Westpac Rescue is an organisation rent by staff allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and victimisation, the Herald has revealed.

Australia’s helicopter rescue services receive widespread support and funding and are rightly regarded as modern-day national heroes, but one of their groups is facing unprecedented headwinds.

Westpac Rescue, which operates between Newcastle and the Queensland border, is the subject of an investigation. Sydney Morning Herald And 60 Minutes This revealed allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and victimization by staff hired by an organisation. Some say they were forcibly removed from a ceremony where some liberators were celebrated with lavish gala balls while the complaints of others were ignored.

At least three whistle-blowing complaints have been lodged against the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, including a document signed by 11 employees accusing the service of endangering the health and safety of its staff, multiple breaches of its internal code of conduct, poor management and “creating a culture of fear”.

After months of investigation, our reporters Eryk Bagshaw, Patrick Begley and Laura Sparkes said the allegations paint a picture of an organization determined to protect a valuable state government contract while silencing dissent and ignoring critical security risks.

Westpac Rescue declined an interview but said in a statement the service was committed to providing a workplace where staff feel proud and safe. “We deeply regret that anyone in our community felt we fell short in this regard and we apologize unreservedly,” a spokesperson said. “We reject allegations that there are widespread ongoing security or cultural issues within the organisation.”

Westpac Rescue, a separate operation of Westpac Lifesaver covering Sydney, is one of eight independent Westpac-sponsored rescue services across Australia. The bank, which has been sponsoring for more than 50 years, has no operational involvement in the service. Nine Entertainment’s regional television channel NBN is the helicopter rescue service’s main media partner. Granny is also the owner of this tag.

A spokesman for Westpac Bank said the organization was deeply disappointed by the allegations and called for a full, independent investigation. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said NSW Ambulance was seeking more information about the allegations from Westpac Rescue. “I strongly encourage anyone with these complaints to contact SafeWork NSW, who are best placed to investigate these matters,” he said.

For decades the northern service has been under a taxpayer-funded contract with NSW Ambulance and aims to become Australia’s leading aeromedical rescue provider. The company is seeking a new 10-year contract with the NSW government worth up to $500 million when the current arrangement ends in 2027.

This is a big, innovative initiative involving a lot of government money, and the kind of project that requires more transparency than Westpac Rescue currently demonstrates. Nonprofit organizations should embrace being an open book, because closed-door policies can also erode ongoing and generous financial support from the public.

Ian Badham, who founded the country’s first helicopter rescue service in Sydney in 1973, said helicopter rescue services had spent more than five decades building a reputation and the last thing they needed was for trust to be shaken.

Bevan Shields sends out a special newsletter to subscribers every week. Sign up to receive your Editor’s Note.