Sexual Harassment Still Rife in Australian Workplaces

Original article published by SafeWork SA

One in three Australian workers experienced sexual harassment at work in the past five years, the latest Australian Human Rights Commission survey has found.

However, reporting of workplace sexual harassment remains alarmingly low, at only 18 per cent.

The survey, Time for respect: Fifth national survey on sexual harassment in Australian workplaces, comes four years after the previous national survey found similar rates of workplace sexual harassment.

The results were handed down as the federal government, industries and workplaces are continuing to implement all 55 recommendations from the Commission’s landmark Respect@Work Report. This is expected to reduce rates of sexual harassment in Australian workplaces going forward.

The survey was conducted with over 10,000 people aged 15 years or over, using a sample that is representative of the Australian population in terms of gender, age and geographic location. The Commission conducted and reported on similar sexual harassment surveys in 2003, 2008, 2012 and 2018.

SafeWork SA launched a campaign in September aimed at reducing the risks of sexual harassment, discrimination and violence at South Australian mine sites.

The campaign included a forum in Adelaide for senior managers and safety representatives from major SA mines to share information and gain a deeper understanding of industry best practice.

SafeWork SA Executive Director Martyn Campbell said sexual harassment, discrimination and violence is a work health and safety risk and a crime under other legislation.

‘Every workplace needs to control the risk of inappropriate behaviours towards workers leading to psychological injury,’ he said.

‘Worker’s being exposed to sexual harassment, discrimination and violence is unacceptable.’

Read the full Australian Human Rights Commission survey report here.

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