Workplace Bullying and Harassment Policy
A clear workplace bullying and harassment policy is a legal requirement and a practical necessity for every Australian aged care provider. It tells staff, managers, and volunteers exactly what behaviour is unacceptable, what to do if something goes wrong, and how the organisation will respond. Without it, providers risk regulatory findings, staff turnover, and serious harm to the people in their care.
What This Policy Covers
A workplace bullying and harassment policy defines unacceptable conduct in the workplace, including repeated unreasonable behaviour directed at a worker or group of workers that creates a risk to health and safety. It covers bullying, sexual harassment, discrimination, victimisation, and any related misconduct by staff, management, contractors, or visitors.
The policy applies to all settings where work is performed: within the facility, during off-site activities, at work-related social events, and in digital communications such as emails and messaging apps. It also sets out the rights of the person making a complaint and the process for investigating reports fairly.
Why This Policy Matters for Aged Care Compliance
Australian aged care providers operate under a layered set of obligations that make a robust anti-bullying policy non-negotiable.
FrameworkKey ObligationStrengthened Aged Care Quality Standard 2 (The Organisation)Providers must build and maintain a safe, respectful workplace culture. Governance systems must address workforce behaviour and protect staff wellbeing.Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth)Employers have a primary duty of care to eliminate or minimise psychosocial hazards, including bullying and harassment, so far as is reasonably practicable.Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)Workers can apply to the Fair Work Commission for an order to stop bullying if it occurs at work. Providers with inadequate policies face greater exposure to such applications.Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth)Organisations must take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment or risk vicarious liability for the conduct of their staff.
Residential aged care environments present specific risk factors: high-stress conditions, shift work, power imbalances in management structures, and close working relationships. These factors make it more likely that harmful behaviour will occur if the organisation does not actively work to prevent it.
What a Good Policy Should Include
A well-written policy does more than list prohibited behaviours. It gives people a clear path forward when something goes wrong. The following elements are standard for aged care settings:
- A plain-language definition of bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, and victimisation
- Examples of conduct that does and does not constitute bullying
- Reporting pathways for formal and informal complaints
- Confidentiality obligations for all parties involved
- Investigation procedures and timeframes
- Protections against retaliation for people who raise concerns
- Consequences for substantiated breaches
- Support resources, including employee assistance programs
This policy should be read alongside your Code of Conduct and Ethics Policy, which sets the broader expectations for professional behaviour across the organisation. It also connects closely to your Work Health and Safety Policy, which addresses the broader duty of care to manage psychosocial hazards in the workplace.
How Governa Helps Providers Stay Compliant
Governa's policy template library gives aged care providers a starting point that is already mapped to current legislation and the Strengthened Quality Standards. Each template is written for the Australian aged care context, so your team is not adapting a generic document from a different industry or jurisdiction.
The Norma compliance bot can also flag when a policy is overdue for review or when a regulatory update may affect your existing documentation. This means your team spends less time tracking changes manually and more time on direct care and governance activities.
You can browse all available templates in the Policy Templates Library to see the full range of workforce, clinical, and governance documents available for download.
Download the Free Template
The free Workplace Bullying and Harassment Policy template is available below. Fill in your organisation's details, review the content with your leadership team, and adapt it to your specific workforce context. If you would like to see how Governa can support your broader compliance program, book a demo with the team today.
