I know of a case at Melbourne uni where a post-doc was extremely verbally abusive to the phd-students they were supposed to be helping.

The several candidates came forward to HR, but HR apparently wasn't able to do anything about it because "it wasn't physical" and it "wasn't against a member of the staff". Completely disgraceful from the Uni . The only reason any justice was done was that those close to the matter did not renew their contract, so they were essentially let go. HR IS USELESS!