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Employment
Learn about the types of behaviour that are not acceptable in the workplace. Discover the importance of creating a respectful and inclusive work environment. Understand the legal implications of harassment, discrimination, and bullying, and learn how to report and address these issues.
Listen to what your body is telling you
Some not okay body clues are:
Some happy body clues are:
Your body is your body!
Sexual consent is an agreement between people to share a sexual act.
Consent must be given freely and happily, with shared understanding of what is going to happen.
It is consent when people know they want to do the sexual activities and they make sure their partner does too.
The Consent Continuum is a great resource to help people understand what is and is not consent.
The Consent Continuum is a great resource to help people understand what is and is not consent.
Behaviour that is not OK at work
Offensive behaviour or harassment
This includes anything that offends, humiliates, or insults people on the basis of an attribute. This could be nasty behaviour or annoying people; anything that upsets or embarrasses people; or being rude about a person because of something about them, like their race, religion, weight, gender, or disability.
Sexual harassment
This includes behaviour of a sexual nature which subjects someone to unwanted physical acts, advances or requests, comments, gestures, or actions. Behaviour that is sexual and is not wanted by other people, including touching, asking people to do sexual things, making comments, noises or movements that are sexual.
Victimisation
A person must not harass another person because they have, or intend to, make a complaint. If someone makes a complaint, or is going to make a complaint, it is not ok to bully them.
Inciting hatred
This is a public act which provokes hatred towards, serious contempt for, or severe ridicule of, a person or a group of people on the basis of an attribute. This also includes getting other people to bully someone because of something about them, like their race, religion, weight, gender, or disability.
Promoting or aiding discrimination and prohibited conduct
This includes the publishing or display of any sign or notice that promotes, expresses, or depicts discrimination or prohibited conduct (unless it is discouraging discrimination or prohibited conduct).
This also includes creating or putting up any sign, poster or picture that supports bullying, nasty behaviour, or behaviour that is not ok at work.
Understanding consent laws in Tasmania
There are laws that tell us what the age of consent is.
- If you are under 12 years old, you are not able to consent. Sex with anyone under 12 is against the law.
- If you are over 12 years old, it might be OK if your partner is no more than 3 years older than you.
- If you are over 15 years old, it might be OK if your partner is no more than 5 years older than you.
- If you are over 17 years old, you are able to consent if your partner is over 14 years old.
Everyone has a responsibility to know the age of their partner.
| Your age | Legally informed consent |
|---|---|
| Under 12 | Not able to consent |
| 12 years | Might be OK if your partner is 12-15 years old |
| 13 years | Might be OK if your partner is 12-16 years old |
| 14 years | Might be OK if your partner is 12-17 years old |
| 15 years | Might be OK if your partner is 12-20 years old |
| 16 years | Might be OK if your partner is 13-21 years old |
| 17 years | Able to consent if your partner is 14+ years old |
Image based abuse and online safety
If you share a picture with just one person, you no longer have control over who else might see it.
Here are some forms of image based or online abuse.
Doxing
When someone shares your personal information on the internet.
Sextortion
When someone threatens to share pictures of you on the internet unless you pay them money or do sexual acts with them.
Catfishing
When someone pretends to be a different person online. They might pretend to be a different gender, age or be interested in the same things as you. Usually done to get you to trust them and be friends with them.
Deepfake
A new picture that is made from two or more pictures, e.g. it might be your face on someone else’s body.
Understanding pornography
Pornography (or porn) is the name for pictures or videos that show sexual acts or naked bodies.
Porn is made to create sexual feelings. It is not always made with consent and rarely shows consensual relationships.
- Porn is not real.
- Porn is made to look good.
- Real life sex should feel good.
Respectful relationships have trust, good communication, kindness, empathy (sharing feelings), honesty, equality (sharing power, money or ideas evenly), respect for each other’s ideas and thoughts, and liking each other’s strengths.
A respectful relationship does not have people using power and control over each another.
A respectful relationship feels good and should never make you feel scared or unsafe.
With every right that we have it means that we also have the responsibility to do the same to other people.
Conversation starters
Is it OK if someone at work keeps asking you about your sex life or your romantic relationships?
This is called workplace sexual harassment. Asking you about your sex life is verbal sexual harassment and it is not OK. There are laws and rules in Australia that make it illegal to sexually harass someone at work.
Sexual harassment can be verbal, where a person asks questions or makes inappropriate sexual comments or requests; non-verbal where a person makes signs, stares, or displays sexual objects or pictures; or it can be physical where the person touches or kisses you in a way that makes you uncomfortable.
If someone is paid to come to your house because you need some help with tasks or personal care who must make sure that there is no sexual harassment?
If someone is paid to come to your house and help you with personal care, then your house is their workplace while they are there. So, both you and the person giving care need to make sure that there is no sexual harassment. The company or organisation that pays the person giving care also must make sure that both of you are safe from sexual harassment. If someone sexually harasses you while doing personal care, talk to a trusted adult who can help you to report it.
Someone at work makes a sexual joke about my body and everyone else laughs and it hurts my feelings. Is that sexual harassment?
Yes, it is.
Everyone has to remember that things they think are funny are not always funny for everyone else. We can’t say rude or hurtful things and then say it was a joke. If someone else finds it hurtful or embarrassing, then the person who said the sexual joke can get in trouble for sexual harassment. If this happens you can speak up and tell the person that it is not funny and you don’t like it and see if they stop it. You can talk to a manager or boss and make a complaint so that the manager will talk to the person. You can always talk to an adult that you trust for more help.
Get help now
If you, or anyone else is in immediate danger, call 000
Northern Tasmania
North West Tasmania
If you require assistance outside of business hours, please call the 24/7 Statewide Support number below:
Have a less urgent enquiry?
Please fill out the form below and your enquiry will be responded to within two business days
