The Queensland Government has introduced changes to the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 regarding the prevention of sexual harassment and sex or gender-based harassment at work.
Effective 1 March 2025, Queensland employers will need to have a prevention plan in place to address these risks, and take steps to ensure workers are made aware of this plan.
The prevention plan must be in writing, identifying the risks and controls in place as well as the factors that the person conducting a business or undertaking took into account, including consultation on the process.
The plan must specifically address:
- how reports of an incident may be reported.
- how alleged incidents will be investigated; and
- the process for issue and dispute resolution.
The Prevention Plan must be reviewed as soon as practicable after a report of sexual harassment or sex or gender-based harassment at work is made, as soon as practicable after a Health and Safety Representative or Committee ask for the plan to be reviewed, or otherwise every three years.
Reasonable steps must be taken to make workers aware of the Prevention Plan and how to access it.
A Sexual Harassment Prevention Plan template is available on the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland website, and AAPi members can access a Sexual Harassment Policy template here.