Could you confidently say what sort of behaviour is or isn’t sexual harassment? Is it touching? Innuendo? Banter? What about an email?  Plus, would you do anything about it? Yeah, it’s tricky. That’s why Rule of Thumb is coming back for Season Three – so we can all better understand the law, the stories, the impacts, the consequences, the systems, and the solutions. Penny Terry brings you stories from women who’ve been through it, lawyers who work on the cases, and ideas from a whole list of others who are keen to see change happen quickly.

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SHOW NOTES

USEFUL LINKS:

• Fact sheet on sexual harassment at work – Women’s Legal Service Tasmania:
• Workplace sexual harassment – Safe Work Australia: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safety-topic/hazards/workplace-sexual-harassment
• Preventing workplace sexual harassment – Safe Work Australia: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/preventing-workplace-sexual-harassment-guide
• Ending workplace sexual harassment: A resource for small, medium and large employers – Australian Human Rights Commission:
• https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/sex-discrimination/publications/ending-workplace-sexual-harassment-resource-small-medium
• The impacts of sexual harassment Infographic – Safe Work Australia: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/impacts-sexual-harassment-infographic

Scroll down for helpful contact details for individual legal, support and training options.

LEGAL ADVICE:

Women's Legal Service Tasmania

A free statewide service - 1800 682 468

The telephone advice line is the first point of contact for all legal advice and assistance.

You can call the 1800 service from anywhere in Tasmania, and the call will not be displayed on your telephone bill. All calls are completely confidential. Visit www.womenslegaltas.org.au or call 1800 682 468

You can find contact details for the women's legal service in your area here: http://www.wlsa.org.au/contact_us

You can find many useful FREE resources on the WLST webpage via this link:

https://womenslegaltas.org.au/resources/fact-sheets/

Legal Aid Tasmania

Everyone can receive free legal advice from Legal Aid Tasmania.

Visit www.legalaid.tas.gov.au or call the advice line on 1300 366 611

You can find contact information for the Legal Aid service in your state or territory here https://www.nationallegalaid.org/contact/

Launceston Community Legal Centre

This service provides free legal advice for people in the North East of Tasmania (63 phone region). The solicitors will be able to give you information on your legal issue and advise you as to what your next steps should be in relation to that issue

Visit www.lclc.net.au or Free Call: 1800 066 019

Hobart Community Legal Service

The Hobart Community Legal Service provides free legal information advice and referrals to people in southern Tasmania.

Visit www.hobartlegal.org.au to find the contact centre closest to you or call Head Office on 6223 2500

North West Community Legal Centre

A free one-off advice and referral legal service to residents on the North West Coast of Tasmania.

Visit www.nwclc.org.au or call 6424 8720

Law Society of Tasmania ‘Find a Lawyer’ function:

Search by firm, and then limit the search to ‘workplace relations’ specialisation.

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry:

1300 559 112

http://www.tcci.com.au/Home 

Equal Opportunity Tasmania:

1300 305 062

https://equalopportunity.tas.gov.au/html_version/sexual_harassment

Australian Human Rights Commission:

https://humanrights.gov.au/complaints/complaint-guides/information-people-making-complaints/complaints-under-sex-discrimination-act

1300 369 711

Fair Work Commission Workplace Advice Service:

https://www.fwc.gov.au/apply-or-lodge/legal-help-and-representation/legal-advice-workplace-advice-service

https://www.fairwork.gov.au/employment-conditions/bullying-sexual-harassment-and-discrimination-at-work/sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace

SUPPORT AND TRAINING SERVICES:

TASMANIA

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry:

Advice and Training:

1300 559 112

http://www.tcci.com.au/Home

Equal Opportunity Tasmania:

Information and education:

1300 305 062

https://equalopportunity.tas.gov.au/html_version/sexual_harassment

Sexual Assault Support Service (SASS) Southern Tasmania

1800 697 877

Provides 24/7 support, information and counselling in Southern Tasmania to males and females of all ages who have been victims of recent rape or sexual assault or sexually abused at any time of their lives.

SASS also provides a number of training options for schools, workplaces and communities: https://www.sass.org.au/training

Engender Equality

Engender Equality (formerly SHE) is a statewide Tasmanian not-for-profit organisation that supports people affected by family violence. Engender Equality IS NOT a crisis service.

Engender Equality also provides training and education services:

https://engenderequality.org.au/services/education-training

Hobart - (03) 6278 9090

Launceston - 0428 162 216

North West Tasmania - 0428 057 415

Laurel House Sexual Assault Support (Launceston, Devonport, Burnie)

Laurel House can help with:

• Medical and Forensic Help
• Medical Care
• Reporting to Police
• 24/7 Support
• Counselling

Contact 1800 MY SUPPORT (1800 697 877)

NATIONAL

1800RESPECT

1800 737 732

24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.

Lifeline

13 11 14

Lifeline has a national number that can help put you in contact with a crisis service in your State.

Anyone across Australia experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide can call 13 11 14.

Safe Work Australia

https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/search?search=sexual+harassment

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