National

These agencies can provide support to people across Australia to address workplace sexual harassment. For more information about how they may be able to help you, contact the agency directly.

The agencies listed here can provide support to people across Australia to address workplace sexual harassment. Select the name of the agency to learn more about how they can help you. 

Actions that you can take with the support of these agencies include:

  • Making a sexual harassment complaint with an anti-discrimination or human rights body.
  • Applying for a stop sexual harassment order (or a stop bullying and sexual harassment order), general protections, unlawful termination or unfair dismissal with the Fair Work Commission.
  • Making an application with a state industrial relations body if you have been unfairly dismissed because of the workplace sexual harassment or, or, in Western Australia specifically, apply for an order to stop bullying or sexual harassment.
  • Making a workers’ compensation claim with your employer or through a workers’ compensation organisation if the workplace sexual harassment has caused you physical or mental injury or illness.
  • Reporting the workplace sexual harassment as a work health and safety (WHS) issue to a WHS regulator.

About the Australian Human Rights Commission

The Australian Human Rights Commission can investigate and try to resolve complaints of discrimination and breaches of human rights, including complaints of sexual harassment, sex discrimination and sex-based harassment. The Commission administers Australia's anti-discrimination laws, including the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth).

The Commission is not a court and does not have the power to decide if what you are complaining about is unlawful discrimination. The Commission's role is to get both sides of the story and where appropriate, help those involved to resolve the complaint. It does this through a process called conciliation.

The Commission's National Information Service (NIS) provides information and referrals for individuals, organisations and employers about a range of human rights and discrimination issues, including sexual harassment, sex discrimination and sex-based harassment. This service is free and confidential.

Contact the Australian Human Rights Commission for more information

About ComCare

ComCare is the the national work health and safety (WHS) and workers’ compensation authority. Its functions include securing the health and safety of workers and workplaces. Comcare has a workers’ compensation role in respect of workplace sexual harassment where that conduct has resulted in an injury or illness to the worker.

Comcare administers the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and is the national regulator for WHS in the Commonwealth jurisdiction.

Comcare has regulatory functions and powers, including to enforce compliance with WHS laws. This includes in respect of workplace sexual harassment where the alleged conduct constitutes a WHS risk to workers.

Contact ComCare for more information

  • Website: ComCare
  • Email: general.enquiries@comcare.gov.au or whs.help@comcare.gov.au
  • Phone: 1300 366 979
  • Mail: GPO Box 9905, Canberra ACT 2601
  • Online enquiry form  
  • Translation and interpreter service: 13 14 50
  • Teletypewriter (TTY) users call 133 677 and ask for 1300 366 979
  • Speak and Listen users call 1300 555 727 and ask for 1300 366 979
  • Internet relay users connect to the National Relay Service (NRS) and ask for 1300 366 979
  • Video relay users can choose the available NRS video relay contact on Skype and ask for 1300 366 979
  • SMS relay users call 0423 677 767 and ask for 1300 366 979

About the Fair Work Commission

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) is Australia’s national workplace relations tribunal, established by the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). The FWC may be able to assist in workplace sexual harassment matters where sexual harassment is relevant to an application lodged in respect of:

  • an order to stop sexual harassment or an order to stop bullying and sexual harassment (stop sexual harassment order)
  • general protections
  • unlawful termination
  • unfair dismissal.

Contact the Fair Work Commission for more information

About the Fair Work Ombudsman

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

Contact the Fair Work Ombudsman

  • Website: Fair Work Ombudsman
  • Phone: 13 13 94
  • Mail: Fair Work Ombudsman, GPO Box 9887, insert your capital city and state/territory

Respect@Work acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past and present. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website may contain images and voices of people who have died.

Signup for updates