On 29 November 2022, the Western Australian Government released a statement providing a progress update on a wide range of actions to tackle sexual assault and sexual harassment in Western Australian workplaces in response to the Parliamentary inquiry into the fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) mining industry.

To ensure increased awareness of the WorkSafe 24/7 reporting line the campaign will be phased with focuses on individuals and bystanders as well as managers and PCBUs.

What is sexual harassment?

Workplace sexual harassment is any behaviour directed at any person that affects a person because of their sex, gender or sexual orientation, or because they do not adhere to socially prescribed gender roles, that creates a risk to a person’s health or safety.

PCBUs have a responsibility to keep their workers safe

Some types of sexual harassment include touching, staring or leering, suggestive comments or jokes, sexually explicit pictures or posters, repeated invitations to go out on dates, requests for sex, intrusive questions about a person's private life or body, unnecessary contact, such as deliberately brushing up against a person, insults or taunts based on sex or gender, sexually explicit physical contact, sexually explicit emails, text messages, or social media activity.

The campaign

On 29 November 2022, the McGowan Government released a statement providing a progress update on a wide range of actions to tackle sexual assault and sexual harassment in Western Australian workplaces in response to the Parliamentary inquiry into the fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) mining industry. It included the following commitments:

It remains the responsibility of PCBUs and mine operators to ensure the regulator is informed of notifiable and reportable incidents. WorkSafe continues to remind duty holders of their reporting obligations and the accessibility of WorkSafe’s 24/7 reporting line.

All victims of sexual harassment can access the WorkSafe 24/7 reporting line. The incident information is triaged and assigned to the appropriate business area. If you are a bystander witnessing sexual harassment you need to report to your supervisor or through your workplace systems.

The campaign will be a three-phased approach directed exclusively towards the WA mining sector.

• Phase one will address the individual or victims of sexual harassment highlighting we are here to help.
• Phase two will target bystanders and witnesses, and the role they have in reporting sexual harassment and stopping the behaviour
• Phase three will target PCBUs and site senior executives and highlight their duty to keep everyone healthy and safe at work, including at employer-provided accommodation.

Target audience

This campaign specifically targets the mining sector in Western Australia.

• Victims of workplace sexual harassment
• All mine workers in Western Australia
• PCBUs, mine operators and site senior executives.

Guidance materials

For guidance materials and reports including inquiries into sexual harassment and guidance material to assist in keeping workplaces free from violence, harassment, discrimination and disrespect see Reports and guidance materials.

Report sexual harassment at your workplace online Click here to report sexual harassment