Sexual harassment as defined in Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Act (2010) includes any undesirable conduct of a sexual nature that makes a person feel offended, humiliated, and/or intimidated.
The intention of the harasser is irrelevant. An isolated occurrence is deemed adequate for sexual harassment to be identified which is to say that a pattern of such behaviour is not necessary for sexual harassment to occur. Despite being unlawful, sexual harassment remains a significant and valid concern in workplaces.
This Research Brief examines the Victorian Attorney General’s Office (VAGO) 2020 report on Sexual Harassment in Local Government. It examines the objective and the findings of the report including the prevalence, prevention and response of sexual harassment in local government in the state of Victoria.