Bullying

Bullying can be defined as:

• physical bullying: being hit, tripped, kicked, pinched, spat upon and similar reactions
• verbal bullying: being called names, teased, put down, racially abused and similar reactions
• psychological bullying: being threatened, stalked, gestures and similar reactions
• social bullying: being ignored, having rumours spread about you, excluding someone
• sexual bullying: unwanted touching or brushing against someone, picking on someone because of their sexual orientation, gender issues, directing sexually explicit language at someone.
• cyber bullying: insulting someone in chat rooms, sending cruel or threatening emails/text messages; using the web, chat rooms or mobile phones to spread rumours or information about someone. Cyber bullying includes aspects of sexting and sending any form of pornography to others.
• Bullying can happen in any area of the school and community. Bullying is a difficult problem that only escalates when it is ignored. Research has demonstrated that bystanders play a significant role in bullying.
• bystanders are present most of the time, where adults are rarely present
• bullying behaviour is reinforced where people watch but do nothing
• when bystanders do intervene; the bullying is more likely to stop quickly most of the time.

Anti-Bullying Code

Bullying interferes with learning and will not be tolerated at HBHS. It is not an acceptable part of growing up.

• The DEC recognises bullying as an inappropriate behaviour, which can be dealt with according to the school’s discipline policy and suspension code.
• Every student has the right to enjoy learning and leisure free from intimidation.
• Students should support each other by reporting all instances of bullying. Saying nothing implicates a bystander as condoning or being complicit in the bullying.
• Bullying is too important not to report.
• Reports of bullying will be taken seriously and appropriate action will be taken.

Each member of the HBHS community has a duty of care and shares the collective responsibility to ensure every member feels safe, supported and valued at all times. Bullying, in any form, is never acceptable.

Tips for Students

• Do not ignore bullying
• Report any form of bullying to any trusted adult(s), member of staff or mentors within the school such as prefects or senior students
• Stay calm and confident when bullied. Ignore the bully and walk away
• Say NO if someone asks you to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable
• Discuss issues about bullying with a trusted adult
• Develop strategies to address bullying with assistance from staff (such as Head Teacher Wellbeing, Year Advisor, Counsellor or parent(s)/caregiver(s)
• Report cyberbullying to parent(s)/caregiver(s) or your social media provider
• Stand up and speak out if you witness or know about bullying happening to a friend or another person, ask the bully to stop, support the bullied person and report the incident
• Involve yourself in school life beyond the classroom by participating in extra curricula activities
• Help change the school community by collaborating and working with others to stop bullying behaviours at HBHS
• Become a positive role model by demonstrating aspects of the school’s SLR (Safety, Learning, Respect) matrix

If You are the Bully

• Make a commitment to change
• Focus on empathy and responsibility
• Resist peer pressure to bully