Sacked radio host Jackie Henderson suffered post-traumatic stress disorder from working with Kyle Sandilands and enduring his “ongoing bullying”, new court documents allege.

The former KIIS FM star’s “difficult” experiences of working with Sandilands are detailed in excerpts of an affidavit from June 2026, released by the Federal Court on Tuesday.

Sandilands and Henderson were let go by media group ARN after an on-air spat during their top-rated morning breakfast show in March.

Both hosts launched lawsuits against their former employers, and Henderson’s remains before the courts.

In the latest filings from ARN, Henderson said she noticed a “shift in the way Mr Sandilands spoke to me and treated me on air” from around 2023.

“What had previously felt like humour or banter started, at times, to feel different,” said ARN’s updated defence document, quoting from Henderson’s affidavit.

“The comments and putdowns became more pointed and less like they were said in fun and more like they were intended to belittle or humiliate me, and this became more difficult to tolerate over time”.

Henderson said she “did not know from day to day whether Mr Sandilands and [Sandilands’ manager] Mr Bouchet would be supportive of me or against me.

“Their behaviour was unpredictable and erratic.

“I often drove to work with a low level sense of anxiety and dread, which caused me to feel worn down over time.”

“The cumulative effect was that I felt emotionally unsafe in the workplace, even during periods where the relationship appeared outwardly positive”.

Between May and July 2025,  Henderson said she felt that the “constant attacking of my character and putting me down at work” by Sandilands was “slowly wearing me down.”

“I felt exhausted and like I wanted to give up. I felt like this treatment was happening in subtle ways but regularly. It felt like bullying.”

Henderson claims her PTSD also arose from her employer ARN not offering “appropriate care and protection”.

An expert report by Dr Jonathan Phillips, dated 2 June 2026, stated that she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder arising as a result of:

• ongoing bullying perpetrated by Sandilands
• the failure of ARN to offer appropriate care and protection
• the publishing of the Statement through the Australian Stock Exchange

However, ARN states that Henderson’s “alleged pain, suffering, hurt, humiliation and distress” were a result of the “failure” of her own company, Henderson Media, to ensure her health and safety.

Henderson had letters from other doctors including Dr Justine Corry, dated 25 July 2025, which said “the interpersonal treatment of Ms Henderson by Ms Sandilands was having a measurable and sustained impact on Ms Henderson’s mental health and emotional wellbeing, including symptoms of anxiety and psychological distress”.

A letter from Dr Emma Agnew dated 27 March 2026 stated that: “Jackie presents as having experienced a sustained period of psychological distress associated with her reported workplace experiences.

“The reported pattern of repeated belittling behaviour, which is consistent with behaviours commonly described as workplace bullying, in combination with the public nature of these interactions and the perceived lack of organisational
support, appears to have contributed to a decline in her emotional wellbeing.”

ARN and Sandilands settled their suit for $12 million in June.

Sandilands since revealed plans for his own subscription based program, Kyle Sandilands Live.