If you’ve experienced sexual harassment at work

If you or someone you know wants to report sexual harassment, or seek advice or information, WorkSafe Victoria (WorkSafe) and the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) can help.

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To report a crime like rape, assault or sexual assault, call Victoria Police on 131 444.

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General information

You can find information and resources about work-related sexual harassment for employees in Victoria on this page.

Note: Information on this page is not legal advice.

If you need legal advice, contact your legal representative or Victoria Legal Aid. You can find contact details for other legal services below.

Sexual harassment at work

Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual behaviour that could make a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated. Work-related sexual harassment happens at work, work-related events, or between people sharing the same workplace.

Examples of work-related sexual harassment

Sexual harassment can happen once or more than once. It can involve unwanted or unwelcome:

touching, hugging or other physical contact, like brushing against someone
staring or leering
suggestive comments or jokes
display of explicit images, pictures or posters
repeated requests to go out
requests for sex
sexual acts like masturbating in front of someone
intrusive questions about your personal life, body or appearance
abuse, threats or insults based on your sex, gender or sexuality
sexually explicit emails, text messages or posts online
sexual assault or rape.

What you can do

We know it’s difficult to talk about work-related sexual harassment, and we’re here to support you.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual harassment at work, you can report it or seek advice.

Who can help

You can report work-related sexual harassment within your workplace. Your workplace may have health and safety representatives (HSRs) who will be able to support you through the process.

Outside of your workplace, you can report to WorkSafe or VEOHRC. More support services, including some outside of Victoria, are provided on this page.

Click between the VEOHRC and WorkSafe tabs below to compare information.

WorkSafe can help you with matters relating to your health and safety at work. This includes sexual harassment.

Contact WorkSafe if you need:

someone to check if your employer is meeting their legal duty on sexual harassment at work (WorkSafe may investigate further if your employer isn’t doing enough to prevent sexual harassment)
someone to help your employer understand how to prevent sexual harassment in the future or help make changes at your workplace.

Contact details

You can call WorkSafe Advisory on 1800 136 089.

Available 8:00 am to 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday.

VEOHRCcan help you with matters relating to equality and discrimination, including sexual harassment.

Contact VEOHRC if you need:

someone to provide information about your rights if you’ve experienced sexual harassment at work
someone to help to resolve a dispute with your employer or the person who harassed you and seek an outcome (such as an apology, a promise to address the behaviour, financial compensation)
someone to work with your employer to help change your workplace culture to prevent future sexual harassment.

Contact details

You can:

call VEOHRC on 1300 292 153 (10 am to 2 pm, Monday to Friday)
email at [email protected]
make a complaint using our online form.

If you don’t want to make a formal report but still want to tell us about your experience, you can use our Community reporting tool.

If you’re unsure about who to call
You can contact one or both organisations. We can provide more information and guidance on next steps.
It’s safe for you to call us
Our staff are trained to help people who have experienced sexual harassment.

You can remain anonymous when you call us. You don’t have to tell us your name, your employer, or other personal information. However, there are some things we may not be able to do unless we know some information. We can talk to you about this when you call us, so you can make an informed decision.

We won’t share your information with anyone unless you give us permission.

You can contact us yourself or you can ask someone else to make a complaint for you. This can be a family member, friend, advocate, union, HSR or lawyer.
More information about how we can help
WorkSafe and VEOHRC have a range of services and reporting options available.

You can find more information at How to report sexual harassment at work.

Our services are free

Our services are free and available to everyone.

We’ll help you regardless of:

the language you speak
your race or ethnic background
your religious beliefs
your gender identity
your sexual orientation
your visa or migration status
your age
whether you have a disability.

We offer culturally safe services for First Nations people.

Your rights

It’s against the law for your employer to treat you unfairly because you discuss or report sexual harassment or safety concerns with WorkSafe, VEOHRC, your union, HSR or a co-worker.

If you feel your employer has treated you unfairly for getting help, you can contact WorkSafe or VEOHRC to report it or find out more about your rights.

If you need legal advice

You can call the legal services below or talk to your union about the best option for you.

WorkSafe and VEOHRC don’t provide legal advice or represent workers or employers.

Victoria Legal Aid: Call 1300 792 387 (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm)
Victoria Legal Aid MOB Helpline: Call 1300 662 852 (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm)
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service: Call 1800 064 865 (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm)
Q+Law (Free legal service for and by LGBTIQA+SB people): Call (03) 9968 1002 (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm)
Federation of Community Legal Centres: Call (03) 9652 1501 (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm)

More support services

If you’re not in immediate danger but need more support, there are free counselling services available.

Lifeline: Call 13 11 14 (24 hours, 7 days)
1800RESPECT: Call 1800 737 732
Sexual Assault Crisis Line: Call 1800 806 292
Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline: Call 1800 497 212
13 YARN: Call 139 276

Information about help outside of Victoria

An organisation promoting human rights in Australia and internationally.

Making a complaint about workplace sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment.

The national authority for work health and safety, and workers’ compensation.

If you’ve experienced sexual harassment at work

Immediate support

If you need assistance

Translating and interpreting service

For people with hearing or speech loss

General information

Sexual harassment at work

Examples of work-related sexual harassment

What you can do

Who can help

Contact details

Contact details

If you’re unsure about who to call

It’s safe for you to call us

More information about how we can help

Our services are free

Your rights

If you need legal advice

More support services

Information about help outside of Victoria

Australian Human Rights Commission

Fair Work Ombudsman Australian Government

Fair Work Commission

Comcare

Related information

How to report sexual harassment at work

Sexual harassment

Psychological health

Information

Services

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