Witnessing bullying at work in Australia: what to write down and who to tell

If you witness bullying at work, write a short note soon after: what you saw and heard, when and where it happened, who was there and what you did. Then check in with your colleague privately, and look up what your workplace policy asks witnesses to do. You don't have to decide whether it meets a legal definition of bullying; your note records what you observed. This guide is for people working in Australia.

Where a witness stands

The Fair Work Commission describes bullying at work as a person or group behaving unreasonably towards a worker or group of workers, more than once, in a way that creates a risk to health and safety. Reasonable management action carried out in a reasonable way is not bullying. Whether what you saw fits that description is for the workplace process or the Commission to consider, not for the person who happened to be in the room.

Safe Work Australia notes that bullying can harm the person it is directed at and those who witness it, and that employers should give workers information on what to do if they witness bullying and how to report it. Under the model work health and safety laws, workers also have duties, including to co-operate with reasonable policies and procedures such as a workplace bullying policy. So a practical first step is to find that policy and read what it says about witnesses and reporting.

What to note

• When: the date and time, with estimates marked as estimates.
• Where: the site, room, shift, call or chat.
• What you saw and heard: exact words in quotation marks only if you are sure of them; otherwise, a plain paraphrase.
• Who was present: including anyone else who may have seen or heard it.
• What you did: whether you said anything, checked in afterwards or told a manager.
• When you wrote it: kept separate from the date of the event.

Record only what you saw or heard yourself. If a colleague later tells you about something you didn't see, note it as what you were told, by whom and when. A fictional example: “Thursday 17 September 2026, about 9:05 am, morning huddle at the loading dock. The shift supervisor said to Sam, ‘You're the slowest on the team, again,’ in front of about eight of us. Sam didn't reply. At the 10 am break I asked Sam if they were OK. Written 12:30 pm the same day.”

What to avoid

• Recording people without checking the rules. Laws on recording conversations differ between states and territories, and your workplace may have its own policy. Check both before recording anything.
• Sharing screenshots or details widely. Forwarding or posting them can expose your colleague and make things harder for them. Keep your notes private.
• Confronting the person on your colleague's behalf without asking. It can take the decision away from them or escalate things. Where it is safe, ask what they would like first.
• Adding guesses. Write what happened, not why you think it happened.

Supporting a colleague's complaint or application

The Fair Work Ombudsman suggests using workplace policies and processes first, where it is safe, and talking privately with a manager, a health and safety representative or human resources. If the bullying continues, an eligible worker can apply to the Fair Work Commission for an order to stop it. The Commission's Form F72 asks the applicant to describe what happened, where, who was involved, how many times it has happened and when it last happened. Your dated note can help your colleague remember who was present and when. If they ask, you can give them a copy; how it is used is up to them and the process.

For the person affected, there are guides on how to document workplace bullying, write a formal complaint to HR and prepare Form F72. If the behaviour involves serious threats or stalking, the Fair Work Ombudsman says to contact the police, and if anyone is in immediate danger, safety comes first.

Look after yourself too

Seeing someone treated badly can be stressful, and you may find yourself wondering whether you should have done more. If your workplace has an employee assistance program (EAP), check whether you can use it to talk to someone confidentially, or talk to your doctor.

Kirokune keeps notes and photos together in one private case on your iPhone, in time order. It helps you organise what you saw; it does not decide what happened or give legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do if I witness bullying at work?

Write a short dated note of what you saw and heard, who was there and what you did. Check in with your colleague privately, and read your workplace bullying policy to see what it asks witnesses to do. If anyone is in immediate danger, put safety first.

Should I report bullying I saw if my colleague doesn't want me to?

Where it is safe, talk with them first, since a report can affect them most. Your workplace policy may set out what witnesses are expected to do; if it does, follow it and let your colleague know what you plan to do. If there are serious threats or someone is in danger, safety comes first.

Can I record the bullying on my phone?

Laws on recording conversations differ between states and territories, and your workplace may have a policy on it. Check both before recording anything. A dated written note of what you saw and heard is an option that doesn't depend on recording.

Kirokune helps you keep a record. It does not diagnose, decide what happened, or give legal advice.