ON THIS PAGE
- External Sexual Harassment Reporting Avenues
- 2021: The Dr Helen Szoke Report
- 2022: Sexual Harassment and Respect Report Card
- 2022: Julie-Dodds-Streeton KC Report
- 2023: Sexual Harassment Survey Findings
We are committed to building safe, respectful, fair workplaces that are free from sexual harassment. On 14 July 2020, the Attorney-General of Victoria and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria jointly initiated a review of sexual harassment across the Victorian courts and Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
Dr Helen Szoke completed that review in April 2021 and her subsequent Report set out recommendations to prevent sexual harassment, improve reporting and support for those who experience it, and increase awareness and accountability. You can read Dr Szoke’s final report below.
EXTERNAL SEXUAL HARASSMENT REPORTING AVENUES
Access a summary of sexual harassment reporting avenues for people who experience or witness sexual harassment in the Courts or VCAT, on Court Services Victoria’s (CSV) website.
2021: THE DR HELEN SZOKE REPORT
Dr Helen Szoke’s Report sets out recommendations to prevent sexual harassment, improve reporting and support for those who experience it, and increase awareness and accountability. Access the final report and appendices.
2021: CHIEF JUSTICE'S RESPONSE TO THE SZOKE REPORT
Watch the Chief Justice of Victoria, Anne Ferguson, respond to the 2021 Szoke report:
“Sexual harassment is harmful, unlawful and wrong. It goes against everything our justice system is built on. I want to make it clear we will not put up with any form of wrongful conduct in our courts or VCAT. There will be zero tolerance for sexual harassment.”
My name is Anne Ferguson, and I am the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
In July 2020, the Attorney-General of Victoria and I initiated a review of sexual harassment across the Victorian Courts and VCAT. I did this with the support of the heads of all Victorian Courts and VCAT because all workplaces, including courts and tribunals, should be safe and respectful.
Sexual harassment is harmful, unlawful and wrong. It goes against everything our justice system is built on. I want to make it clear we will not put up with any form of wrongful conduct in our courts or VCAT. There will be zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
I want to acknowledge the harm that has occurred in our workplaces – the Courts and VCAT. It is clear that our responses to date have not been good enough and we must – and we will – do more.
The harm experienced by victims and survivors of sexual harassment is real and it is profound. That harm is exacerbated if those affected find themselves in an environment that fails to adequately support them and respond to the issue. We will not tolerate victimisation of anyone who makes a complaint.
A number of people came forward to tell their stories as part of this Review. That can’t have been easy. But it was powerful. We heard you, and we are determined to act.
The Review is now complete and I thank Dr Helen Szoke for her report.
The Courts and VCAT, the Judicial College and the Judicial Commission support all of the recommendations that have been made to us. More importantly, we have already begun the work to implement them and this will continue as a matter of priority. Some will be completed in the short term; others will take longer. We will track and report our progress over time.
Our aim is clear. We will do all that we can:
- to stop sexual harassment happening and, if it does occur,
- to minimise the harm on those affected
- to improve reporting systems and support the wellbeing of those affected
- and provide a robust system of accountability.
I would like to thank Dr Szoke for leading the Review with rigour, understanding and sensitivity. Thank you also to the many people and organisations who shared their experiences and insights, from inside and outside the Courts and VCAT.
Preventing and addressing sexual harassment is complex. But that won’t deter us from the task ahead.
We will build workplace cultures of respect, fairness and inclusion. Cultures that are safe and where people can trust their colleagues. Cultures which are free from sexual harassment, other wrongful conduct and the barriers they create to workplace participation.
We will build cultures where equal opportunity flourishes. Cultures where all our people can thrive.
2021 JOINT JURISDICTIONAL STATEMENT
The joint statement from the Courts Council, comprising the Heads of Jurisdiction and independent members below in response to the 2021 Szoke Report, is available to download.
2022: SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND RESPECT REPORT CARD
Of the 20 recommendations in the Szoke Report, 16 were directed to CSV, Heads of Jurisdiction, Courts Council, the Judicial College and Judicial Commission.
Access the Report Card outlining progress on the Szoke Report recommendations directed towards the courts and VCAT. Progress made against the 16 recommendations up to October 2022 is provided. View the Report Card on the Court Services Victoria website.
2022: JULIE-DODDS-STREETON KC REPORT
Recommendation 4 from Dr Szoke’s Report was for Court Services Victoria (CSV) to commission an independent expert to review and make recommendations on the recruitment processes and working arrangements for CSV staff who work in a primary relationship with judicial officers.
The Hon Julie Dodds-Streeton KC, assisted by Jack O’Connor of Counsel, was engaged to undertake this work. Ms Dodds-Streeton is a former Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria and the Federal Court of Australia and has undertaken investigations into judicial conduct including alleged sexual harassment.
That Report has now been published. You can access the report on the Court Services Victoria website.
2022: CHIEF JUSTICE STATEMENT TO JULIE-DODDS-STREETON KC REPORT
Access the statement in response to the Julie-Dodds-Streeton KC Report from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria and Chair of Courts Council, Anne Ferguson, on behalf of the Victorian courts and VCAT. Read the statement from the Chief Justice.
2023: SEXUAL HARASSMENT SURVEY FINDINGS
The Review into Sexual Harassment in Victorian Courts recommended that Court Services Victoria conduct an annual anonymous survey of all court and Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) user groups to track progress on incidents of sexual harassment, reporting of incidents and action by bystanders in the courts and VCAT.
The survey, which was released to all employees, judicial officers and VCAT members in August 2022, examined:
- the prevalence of sexual harassment<
- the nature of sexual harassment
- the reporting by both victims and witnesses, and
- the training, reporting and complaints handling processes.
The survey findings, released in April 2023, and an update about our response can be found on the Court Service Victoria website.
The findings provide further insight into the impact of the work that has been done to implement the recommendations of the Review and will inform ongoing efforts to eliminate sexual harassment from court and tribunal workplaces.
2023: MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF JUSTICE IN RESPONSE TO SURVEY FINDINGS
A message in response to the survey findings from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria and Chair of Courts Council, Anne Ferguson, on behalf of the Victorian courts and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal is available to download.