A Safe Learning Environment

A Safe Learning & Working Environment

Introduction

Trinity Grammar School is committed to providing all members of the Trinity community with a learning and working environment which is safe, supportive and caring, and which is free of harassment and discrimination of any kind. Harassment and discrimination will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The School expects everyone who is part of the School community – students, parents and staff – to honour the School’s commitment in this regard and to work with the School in establishing a safe learning and working environment.

Definitions

Harassment includes bullying and sexual harassment. It involves physical, verbal or psychological behaviour which makes another person feel embarrassed, offended, upset, devalued, degraded, afraid, frustrated or angry. Bullying is a form of harassment which involves repeated intimidation, over time, of a less powerful person by a more powerful person or group of people. Sexual harassment refers to unwelcome contact or advances of a sexual nature.

Examples of harassment include:

> hiding, damaging, destroying or stealing others’ belongings;
> name calling, putting a person down, teasing, pulling faces, using abusive language;
> hitting, pushing, pinching or threatening;
> deliberately excluding a person;
> insulting, demeaning, humiliating, offensive, vilifying or intimidatory behaviour, or behaviour which incites hatred;
> making comments about a person’s sexuality;
> showing material of a sexual nature;
> whistling, gesturing or making comments that are sexually explicit and offensive;
> behaviour which is unwelcome, unreciprocated and uninvited.

Sexualised Behaviour. Trinity Grammar School places a high priority on creating a respectful and safe environment which is free from sexualised behaviour. Sexualised behaviour includes sexual harassment, physical contact of a sexual nature, viewing or showing material of a sexual nature (including, but not limited to pornography), comments about another person’s sexuality, using language that is sexually explicit or sexually suggestive or other behaviour that is unwelcome, unreciprocated or uninvited. Public displays of intimate affection or relationships, such as handholding or kissing, are not permitted in the School context. This includes when students are at any School campus, any School function, camp, tour or event, or any other public occasion in which students are associated with the School.

Discrimination refers to any behaviour or practice which reflects an assumption of superiority of one group over another or which discriminates on the basis of a real or perceived membership of a particular group. Examples include discrimination on account of a person’s gender, religion, intellectual or physical ability, culture, race or background. Examples of discrimination include:

> asking discriminatory questions;
> making offensive comments or gestures, telling offensive jokes or showing offensive material;
> calling a person names;
> deliberately excluding a person.

Creating A Safe Community

Our aim is to create an environment of understanding and co-operation. The School is committed to implementing strategies which create a safe learning and working environment and reduce, as much as possible, the incidence of harassment and discrimination. Anti-social behaviour of any kind is unacceptable in the School community.

The School provides proactive measures such as the Social and Emotional Wellbeing Survey, eCare email, Life Skills Programme, presentations and workshops, confidential surveys, active grounds supervision, peer mentoring and regular individual interviews with students by Housemasters and other Senior Staff. Students are educated to respect the rights of others to be free from harassment and discrimination.

Online Safety

Trinity places a priority on the provision of Internet access and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment. However, the School recognises that the presence in the learning environment of these technologies may also facilitate anti-social, inappropriate, and illegal material and activities. The School, aims to maximise the benefits of these technologies, while at the same time minimising and managing the risks. Trinity has in place rigorous and effective school-wide cyber safety practices which are directed and guided by the School’s ICT Policy.

The Information and Communication Technology Student Acceptable Use Agreement sets out
the expectations that the School has for by students at School and out of School.

Online Harassment

Neither the Trinity Grammar School network nor the broader Internet (whether accessed on campus or off campus, either during or after School hours) may be used for the purpose of harassment.

Online harassment includes, but is not limited to: harassing, teasing, intimidating, threatening or terrorising another person by sending or posting inappropriate and hurtful email messages,
instant messages, text messages, digital pictures or images, or social media posts.

What to do if you are being harassed

If you feel you are being harassed or discriminated against, there are a number of actions you
can take:

> Avoid retaliating or responding
> Collect the evidence – screenshot social media posts
> Block the person who is harassing you
> Report the abuse to the social media service
> Inform the School
> If you believe it is having a seriously threatening, intimidating, harassing or humiliating effect, make a complaint on the Children’s eSafety Commissioner’s website.
> Consider informing the police

All reports of harassment by Trinity students will be investigated. Sanctions may include, but are not limited to, detention, suspension or expulsion. In some cases, forms of online harassment may constitute a criminal act and the School reserves the right to refer the matter to the Police or other appropriate authorities.

If you are harassed or discriminated against:

> Tell the person to “stop.”
>Avoiding a confrontation and just walking away can be effective, though ignoring continued incidents may give the impression that harassment and discrimination are accepted within the School. The School’s Counselling and Psychological Support Service is available to help students develop the skills to be assertive in these situations.
> Do not retaliate aggressively, either physically or verbally.
>Discuss the situation with someone you are comfortable with; your parents, your Housemaster, the Chaplain, a School Psychologist or the Head or Deputy Head of School. You may also use the School’s eCare email (eCare@trinity.nsw.edu.au) which provides an opportunity to express concerns, and/or report incidents, which you would otherwise be reluctant to discuss in a face-to-face situation. 

Students who observe any form of harassment or discrimination, wherever it occurs, are encouraged to report this to a member of staff as soon as possible. Harassment and discrimination can never be seen as being “just a joke” or “just mucking around.” There is nothing trivial about being victimised. Parents who observe a significant change in their son’s behaviour should talk to their son and a senior member of staff at the School, as such changes may be symptomatic of harassment or discrimination.

Investigation

The School will investigate all reports of harassment and discrimination in a way which affords procedural fairness to the person who is the subject of the allegation. In all cases, the School will act without bias and ensure claims of harassment and discrimination are addressed without undue delay, providing pastoral support and disciplinary action.

Stand down

From time to time there may be a need to stand a student down from attending School. This may be for the safety of the individual student, for the safety of other students or staff, it may be to allow time to develop a Risk Assessment for an individual student, or group of students, or to conduct or protect the integrity of an investigation. A stand down will be recorded as an Approved Absence.

Standing down is not a disciplinary sanction and is not recorded as a Suspension.

As a general principle, decisions concerning child protection, child safety and child welfare are collaborative and will involve Trinity Grammar School members of the School Executive, School Psychologists, Case Managers, and external health professionals. The recommendation to stand a student down, and responsibility for contacting parents, advising the student, and consulting the Deputy Headmaster – Summer Hill and Headmaster, sits with the Head of School.

Working Together

Parents, students and the School cannot opt out of our joint responsibility in the matter of harassment and discrimination by saying “boys will be boys” as if this justifies aggressive and anti-social behaviour. We need to ensure that our students learn the right way to behave and to empower them to take a strong stand against anti-social behaviour in all its forms. Every member of the School community has the responsibility to contribute to the general welfare of the School.