STUDENT SUPPORT

Bullying

The health and wellbeing of our staff and students is of the utmost importance to Holmesglen.

Workplace bullying is against the law in Victoria and Holmesglen takes claims of bullying against and between students very seriously.

The national definition of bullying for Australian schools is: “…an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm.

It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.”

There are three main elements to bullying:

  1. A misuse of power in a relationship
  2. Ongoing or repetitive behaviour
  3. Behaviour that can causes harm in some way

Bullying can take on many forms including:

  • Physical – examples include hitting, pushing, shoving
  • Verbal / Written – examples include name calling or making insulting remarks
  • Social – examples include deliberate exclusion of a person, spreading rumours
  • Cyberbullying – any form of bullying that occurs online.
  • Racist bullying – when someone is belittled, mocked or intimidated due to their ethnic background, religious or cultural beliefs.
  • Homophobic and transphobic bullying – bullying based on a person’s sexuality or gender expression.

If you are feeling bullied

Head to the Student Wellbeing office on your campus and ask to see a student counsellor. You can call them on 9564 1649 and let the receptionist know if you feel the situation is urgent

You can also make a complaint through Holmesglen's Complaints and Appeals process.