Understanding and preventing sexual harassment at work

Category: Respect at work
Audience: All Staff
Format: eLearn
Duration: 30 minutes

Course overview

This module explores how to identify, respond to and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace through a trauma-informed lens. It provides clarity on behaviours that are unlawful and those that are acceptable. Watch as our psychological safety experts explain the key definitions and responsibilities incumbent on employees, leaders and organisations. Apply what you’ve learned to some challenging scenarios and take away some useful tips for building your active bystander skills, including responding to harmful behaviours, protecting yourself, supporting others and building a respectful culture at work.

Fully updated for the Respect@Work changes to the Sex Discrimination Act and ideal for organisations seeking to enact their positive duty to prevent sexual harassment at work.

Learning outcomes

define sexual harassment and appreciate how inappropriate behaviours infringe on fundamental human rights
identify behaviours that fit the definition of sexual harassment and those that do not
connect sexual harassment and its impacts with personal wellbeing and performance
take appropriate steps in response to the harassment, both directly and as a bystander
apply strategies to promote a respectful culture at work
recognise the key areas of legislation in place to prevent sexual harassment
identify formal resolution steps and avenues to resolve issues and protect yourself and others at work

Compliance outcomes

Positive duty: meets workplace requirement to provide training and education to help eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace, and to take active steps in response to issues, including to ensure the work environment is not hostile on the ground of sex (in Australia under the Respect at Work Amendment Act 2021 and Sex Discrimination Act 1984)
Work health and safety: helps identify and mitigate psychosocial hazards (harassment, discrimination, traumatic events under Work Health Safety Act 2011 Australia) and promotes a culture of psychological safety
Fair work: helps workplaces prevent discrimination against employees on the ground of sex, and helps prevent a hostile work environment (in Australia under the Fair Work Act 2009).

Benefits

goes beyond the what-not-to-do by exploring what we can do to respond, support and help prevent
builds active bystander skills and confidence, through providing simple, practical strategies for response and support
presented using trauma-informed language and messaging, including tips for providing trauma-informed support
provides clear definitions and examples to help address grey area situations, including harassment on the ground of sex
provides a compelling picture of the potential harm to wellbeing, highlighting the need to take the issue seriously
can reference and link to your regional law, policies and support options on request