Definitions

"The Guild" is the Australian Sewing Guild Ltd

Policy Statement

The Australian Sewing Guild (The Guild) is committed to providing a safe environment free from intimidation, ridicule and harassment. Every member, volunteer and employee a responsibility to maintain a safe environment.

The Guild will investigate all complaints of bullying and will take the necessary steps to resolve such complaints.

Guidelines

Section 1 - Background Information

1.1 What is bullying?

Bullying can happen anywhere: at school, at work, at home, on social networking sites such as Facebook, on mobile phones, in sporting teams between neighbours .  Bullying involves someone (or a group of people), possibly with more power than you, repeatedly and intentionally using negative words and/or actions against you, which causes you distress and risks your . Bullying has many faces and includes the use of technolog .

This behaviour may include:

• keeping someone out of a group
• acting in an unpleasant way near someone
• being rude and impolite, spreading stories, rumours and teasing
• 'mucking about' that goes too far
• any form of harassment discrimination based, for instance, on disability, gender, sex, race or religion
• hurting someone physically or stalking.

1.2 What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is bullying using technology. For instance, it involves using the Internet, mobile hurt or embarrass someone. It can happen anonymously, at any hour, anywhere and reach a vast audience.

Cyberbullying has a number of unique features:

• it allows for a potentially infinite audience to view or participate
• it is often anonymous as perpetrators can hide behind false identities
• it has a permanency of expression as information put online can be difficult to remove, and may be recorded and archived
• it may be difficult to escape from bullying as people often use technology every day and in the case of mobile phones can be constantly contactable
• content can be duplicated easily
• content is often searchable.

1.3 What does cyberbullying look like?

Bullying on the Internet or using mobiles can include:

• being sent mean and/or anonymous text messages
• receiving nasty or threatening messages through social networking sites
• people sending photos or videos of you to other people with the intention of embarrassing you
• people spreading rumours about you
• people intimidating or harassing you
• people trying to stop you from communicating with others
• people hacking into or stealing passwords to access your online accounts (e.g. Facebook or )
• any form of communication that is discriminatory.

1.4 What are the impacts of bullying and cyberbullying?

Bullying, including cyberbullying, can have serious impacts on individuals, organisations and communities.

Bullying and cyberbullying can be detrimental to a person’s mental and physical health. Victims can experience significant social isolation and feel unsafe. It can lead to emotional and physical harm, loss of self-esteem, feelings of shame and anxiety, concentration and learning difficulties. Incidents of young people committing suicide have also occurred.

In the case of a perpetrator of bullying, it can contribute to ongoing antisocial or criminal behaviour and engaging in abuse in other contexts.

Bullying, including cyberbullying, is likely to create difficult and unsafe environments in organisations, be it at school, work or sporting clubs. Organisations at, or through which bullying occurs have responsibilities to address and prevent bullying. In addition to the significant harm that cyberbullying can have, not addressing incidents of bullying could expose organisations to risks of claims for compensation.                                                   

1.5 The importance of bystanders

Active bystanders can play an important role in stopping bullying. This is because:

• bystanders are often present online when bullying occurs
• bullying behaviour is reinforced where people watch or are present but do nothing
• when bystanders intervene, bullying is more likely to stop.

Bullying is everyone’s problem. If bystanders take safe and appropriate action to stop bullying, be part of the solution to bullying.

It's up to everyone to create a safe environment and we can all help. Motivating bystanders to act when they witness bullying is now being promoted as a response, whether in schools, organisations or more broadly in the community.

1.6 Practical bystander actions to take if you witness bullying

• Make it clear to your friends that you won't be involved in bullying behaviour
• Never stand by and watch or encourage bullying behaviour
• Do not harass, tease or spread gossip about others this includes on social networking sites (e.g. Facebook) or through other technologies
• Never forward messages or pictures that may be offensive or upsetting
• If you see someone being bullied, keep safe and choose an appropriate response
• If it is safe, name the behaviour
• Support the person who is being bullied to ask for help
• Ask a responsible person for help and report to appropriate authorities if necessary

1.7 If you are being bullied online

• Ignore it and don't respond to the message or images
• Save the evidence
• Block and delete the sender
• Tell trusted friends, family members and the police if necessary.

Report it to:

• the responsible people in your organisation
• the website, social networking site, internet service provider or administrator
• the police – if there is a threat to safety call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or 000 for emergencies

1.8 What is not bullying?

• Occasional differences of opinion, and non-aggressive conflicts and problems in working relations,
• Counselling, management performance and directions to carry out work,
• Incidents of a trivial nature.                                                                                           

Section 2 - Procedures

2.1 Prevention

The prevention of bullying requires all Guild members to;

• ensure their actions or inaction do not make unsafe ,
• be aware of and identify bullying behaviour and where appropriate utilise grievance ,
• raise their concerns with the relevant Guild members and try to resolve the issue fairly
• offer to act as a witness in any investigations of bullying in The Guild,
• keep a record or diary of incidents noting what happened, when and the names of witnesses
• maintain confidentiality in respect to matters relating to a bullying complaint.

The prevention of all inappropriate behaviour which may include bullying requires group leaders, region liaisons and Board directors to:

• be aware of and identify behaviours that may be bullying in The Guild
• take steps to try to eliminate inappropriate behaviour
• encourage all members to behave in a manner which will not adversely affect health and safety
• provide effective leadership and role modelling in relation to  so as to ensure The Guild is safe
• respond promptly, sensitively and confidentially to all situations where bullying behaviour is exhibited or alleged to have occurred.

2.2 The Informal Procedure

A member who feels he or she has experienced bullying could abide by the following procedure:

Contact their group leader, region liaison or State representative on the Board to discuss an informal complaint procedure.

• Informal resolution may include mediation between parties where appropriate.
• Alternatively, a member may ask their group leader, region liaison or State representative on the Board to speak to the alleged bully on their behalf. The group leader, region liaison or State representative will privately convey the members
• concerns and reiterate The Guild’s anti-bullying policy without assessing the merits of the case.
• A group leader, region liaison or Board director who observes unacceptable conduct occurring may take independent action (i.e. make a formal complaint on behalf of the person being bullied to the Board of The Guild) even though no complaint has been made by the person being bullied.

2.3 The Formal Procedure

The Board of The Guild must investigate formal complaints and will follow the grievance policy and complaint management procedures in place as outlined in the .

The Board shall determine appropriate action as a result of the formal investigation, which may include no further action or referral to mediation or community justice agencies as required.  Disciplinary action may be taken as outlined in Clause 17 of the constitution.

When criminal behaviour is reasonably suspected, the matter will be referred to the police.

Should a bullying complaint be found to be frivolous or vexatious, the complainant may be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in Clause 17 of the constitution.

2.4 Outside Remedies

All members have the right to refer their complaint to an appropriate external agency.