Cultivating Systemic Safety and Inclusion to Prevent Workplace Sexual Harassment
About the Project
Despite its high prevalence, affecting 20% of Australian workers annually, sexual harassment is not inevitable – it is preventable. In the work context, the greatest risks lie within workplaces rather than with workers per se; employees with the propensity to harass others are less likely to do so in certain work environments.
We are inviting employers to partner with us in building workplaces resilient to sexual harassment. Our team has been awarded funding under the Australian Research Council Linkage Projects scheme for a three-year project collaborating with a range of partners in work health and safety, human rights, and violence prevention.
We are seeking an Expression of Interest to join the project from organisations in high-risk settings: male-dominated industries (e.g., mining, construction, financial services); industries with high customer contact (e.g., retail, hospitality, healthcare and social assistance); and professions characterised by hierarchical structure (e.g., police, defence, medical, legal).
Project Objectives
1. Extend Knowledge of the Risk Contexts
Extend knowledge of where and how the risk for sexual harassment arises from factors in the workplace setting - the physical setting, job design, technology, social climate, and so on.
2. Co-design and Evaluate Prevention Strategies
Collaborate to co-design and test practical solutions that foster safer and more inclusive workplace environments, effectively preventing workplace sexual harassment.
Expected Benefits
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Extension of knowledge and capability building within your organisation about the origins workplace sexual harassment in day-to-day organisational functioning, to guide more effective risk management and prevention.
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Development of practical resources to support your organisation to manage positive duty obligations and cultivate change across Australia in how to approach, manage, and reduce sexual harassment at work.
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Participation in cutting edge research testing a new risk management intervention, co-designed with leading national experts and implemented by the research team in a small number of your teams/worksites.
Partner Involvement
To carry out this project, we need your help with the following resources:
1. Coordinate Participating Worksites
Identify worksites to participate in the project by co-designing and implementing the risk management intervention.
Support project activities (e.g., intervention co-design sessions, pre- and post-intervention survey).
2. Join the Research Alliance
Nominate a senior staff member to provide strategic input throughout the project.
Join dedicated partner workshops and research symposia to learn about emerging results and how to apply them in your organisation.
Deepen your connection to leading organisations and agencies in this space.
Partner Investment
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Modest cash funding each year of the project (e.g., $30,000 p.a.), classified as R&D funds for business tax purposes.
Cash contributions fund dedicated project staff and delivery of the intervention in your workplace. Higher contributions receive additional bespoke benefits.
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In-kind resources each year of the project, which is most likely to include staff time involved in co-designing, implementing, and evaluating the intervention.
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A representative from your organisation to participate in the research alliance and coordinate project activities internally.
