Peak Safety Body Calls On Businesses To Embed Sexual Harassment Prevention Into WHS Systems

This International Women’s Day (8 March), Australia’s leading workplace health and safety body has released a new position calling on business leaders and employers to treat sexual harassment as a preventable workplace health and safety risk, not handled solely as an HR or behavioural matter.

The Australian Institute of Health & Safety (AIHS) Position: Managing Work-Related Sexual Harassment Risk recognises that strong laws already exist, including ‘The Positive Duty’ under the Sex Discrimination Act and existing WHS obligations. The priority now is consistent implementation nationwide - embedding prevention into everyday WHS systems and ensuring sexual harassment is managed with the same rigour and accountability as any other workplace hazard.

Latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveals women are significantly more likely to experience sexual violence than men, with 318,000 women reporting work-related sexual violence since the age of 15.

AIHS Chair Celia Antonovsky said International Women’s Day is a timely reminder that safe and respectful workplaces are fundamental to equality.

“Every worker has the right to feel safe, respected and supported at work. Preventing sexual harassment is essential to protecting women’s wellbeing, confidence and participation in the workforce,” Ms Antonovsky said.

Ms Antonovsky said sexual harassment must also be considered within the broader context of workplace risks that disproportionately impact women.

“Other under-addressed workplace health and safety issues, including menopause, psychosocial hazards and pregnancy-related risks, require stronger WHS systems and organisational commitment,” Antonovsky said.

The 2025 AIHS Member Survey found only 60 per cent of WHS professionals believe workers feel safe to report incidents. ABS data also shows just 7.2 per cent of women who experienced physical assault by a male in the past 10 years sought advice or support from a colleague or manager.

“These figures remind us that persistent barriers to reporting still exist and that deeper cultural challenges remain within workplaces. Too many workers do not feel safe or supported to speak up, and sexual harassment continues to be under-recognised as a serious workplace health and safety risk,” Ms Antonovsky said.

“Sexual harassment cannot be handled behind closed doors or treated as a standalone HR matter. It is a workplace hazard that can cause serious psychological, physical, social and economic harm, and it must be systematically prevented.”

Ms Antonovsky said that there is an urgent need for action, organisations can’t rely on policies - they need to make prevention part of everyday WHS systems, leadership decisions, workplace culture and HR collaboration to protect all workers.

“This International Women’s Day, and every day, all Australian businesses have a responsibility to take proactive steps to systematically build workplaces grounded in safety and respect,” Ms Antonovsky said.

“Sexual harassment is still far too common, and women continue to be disproportionately affected, but it can be prevented. Every worker, has the right to go to work and come home safe at the end of the day.”

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