Cultural Change Champion: Sorry Not Sorry

More than a year ago, Rachelle “Rocky” Hair and Jenna Hemsworth made the brave decision to go public with their claims against their former employer Swillhouse, owner of venues including Caterpillar Club and Restaurant Hubert. Speaking with Good Food and The Sydney Morning Herald, they alleged they were sexually harassed, assaulted or discriminated against while working for Swillhouse – claims it denies.

Their stories sent shockwaves through Australia’s hospitality community, where sexual harassment is prevalent but rarely discussed publicly, and paved the way for other alleged victims to come forward. It also prompted a SafeWork NSW investigation, and led to government-mandated sexual violence prevention training in pubs and clubs.

Hair and Hemsworth used the momentum to do more, launching Sorry Not Sorry with Alex Hooker, Brittany Rowe and Reuby Kahl, and embarked on a tour of panel discussions and bar takeovers. The collective has evolved, with Sorry Not Sorry having a seat at the table with NSW Police, and advocating for policy reform, fairer complaint processes and industry regulation.

Importantly, the discussion moved beyond hospo circles to broader media – a 60 Minutes episode investigating Merivale and Maurice Terzini, for example – and helped shape a national conversation around acceptable behaviours in hospitality workplaces.