Sexual harassment

 

National sexual harassment in the workplace prevalence survey

Since 2002, the Commission has conducted national sexual harassment phone surveys every five years. These surveys provide the only national trend data in Australia on the prevalence of sexual harassment both in the workplace and the broader community.

The Commission is currently conducting the fourth national workplace sexual harassment survey, the results of which are due mid-2018.

For the first time, this survey will also provide data on the prevalence of sexual harassment across major industries. This information will provide the Commission with a better understanding of the scale and nature of these issues within particular industry, and will enable the Commission to provide government and business with an evidence base for developing targeted strategies and policies aimed at preventing workplace sexual harassment.

The 2018 survey will also see a change in methodology, with the survey being partially conducted online for the first time.

The Commission receives funding from the Commonwealth Department of Social Services to undertake this work. The funding is provided under Action 1.5(a) of the Third Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022, which is to:

Build on work being done in the public and private sectors to embed greater gender equality in workplace culture and increase workforce participation and economic security for women.

2016 Australia Bureau of Statistics Personal Safety Survey

The 2016 Australia Bureau of Statistics Personal Safety Survey found that:

• Two in five people aged 18 years and over experienced sexual harassment during their lifetime.
• One in two women and one in four men had experienced sexual harassment during their lifetime.
• In the last 12 months, one in six women and one in eleven men  experienced sexual harassment.
• For both men and women, younger age groups were more likely than older persons to experience sexual harassment in the 12 months. Approximately 38% of women and 16% of men aged 18-24 years had experienced sexual harassment in the 12 months prior to the survey.

Click here for more information about the findings of the 2016 Personal Safety Survey

What is sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment is defined in the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) as any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favours or conduct of a sexual nature in relation to the person harassed in circumstances where a reasonable person would have anticipated the possibility that the person harassed would be offended, humiliated or intimidated.

Click here for more information about complaints under the Sex Discrimination Act.

University sexual assault and sexual harassment project

At the request of Australia’s 39 universities, the Australian Human Rights Commission conducted a national, independent survey of university students to gain greater insight into the nature, prevalence and reporting of sexual assault and sexual harassment at Australian universities.

The report was released on 1 August 2017. To find out more about the University project and the Commission’s audit, see here. 

Previous sexual harassment prevalence surveys

2012 Sexual harassment national telephone survey

The Commission’s third sexual harassment survey, conducted in 2012, found that approximately one in five (21%) people over the age of 15 years experienced sexual harassment in the workplace in the previous five year period.  It also found that sexual harassment continues to affect more women than men.  Thirty-three per cent (33%) of women have been sexually harassed since the age of 15, compared to fewer than 9% of men.
To view the full results of the 2012 survey, see Working Without Fear.

2008 Sexual harassment national telephone survey

The Commission’s second sexual harassment survey, conducted in 2008, found that 22% of females and 5% of males had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace at some time, compared to 28% of females and 7% of males in 2003.
It also found a lack of understanding as to what sexual harassment is. Around one in five (22%) respondents who said they had not experienced ‘sexual harassment’1 then went on to report having experienced behaviours that may in fact amount to sexual harassment under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth).
To view the full results of the 2008 survey, see Sexual Harassment: Serious Business.

2003 Sexual harassment national telephone survey

20 Years On: The Challenges Continue: Sexual Harassment in the Australian Workplace (2004) is an analysis of results from the first comprehensive national telephone survey on sexual harassment conducted for the Commission by the Gallup Organization.

Resources

The Commission has developed resources for employers that provide practical guidance on how employers can prevent sexual harassment and how to respond effectively when it occurs: Ending workplace sexual harassment: A resource for small, medium and large employers 

Know Where the Line Is

The Know Where the Line Is national awareness raising strategy is a tripartite partnership of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australian Council of Trade Unions, which offers a unique and important opportunity to join forces to target employers and employees as part of broader efforts to prevent and reduce the harm of sexual harassment in Australian workplaces.

For more information about Know Where the Line Is click here.