Providing a harmonious environment by

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• Providing a harmonious environment by
• Understanding and Managing Bullying and Harassment

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Bullying is

• repeated, unreasonable behaviour that is
  considered offensive, intimidating, humiliating,
  or threatening
• it is associated with unequal power relationships

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Bullying behaviour can be verbal, physical,
social and/or psychological

• Some examples
• being shouted or sworn at, put-downs, insults,
  sarcasm
• hitting, pushing, threatening gestures eg finger
  shaking, stares
• sabotaging others work
• interference with your personal effects or work
  equipment
• excluded from information or training needed to
  perform a task

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Harassment is

• behavior that offends, humiliates or intimidates
  another person based on
• sex, age, disability, sexual preference,
  transgender, marital status, pregnancy, carers
  responsibility, race (including colour,
  nationality, descent, ethnic and religious
  background), or association with these people

In NSW it is against the Anti Discrimination Act
1977, for people to be discriminated against or
harassed on these grounds. Sexual harassment is
also against the law in Australia.
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Incidence

• 15 of employees are subjected to bullying or
  harassment each year.
• 46 of Australians have been verbally or
  physically abused by someone with whom they work.
  
• We have no figures for bullying in TAFE.
  According to 1996 research one student in six was
  bullied each week in Australian schools.

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Why bullying might not be reported by staff and
students?

• Fearing payback or being labelled weak or
  whinging
• Thinking that no one will believe or act on the
  problem
• Believing it will affect their career, employment
  or training prospects
• Accepting bullying as a normal part of
  work/learning culture

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Types of Bullying

• Accidental bully
• Serial bully
• Gang / colleague bullying
• Secondary bullying
• Stifling effects on witnesses
• Passing on the bullying to another
• Residual bullying
• Cyber bullying

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Who can be a Bully?
Who can be a Target?

• Managers and supervisors
• Teachers and colleagues
• Students
• External organisations/clients

• Managers and supervisors
• Teachers and colleagues
• Students
• External organisations/clients

Being a bully is not limited to any particular
position, gender, or personality type and
neither is being a target.
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Why are we concerned about it?
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Bullying its bad for you

• Possible effects include

Stress, anxiety, tension Feeling of social
isolation at work Loss of confidence and self
esteem Deterioration of personal
relationships Headaches, backaches, stomach
pain, depression Stress related illnesses Can
be a precursor to violence
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Bullying its bad for you

IT IS AN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE
THAT SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED
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Bullying its bad for TAFE

• staff / student attrition
• staff / student absenteeism
• legal and compensation costs
• productivity loss, increased errors
• loss of employee loyalty, commitment and morale
• effects on growth and profits

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Myths about Bullying

• What some people call "bullying" is really tough
  dynamic management
• Bullies don't bully, they're just being assertive
• Its a personality clash
• Victims ask for it

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• What can I do if Im being bullied?

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You can .

• Ask them to stop
• Talk to your manager
• Keep a diary
• Talk to a Harassment Contact Officer
• Complete a Complaint Form
• Talk to the HR Unit
• Talk to an EAP Counsellor

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• What can I do if I see a colleague being bullied?

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If you see a colleague being bullied?

• Tell your colleague what you observed
• Tell them .
• you believe what you have seen is not acceptable
  
• about the bullying policy, contact officers, and
  their options if they want the behaviour to stop
• they can go to management to get this behaviour
  stopped
• you are prepared to document what you have seen

Remember you can report what you witnessed to
your Manager
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• What can I do if I see a student being bullied?

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If you see a student being bullied

• Respond immediately. The bully and other students
  need to see that it is not ignored, is not
  tolerated and that there will be consequences
• If you are not sure, check it out
• Follow the Student Discipline Policy
• Raise understanding about bullying

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It is everyones responsibility

• Students and staff have responsibilities to .
• behave appropriately, respecting individual
  differences and diversity
• follow the Bullying and Harassment Policy
• respond promptly to incidents of bullying or
  harassment

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Relevant Legislation

• NSW Anti Discrimination Act 1977
• NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000
• Industrial Relations Act 1996
• Defamation Act 1974
• Protected Disclosures Act 1994
• Common Law Criminal Law
• Telecommunications Act (1997)

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Related Policies/Procedures

• SWSI TAFE Bullying and Harassment Policy
• DET Prevention of Bullying in the Workplace
• Responding to Suggestions, Complaints and
  Allegations Procedure
• DET OHS Policy
• TAFE Prevention of Harassment Policy
• DET Code of Conduct
• TAFE NSW Student Discipline Policy
• Protecting and Supporting Children and Young
  People
• Staff Discipline Policies

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Where do I get help from?

• Harassment Contact Officer
• Your manager
• Your union representative
• Human Resources
• Employee Assistance Program Counsellor
• TAFE Counsellor
• OHS Committee representatives
• Teacher /or Teacher/Consultant for Students with
  Disabilities
• Multicultural Education Coordinator