South Australia will require hospitality staff to undertake mandatory bystander awareness training as part of a state-wide push to combat sexual harassment, gender-based violence and drink spiking in licensed venues. The Malinauskas Labor Government has released a discussion paper seeking industry feedback before the model is finalised.
Currently, only New South Wales mandates sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention training for hospitality staff and liquor licence holders, with its reforms coming into effect in June 2025. South Australia’s plan would extend training across the industry, aiming to give workers the knowledge and confidence to identify, prevent and respond to harassment, assault and discrimination. Around 70 per cent of hospitality workers in the state are women.
Last year, the Australian Hotels Association began offering voluntary training on these issues to members, but the government’s move will make it compulsory for all venues. The proposal follows concerns raised by the Equal Opportunity Commissioner, the United Workers Union and What Were You Wearing Australia, including during consultation on the Late Night Code, where many hospitality workers reported experiencing sexual harassment in their careers.
Minister Katrine Hildyard said: “Every woman has the right to feel and be safe – wherever we are, whatever we are wearing and whether we are at work or at home or out with friends. Our venues where people gather need to be safe, equal and respectful places that everyone can enjoy – those who work in or those who attend them on a night out. Everyone has a part to play in eliminating sexual violence and gendered violence in all its forms. Our government is determined to play ours and mandating bystander training is another way we are doing so. I am so grateful the AHA is playing theirs too by empowering hospitality workers with an understanding of what constitutes and drives sexual violence and how to feel confident to speak up and act against it. By implementing bystander training and fostering a culture of respect for which everyone takes responsibility, we can create safer and more respectful environments for all.”
Small Business Minister Andrea Michaels said: “The Malinauskas Government is working to stamp out sexual harassment in hospitality venues with mandatory training designed to help protect staff and patrons. South Australia is one of the first states in Australia to make training on sexual harassment mandatory for licensed venues. Mandatory bystander training will help empower hospitality workers to better identify and respond to sexual harassment and drink spiking in their venues. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their workplace and we want to ensure workers have the tools and the support they need to address these issues and keep themselves as well as their patrons safe. I commend the AHA for the work they have done to support their members address this important issue and we will make sure this valuable support is available right across the state.”
Australian Hotels Association SA Chief Executive Anna Moeller said: “Sexual harassment and any other form of anti-social behaviour is inappropriate in any workplace in any industry. Hospitality is a broad church and whilst hotels only make up approximately 600 of the approximately 6000 venues of this kind across the state, we are proud to be at the forefront of a proactive response. The safety of hotel staff is of paramount concern to us and bystander intervention training is very important to ensure that staff in our industry are equipped with the knowledge, tools and resources to enhance their safety while at work. We look forward to continuing to work with the Minister in the roll out of bystander training across the state.”
The training is expected to be finalised by the end of the year.
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