Yarra Valley Grammar students and staff have the right to a safe and caring environment which promotes learning, personal growth and positive self esteem. The School is committed to providing this, and each student and staff member has the responsibility to see that it occurs. Every person at the School should be valued as an individual.

Harassment will not be tolerated at Yarra Valley Grammar

Being harassed means subjected to behaviour which is hurtful, threatening or frightening. In society, harassment may occur in relation to:

• intellectual ability
• race
• social skills
• emotional development
• physical appearance
• behaviour
• gender
• religion
• belief/values/morals

Harassment takes the following forms:

• Physical - includes fighting, pushing, shoving, kicking, spitting, punching, hitting, gestures or invasion of personal space
• Sexual - includes unwanted touching, suggestive behaviour, offensive comments and display of offensive pictures or written material
• Verbal - includes threats, name calling, offensive language, putting people down and rumour spreading
• Visual - including offensive notes or material, or damaging other people's possessions
• Victimisation - includes intimidation and deliberate exclusion.

Harassment is considered a major offence and is specifically mentioned in the School Rules. No student has the right to harass another and no student has to put up with being harassed. Watching another student being harassed is unacceptable.

Therefore, if you are being harassed, or you have seen another student being harassed, you must report the harassment to a teacher with whom you feel comfortable.

This statement to students is written in the School Diary:

“The teacher will help them to handle what is going on. If you just want advice, that's okay, the teacher will help you to think of something to do, but if you want the teacher to sort it out for you, that will be done. You may be asked to write down what has happened, and the harasser may have to write down his/her side of the story. The harasser will be given a strong message that his/her behaviour is wrong, and if the behaviour continues very serious consequences will follow.

If we all refuse to tolerate harassment, everyone will feel happy and comfortable at School.”