Grey Street Primary School

Anti-sexual Harassment Policy

 

PURPOSE

 

1.1  In keeping with the school's responsibilities under the Victorian Equal   

      Opportunity Act 1995 and with its own environment goals as set out in the School  

      Charter, Grey Street Primary School aims to-

·        To foster a safe school environment that is free from sexual harassment

·        Provide redress for people who have been sexually harassed

 

GUIDELINES

 

2.1  At Grey Street Primary School it is unlawful for a person to sexually harass another person. It is against the law for:

·        Staff to sexually harass other staff

·        Staff to sexually harass students

·        Students to sexually harass staff

·        Students to sexually harass other students

 

2.2 At Grey Street Primary School it is unacceptable for-

·        Any person to sexually harass other people when off-campus on approved school activities

·        Any person to request, instruct, induce, encourage, authorise or assist another person to sexually harass

·        Any person to sexually harass other workers or visitors on the school premises.

 

2.3  Definition of sexual harassment.

 

"A person sexually harasses another person if he or she makes an unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favours, or engages in any other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature."

Sexual harassment is behaviour of a sexual nature that is unsolicited and unreciprocated. It can consist of:

·        Unwelcome comments about a person's sex life or physical appearance

·        Suggestive behaviour such as leering and ogling

·        Brushing up against a person or other acts of unnecessary physical intimacy

·        Sexual jokes, offensive telephone calls

·        Sexual photographs, reading matter or objects

·        Sexual propositions or continued requests for dates

·        Physical contact, eg touching or fondling, indecent assault or rape ( which are also criminal offences)

 

Sexual harassment can be physical, verbal or written. It can include words, images, sounds or statements that are transmitted by telephone, fax, video-conference or e-mail.

 

 

 

IMPLEMENTATION

 

3.1  The following strategies will be put in place:

·        Appointment of a Sexual Harassment Officer.

·        Development of appropriate procedures to provide redress for students, staff and members of the school community who have been sexually harassed.

·        Awareness raising in staff, parents and students

·        Curriculum Program Development (Use of 'Hands Off' and 'Being Me' in 'Greylinks')

 

RESOURCES

4.1

·        Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995

·        'Hands Off' and 'Being Me'

 

EVALUATION

 

5.1 Evaluation will occur as part of the annual review procedure.