Government invests in preventing sexual harassment
Media release
At a critical juncture when women’s safety is being discussed nationally, ANROWS has today launched its 2021–2024 Sexual Harassment Research Program. This grants round is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. Coinciding with the National Summit on Women’s Safety 2021, this funding builds upon the national momentum to address the problem of sexual violence (including sexual harassment) and its impacts, which are largely borne by women.
The prevalence of sexual harassment in Australian workplaces was examined by the Australian Human Rights Commission in 2018–2019. The resulting report, Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces, found one in three people had experienced sexual harassment in their workplace within the last five years. The report highlighted the relationship between gender inequality and sexual harassment in workplaces, finding that women experience higher levels of sexual harassment than men.
Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, who is also the chair of the Respect@Work Council, said, “Workplace sexual harassment is a systemic and costly issue and there is need for a national research agenda to address this.”
ANROWS CEO Padma Raman PSM said, “ANROWS has gone one step further than Recommendation 4 of the Respect@Work report by establishing a sexual harassment research program. ANROWS’s 2021–2024 Sexual Harassment Research Program will build the evidence base on sexual harassment in an Australian context and support the development of policies and programs for workplaces, public spaces and online.”
Sexual harassment exists on a continuum with sexual violence, which is a key priority identified in Australia’s National Research Agenda to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children (ANRA) 2020–2022. Evidence about the nature, experience and impacts of sexual harassment on women in private and public locations is necessary to support a number of recent and emerging national policy initiatives.
Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, Minister for Women’s Safety, welcomed the opening of the grants round which was part of the Australian Government’s response to the Respect@Work report.
“We’ve committed $5.3 million to build the evidence base and further develop primary prevention initiatives to respond to sexual harassment. We understand this is crucial in making sure women not only are safe in their workplaces but that they feel safe.”
Grant applications will be accepted until 11:59pm (AEDT) 11 October 2021.
Details about the research grants round can be found here.
For further information, contact Michele Robinson at ANROWS on +61 417 780 556 or email michele.robinson@anrows.org.au
About ANROWS
Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety Limited (ANROWS) is a not-for-profit independent national research organisation.
ANROWS is an initiative of Australia’s National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010–2022. ANROWS was established by the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments of Australia to produce, disseminate and assist in applying evidence for policy and practice addressing violence against women and their children.
ANROWS is the only such research organisation in Australia.