Work-related sexual harassment: Know your rights
Resources to help employees that have experienced or witnessed work-related sexual harassment.
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Know your rights and responsibilities
As an employee, you have a right to feel safe at work. Your employer is responsible for providing and maintaining a safe workplace that is free of sexual harassment.
You are also protected from sexual harassment at work under equal opportunity and anti-discrimination laws.
As an employee, you also have a responsibility to take reasonable care of your own health and safety in the workplace, as well as the health and safety of others who may be affected by what you do or don't do.
If you are experiencing sexual harassment, there are a number of services available to support you.
If you feel unsafe right now or need immediate support (available 24 / 7):
- Call Victoria Police on 000
- Call Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Call 1800RESPECT (national sexual assault hotline) on 1800 737 732
- Call the Sexual Assault Crisis Line on 1800 806 292
- Speak to your local GP
Report it
If you have experienced work-related sexual harassment there are a range of options and support services available. If you feel safe to do so, you should report sexual harassment directly through your incident reporting system or directly to your manager or to human resources. If this is not possible or practical in your situation, other options for reporting the issue include:
- WorkSafe advisory service
WorkSafe Victoria can help you for all matters related to workplace health and safety, including sexual harassment.
Our advisory service is available 7:30am – 6:30pm Monday to Friday on 1800 136 089.
- Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, VEOHRC
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission provides a free and confidential information and complaint process for people who have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace and other areas of public life such as education and accessing goods and services. They also deal specifically with issues of discrimination, victimisation, human rights and racial or religious vilification. To speak with an enquiry officer call 1300 292 153.
- Free anonymous chat tool
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission also provides a free and anonymous chat tool for victim survivors, bystanders and employers.
- Victoria Legal Aid
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal advice, information and representation to people who may have experienced sexual harassment, discrimination or victimisation. For legal advice or assistance, call 1300 792 387.
- Victoria Police
You can also contact Victoria Police via your local police station to report sexual harassment which may constitute criminal conduct.
- Victorian Aboriginal Legal Services
'We are union' provides a list of worker's unions that will also be able to help provide advice in relation to your workplace’s obligations for a safe working environment.
- Fair Work Commission
The Commission is Australia’s national workplace relations tribunal. It is responsible for administering the provisions of the Fair Work Act. The Commission hears claims as a tribunal and does not investigate. You can lodge a claim relating to workplace bullying, general protections matters that may relate to discrimination, or unfair dismissal. You can contact the Commission on 1300 799 675 or find out more online.
Making a report on someone else's behalf
Third parties (for example, if you have witnessed sexual harassment or been made aware of sexual harassment by the person affected) can also make a report through the above mechanisms, but you must consult with the person affected and agree on next steps before you do so.
It is important that the person affected is in agreement with, and has control over actions the third party is taking on their behalf. This includes agreement on any action taken to report the sexual harassment, as well as having oversight of the process, and being informed of the response to a report of sexual harassment.
In many cases, if a third party makes a report of sexual harassment, the responding organisation will need to make contact directly with the person affected in order to pursue the matter. Third parties can contact the above organisations to have a discussion about the process for reporting and responding to sexual harassment, without providing any details of the specific incident.
Dedicated programs
There are also dedicated programs to specifically support women, men, and people who are LGBTQIA+, young, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, migrants or refugees who are affected by sexual harassment.
- Victims of Crime helpline
The Victims of Crime Helpline offers information, advice and support and is the first step for victims of crime to access free services in Victoria. You can call the helpline on 1800 819 817 or text 0427 767 891.
- Sexual Assault Services Victoria
Sexual Assault Services Victoria can help connect you to services which are responsive and appropriate to your needs, and empower you to make informed choices. You can call them on 1800 806 292
- Queerspace
Queerspace provides community counselling for people who identify as LGBTQIA+. Call 03 9663 6733
- Djirra Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention Legal Services
Djirra Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention Legal Services is a culturally safe place where culture is celebrated and practical support is available. Call 1800 105 303
- Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS)
VALS provides free legal advice and representation for the Aboriginal community, when the sexual harassment forms part of a number of issues with an employer. You can call them anytime on 1800 064 865.
- Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health
Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health supports women from migrant and refugee backgrounds and provides information to support and promote health and wellbeing. Call 1800 656 421
- The Migrant Workers Centre
The Migrant Workers Centre empowers migrant workers to understand their rights, enforce them in the workplace, and connect with other migrant workers. Call during the week on 03 9659 3516
- MensLine Australia
MensLine Australia is an online counselling service for men with family and relationship concerns (available 24/7). Call on 1300 789 978