Bullying

What is bullying?

Bullying is repeated verbal, physical, social or psychological aggressive behaviour by a person or group directed towards a less powerful person or group that is intended to cause harm, distress or fear.

Types of bullying behaviour

There are some specific types of bullying behaviour:

• verbal or written abuse – such as targeted name-calling or jokes, or displaying offensive posters
• violence – including threats of violence
• sexual harassment – unwelcome or unreciprocated conduct of a sexual nature, which could reasonably be expected to cause offence, humiliation or intimidation
• homophobia and other hostile behaviour towards students relating to gender and sexuality
• discrimination including racial discrimination – treating people differently because of their identity
• cyberbullying – either online or via mobile phone.

What is not bullying?

There are also some behaviours, which, although they might be unpleasant or distressing, are not bullying:

• mutual conflict – which involves a disagreement, but not an imbalance of power. Unresolved mutual conflict can develop into bullying if one of the parties targets the other repeatedly in retaliation.
• single-episode acts of nastiness or physical aggression, or aggression directed towards many different people, is not bullying
• social rejection or dislike is not bullying unless it involves deliberate and repeated attempts to cause distress, exclude or create dislike by others.

Source: Bully Stoppers | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au) 

At Berwick Chase Primary School...

Here at Berwick Chase Primary School, we aim to create an inclusive school culture that fosters acceptance and respect for diversity. In doing so, we seek to deepen understanding and knowledge, promote student and staff wellbeing, and help everyone achieve their full potential. This school is enriched by, and celebrates, the diversity of our whole school community. Discrimination, harassment, vilification, bullying and victimisation will not be tolerated at Berwick Chase Primary School under any circumstances.

This school supports the Charter of Human Rights and the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (Vic), which states that it is against the law to discriminate against anyone, including students and school staff, because of their actual or assumed:

• age
• breastfeeding
• carer status
• disability/impairment/illness
• gender identity
• industrial activity
• lawful sexual activity
• marital status
• parental status
• physical features
• political belief or activity
• pregnancy
• race
• religious belief or activity
• sex
• sexual orientation
• personal association with someone who has, or is assumed to have, one of these personal characteristics.

For more information on BCPS’s policies, please head to our Policy page.