10. Appendix B – Resources

There are a range of avenues to address sexual harassment at work and to access support.

Even where sexual harassment is being addressed through another avenue, PCBUs must manage the WHS risk to ensure the health and safety of their workers and others, so far as is reasonably practicable.

WHS Regulators

New South Wales: SafeWork NSW (www.safework.nsw.gov.au/)

Victoria: WorkSafe Victoria (www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/)

Queensland: Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/)

South Australia: SafeWork SA (www.safework.sa.gov.au/)

Western Australia: WorkSafe WA (www.commerce.wa.gov.au/worksafe)

Tasmania: WorkSafe Tasmania (www.worksafe.tas.gov.au/)

Northern Territory: NT WorkSafe (worksafe.nt.gov.au/)

Australian Capital Territory: WorkSafe ACT (www.worksafe.act.gov.au/)

Commonwealth: Comcare (www.comcare.gov.au/)

Police

If you believe workplace sexual harassment involves criminal conduct, including actual or attempted sexual assault, you can report the matter to police.

The Police Assistance Line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and allows the reporting of crime over the phone with the information being made immediately available to your local police.

Phone: 131 444 (in cases of emergency, please call 000)

Website: www.aic.gov.au/contact-us/report-crime

Human rights agencies

Human rights agencies can investigate reports about human rights breaches and discrimination, including workplace sexual harassment:

National: The Australian Human Rights Commission (www.humanrights.gov.au/).

New South Wales: Anti-Discrimination New South Wales (www.antidiscrimination.nsw.gov.au/)

Victoria: Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/)

Queensland: Queensland Human Rights Commission (www.qhrc.qld.gov.au/)

South Australia: SA Office of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity (www.equalopportunity.sa.gov.au/)

Western Australia: WA Equal Opportunity Commission (www.wa.gov.au/organisation/equal-opportunity-commission)

Tasmania Equal Opportunity Tasmania (www.equalopportunity.tas.gov.au/)

Northern Territory: Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission (www.adc.nt.gov.au/)

Australian Capital Territory: ACT Human Rights Commission (www.hrc.act.gov.au/)

Fair Work Commission

If you are a worker and have been treated unfairly or punished by your employer because you reported sexual harassment, you may be able to make a complaint to the Fair Work Commission.

In certain circumstances, they also have the power to issue a ‘stop sexual harassment order' to try to stop the harassment from continuing. For more information or to check your eligibility, contact the Fair Work Commission.

Phone: 1300 799 675

Website: www.fwc.gov.au

Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman is Australia’s national workplace relations regulator. It provides employees and employers with information and advice about workplace entitlements and obligations.

The Fair Work Ombudsman can provide general information about protections from sexual harassment, preventing and managing sexual harassment in the workplace.

Phone: 13 13 94

Website: fairwork.gov.au

Workers’ compensation

If a worker sustains a physical or mental injury from workplace sexual harassment requiring medical attention or time off work, they may be able to access worker’s compensation.

New South Wales: NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority (www.sira.nsw.gov.au/)

Victoria: WorkSafe Victoria (www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/claims)

Queensland: WorkCover Queensland (www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/claims-and-insurance)

South Australia: ReturnToWork SA (www.rtwsa.com/)

Western Australia: WorkCover WA (www.workcover.wa.gov.au/)

Tasmania: WorkSafe Tasmania (www.worksafe.tas.gov.au/topics/compensation/workers-compensation)

Northern Territory: NT WorkSafe (worksafe.nt.gov.au/workers-compensation)

Australian Capital Territory: WorkSafe ACT (www.worksafe.act.gov.au/workers-compensation)

Commonwealth: Comcare (www.comcare.gov.au/claims)

Mental health support

There are a range of mental health bodies that can provide individual support to workers.

The National Mental Health Commission provides a list of organisations providing mental health support.

Website: www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/find-support

Domestic, family and sexual violence counselling

1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. It can be contacted on 1800 737 732 or via online chat at www.1800respect.org.au