Enhancing Workplace Safety: Practical Solutions for Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment Prevention in Queensland and Beyond

Sexual and gender-based harassment remains a serious issue in Australian workplaces, affecting employees’ safety, wellbeing, and productivity. According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, nearly one in three workers have experienced workplace sexual harassment in the past five years. The consequences of failing to address harassment are significant, leading to mental health issues, decreased job satisfaction, legal liabilities, and reputational damage for businesses.

With new legal requirements for sexual and gender-based harassment prevention now in effect as of March 1, 2025, Queensland businesses must take decisive action to ensure compliance. While these regulations are specific to Queensland, all Australian businesses should proactively assess their workplace policies, as workplace harassment remains a nationwide issue subject to both state and federal laws.

WorkSafe Queensland has introduced new guidance materials and resources to help businesses understand their obligations. These resources - including practical guides, a prevention plan template and a communications toolkit - are an excellent starting point for raising awareness and establishing foundational knowledge.

However, compliance requires more than just awareness. To effectively implement these requirements and mitigate risks, businesses need a structured, actionable plan. That’s where SafetyDocs by SafetyCulture comes in - offering a comprehensive prevention and response framework that provides the necessary policies, risk management strategies, and incident handling procedures to bridge the gap between policy and practice.

The Value of Using Multiple Resources for Compliance

For businesses looking to ensure full compliance, leveraging both WorkSafe Queensland’s resources and SafetyDocs by SafetyCulture’s structured implementation framework provides a complete solution. While WorkSafe Queensland provides the legal foundation and essential awareness materials, SafetyDocs by SafetyCulture transforms these principles into a fully actionable workplace strategy.

Below is an overview of what each offers to help businesses meet their obligations effectively:

SafetyDocs by SafetyCulture: A Complete Workplace Management Solution

While WorkSafe Queensland offers a guideline-based prevention plan template, SafetyDocs by SafetyCulture provides a fully developed, customisable prevention plan that is ready for immediate implementation. In addition to the new prevention plan requirements, our framework includes:

1. Comprehensive Workplace Policy

A well-defined Workplace Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment Policy establishes expectations, defines unacceptable behaviours, and reinforces your commitment to a harassment-free workplace. Our policy includes:

• Clear terminology definitions for consistency and understanding.
• Document control templates to ensure accurate updates and distribution.

2. A Fully Developed Prevention Plan with Built-in Review Mechanisms

Our Sexual Harassment & Gender-Based Harassment Prevention Plan provides more than just a template - it is a structured, best-practice framework designed for real-world application. This includes:

• Identifying and mitigating potential harassment risks.
• Control measures to prevent harassment incidents before they occur.
• Dedicated review processes to ensure policies remain effective, up to date, and aligned with evolving legislation and best practices.

3. Complaints Management and Incident Investigation

Handling complaints effectively is crucial. Our solution provides:

• Full Complaint Management procedures, guiding both informal and formal complaint processes.
• Incident and Investigation Procedure, ensuring all harassment incidents are addressed professionally and thoroughly.
• Incident Report Form template, streamlining documentation and reporting.

4. Practical Risk Identification and Mitigation Tools

To help businesses proactively manage risks, our solution also includes:

• A comprehensive Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment Risk Assessment Checklist for ongoing risk monitoring and mitigation.
• Structured workplace review procedures, ensuring your policies remain aligned with evolving legislation and best practices.

Take Action Now: Ensure Your Workplace is Fully Compliant

With the legal requirements now in effect, Queensland businesses must ensure they have a fully implemented harassment prevention plan in place. Businesses in other Australian states should also review their compliance with federal workplace harassment laws and proactively implement best-practice frameworks to foster a safe and legally compliant work environment.

✅ Review WorkSafe Queensland’s resources to gain foundational knowledge and awareness.
✅ Implement SafetyDocs by SafetyCulture’s Prevention Plan to ensure full compliance and practical risk management.

Don’t just meet compliance requirements - protect your workplace with a structured, proactive prevention strategy.

Learn more about the SafetyDocs by SafetyCulture solution and get started today.

 

---

Author - Craig Cruickshank is the HSEQ Manager and Senior Technical Advisor at SafetyDocs by SafetyCulture.

Craig comes from a construction and environmental background, with experience in both the private and public sectors and is passionate about making health and safety information easy to find and understand for everyone.

Learn more about Craig's work on LinkedIn

---

Available for instant download and supplied in fully editable MS Word format for use in your business.

Please note that the above information is provided as a comment only and should not be relied on as professional, legal or financial advice.