Respect the line: preventing and addressing workplace sexual harassment
A Working Women’s Centre workshop in collaboration with the AEU and IEU. Open to all genders.
Every educator deserves a workplace where they feel safe, respected, and supported. Yet we know that sexual harassment remains a significant issue across school settings. This interactive workshop is designed specifically for educators, giving you the knowledge and practical skills to understand and respond to workplace sexual harassment within the education system.
This workshop will focus on sexual harassment as a workplace issue, including systemic and cultural barriers, rather than the management of student behaviour. Participants will explore why workplace sexual harassment occurs, including the ‘Gendered Drivers of Violence’, and identify forms of sexual harassment that show up in education settings.
Throughout the workshop, educators will be supported to:
- Articulate what sexual harassment is and why it happens
- Identify systemic barriers to gender equality
- Discuss rigid gender roles and harmful stereotypes
- Demonstrate understanding of legal rights and the Positive Duty
- Devise strategies to prevent and respond to workplace sexual harassment.
A key focus will be on empowering educators with a clear understanding of their rights: Positive Duty, WHS and other relevant laws/policies that protect educators, and how to use these when workplace sexual harassment is being minimised or excused.
The session also examines the realities of reporting in education: processes for staff to report WPSH and potential barriers to reporting, alongside practical examples of what collective action can look like, from union working groups to recent disputes that improved workplace safety in schools.
Our participatory approach ensures that all participants are actively engaged, encouraged to contribute, and supported to reflect on how to apply these insights in their professional context. The session combines discussion and skills practice to build confidence in recognising and addressing inappropriate behaviours, working towards creating safer and more respectful school environments.
Open to IEU members of all genders, across all roles and career stages.
Date
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Time
9:00AM-1:30PM
Duration
4.5 hours
Registration for this event is now closed.
