Refer to our grievance and complaint resolution page . If you have one, follow your organisation’s complaint resolution processes in relation to harmful behaviours or other psychosocial risks in your workplace.

If your organisation doesn’t have an existing policy or procedures for preventing and responding to bullying, examples are available from Safe Work Australia. These can be modified for any type of harmful workplace behaviour.

If your organisation does not have any processes, or you are dissatisfied with their response to your concerns, there are a range of other agencies that may be able to assist.

The most appropriate agency will depend on the nature of the complaint, the jurisdiction, and the desired outcome.

Actions that you can take with the support of these agencies are described below.

• If you are concerned about psychosocial risks in your workplace and do not believe that they are being adequately addressed:
  • you can contact SafeWork SA. SafeWork SA cannot directly address an individual's behaviour. The Inspectorate looks at what systems, policies and procedures the organisation or business has in place to make sure that psychosocial hazards and risks are managed adequately in workplaces and in accordance with the WHS Act and Regulations.
• If you are not employed in local or state government and want to apply for a stop sexual harassment order or a stop bullying order:
  • you can do so through the Fair Work Commission. It only accepts applications relating to Constitutional Corporations (sole traders/partnership are excluded). The worker must also be still employed at the workplace. The Commission can also assist you in relation to general workplace protections, unlawful termination or unfair dismissal.  The Commission’s jurisdiction in relation to harmful behaviours is limited to preventing workers from being bullied or sexually harassed at work where mediation and conciliation have failed. It cannot issue fines or penalties and cannot award financial compensation. Their focus is on resolving the matter and enabling normal working relationships to resume.
• If you believe that you have been unfairly dismissed:
  • you can lodge an unfair dismissal claim with the South Australian Employment Tribunal.
• If exposure to psychosocial risks has caused you physical or mental injury or illness:
  • you can make a workers’ compensation claim with your employer or through Return to Work SA.
• If you would like assistance about conciliating a complaint about workplace sexual harassment:
  • you can contact the Australian Human Rights Commission or Equal Opportunity SA.
• If you wish to report an assault or other criminal behaviour, contact SA Police.

Guidance for workers

If you reasonably believe that you have experienced harmful behaviour or been exposed to other psychosocial hazards at work you should make reasonable attempts to resolve the matter internally through an informal or formal process (where available) before referring to external agencies for assistance. In addition, you will need to:

• keep records of specific incidents, dates/times and any witnesses
• speak with your manager/supervisor, health and safety representative (if you have one) or union representative (if you have one)
• keep records of who you spoke to and when
• detail what actions have or have not been taken by you and your PCBU to resolve your complaint.