational funds."
"Narang Bir-rong's expenditure on staff wellbeing and sponsorships remains within appropriate limits approved by the Board," it added.
Additionally, the board rejected claims that the organisation’s spending on sponsorships, including a partnership with the Orange United Sporting Club, was inappropriate. According to the board, the sponsorship is part of the organisation's efforts to strengthen ties with local Aboriginal communities and increase brand awareness.
The accusations come as NBAC faces a high turnover rate, with 52 staff members leaving the organisation since March 2022.
However, the board denied that this exodus was due to cultural issues, maintaining that it had a 98% retention rate in the past year. "Narang Bir-rong has zero tolerance for bullying, harassment, and inappropriate behaviour," the board's statement said as quoted by the Herald.
Concerns were also raised about the qualifications of new hires. One former staff member claimed that Bradshaw hired an individual with no qualifications whom she had met on a dating app, while another described a recruit who frequently missed work and was ultimately managed out.
The board responded to these claims by asserting that it has a "robust and transparent" recruitment process, with recruitment decisions assessed independently.
On the resignation of three board members in May 2023, who cited concerns about "egregious misconduct" and "numerous discrepancies" in the organisation's operations, the board states that issues were not raised during the former members' tenure and that no further investigation was pursued due to lack of evidence.
