A residential care provider in NSW has been fined $300,000 in relation to risk of workplace sexual violence. 

The District Court of NSW has convicted and fined a residential care provider for breaching its work, health and safety obligations and as a result of exposing workers to a risk of violence, including inappropriate sexual behaviour, in the workplace.

The case was brought by SafeWork NSW against Marist Youth Care Limited, for failing to address risks of inappropriate sexual and violent behaviour and a history of assault by clients, which resulted in a risk of serious illness or injury to workers.

“This is a significant conviction brought by SafeWork NSW against Marist Youth Care for failing to prevent the risk of work-related violence and should be a warning to NSW employers that violence and sexual harassment in the workplace are never acceptable,’ said the head of SafeWork NSW, Trent Curtin.

“Under NSW WHS laws, employers are required to address WHS risks and should take proactive, preventative action in their workplaces to ensure workers are protected from harm, including from violence and sexual harassment.

“To help ensure workers are protected from sexual harassment, SafeWork NSW has set up a dedicated Respect at Work Taskforce - the first Australian WHS regulator to do so - and will support NSW employers to take systemic action to address this pervasive harm.”

For further advice and resources on preventing workplace sexual harassment visit Respect at work.