What to do

Home: Survivors: Sexual Harrassment: Sexual harrassment

• Tell the person/s harassing you that their behaviour is unacceptable. This may be done by telling them face to face, or writing to them, advising them that you will make a complaint if they don't stop.
• Discuss the harassment with the relevant officer at your work.
• Contact a Centre Against Sexual Assault and/or the Commissioner for Equal Opportunities for advice.
• Contact the Commissioner for Equal Opportunities to lay a complaint.

It is important to keep a record of the harassment and of what you do in order to try to stop it. If you have written a letter to the harasser, keep a copy of it. If you have spoken to them or anyone else at your work about it, keep a note of that too. The matter should be kept very confidential, as untrue or malicious accusations which damage a person's reputation can be considered defamatory.

When the Commissioner receives a complaint:

Complaints are investigated, and an attempt is made to conciliate. This means that the people concerned are brought together to see if an agreement can be reached. If conciliation does not work, the Commissioner may be asked to refer the complaint to the Equal Opportunity Board for a formal hearing.

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Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 12 Aug 2009