They also need to be flexible and
appropriate for use in businesses of all
sizes and in all industries—with particular
effort required to ensure that resources
support and are appropriate for use in
small businesses.
To ensure employers and businesses of all
sizes have access to high quality resources
and tools to support all seven domains
of the framework, the Commission
recommends a collaborative approach
to the creation and distribution of these
resources. This can leverage the vast
amount of resources already in existence
and the expertise that resides in the
collaborating parties.
The Commission recommends the
establishment of a collaboration between
unions, employers and employer
associations to deliver information,
education and resources for workers and
employers through an online platform,
Respect@Work.
(vi) Support, advice and advocacy
When sexual harassment occurs, victims
need support, advice and advocacy.
Throughout the Inquiry, the Commission
heard that while there are services that do
provide support, navigating the pathways
to these services can be difficult, and they
are often too expensive or affected by
lengthy delays.62
Despite the broad-reaching detrimental
impacts of sexual harassment, many
people affected by it do not seek support.
The 2018 National Survey found that
fewer than one in five people (18%) who
said they experienced workplace sexual
harassment in the past five years sought
support or advice in relation to the most
recent incident.63 When victims do seek
support, it is often from friends and family,
and not necessarily specialist professional
services.64
A holistic approach
The Commission considers that support,
advice and advocacy should be delivered
through a holistic approach, providing
as seamless an experience as possible
for victims and other people affected by
workplace sexual harassment.
This holistic approach may involve smooth
and speedy referrals between services or
access to an all-inclusive support, advice
and advocacy service. Working women’s
centres are not-for-profit community
organisations that are well placed to
provide these services.65 Australian
governments should consider establishing
or re-establishing working women’s
centres in jurisdictions where they do not
currently exist to fulfil this role.
Information and referral
The Commission frequently heard that
workers’ needs were not being met
for clear, up-to-date, relevant, easily
accessible information to help them
come to terms with their experiences
and enforce their rights in relation to
workplace sexual harassment.66
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