Sexual Harassment & Discrimination Legal Service

Kingsford Legal Centre provides a state-wide (NSW) legal advice service for people who have experienced sexual harassment.  To ask about making an appointment to speak to a solicitor call us on (02) 9385 9566 or 1300 722 795 (regional NSW) during our business hours or email us at legal@unsw.edu.au

KLC's community legal education program aims to prevent sexual harassment and to empower people to speak up when it happens. This education is focused on a wide range of audiences, from high school and university students to community legal centres, pro bono lawyers and community workers.

If you would like us to present at your school or youth group email us at legal@unsw.edu.au

Sexual Harassment Podcast

Kingsford Legal Centre lawyer Madeleine Causbrook spoke with Legal Aid NSW about our Employment Rights Legal Service and statewide Sexual Harassment & Discrimination Legal Service. This podcast examines a hypothetical case study of sexual harassment and an underpayment claim in employment. Madeleine discusses the holistic nature of KLC’s services and key things to consider for these kinds of claims, including how to get support early and prepare for legal appointments involving sexual harassment and discrimination issues. We also discuss the vital role of bystanders and support people in helping people who experience sexual harassment and discrimination get help. Click here to listen to the podcast! 

Kingsford Legal Centre recognises that our laws are not fit for purpose. Sexual harassment laws often fail people who have experienced sexual harassment and allow widespread sexual harassment to occur without redress. Kingsford Legal Centre has long advocated for better laws and policies to prevent sexual harassment before it occurs and provide appropriate redress to people who have experienced sexual harassment.

We recognise that sexual harassment often occurs when there are significant differences in power between people. We link our advocacy on sexual harassment to advocacy on a broad range of issues, including discrimination and employment law.

Our advocacy work draws on the experiences of our clients who have experienced sexual harassment and includes:

• Making submissions to inquiries;
• Engaging with decision-makers, media, experts and community stakeholders; and
• Building public awareness of the problems with the law and the available legal solutions.  

Kingsford Legal Centre’s advocacy work on sexual harassment includes:

• Our submission to the Inquiry into the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Bill 2021;
• Our submission to the Law Council’s Public Consultation on Further Revisions to Rule 42 of the Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules;
• Our article  in The Conversation on the Australian Government’s response to the Respect@Work Report;
• Our joint response to the Australian Human Rights Commission’s landmark Respect@Work report (with Redfern Legal Centre, Women’s Legal Service NSW and Community Legal Centres Australia);
• Our ‘#MeToo: Legal Responses to Sexual Harassment at Work’ report (with Redfern Legal Centre, Women’s Legal Service NSW and the National Association of Community Legal Centres);
• The Australian NGO Coalition Submission on Australia’s Compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (coordinated by Kingsford Legal Centre, the National Association of Community Legal Centres, Community Legal Centres NSW and Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand);
• The Australian NGO Coalition Submission on Australia’s Compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (coordinated by Kingsford Legal Centre and the Human Rights Law Centre);  
• Our submission to the NSW Justice Department’s Discussion Paper on the Sharing of Intimate Images without Consent;
• Our submission to the Australian Attorney-General’s Department’s Discussion Paper on the Consolidation of Commonwealth Anti-Discrimination Laws (with the National Association of Community Legal Centres);
• Our submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs Inquiry into the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 – Exposure Draft Legislation (with the National Association of Community Legal Centres);
• Our submission to the Australian Attorney-General’s Department on the Draft National Human Rights Action Plan.

You can read all Kingsford Legal Centre’s law reform submissions here

KLC is a leader in the conversation on cultural and institutional change within legal institutions and with the next generation of lawyers about sexual harassment in the profession.

KLC produces plain English and accessible information for the community on the legal rights of people who have experienced sexual harassment. We also provide links to helpful information provided by other organisations. 

Click here for KLC's factsheet on Sexual Harassment