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The Cyberbullying Policy of the Tasmanian Catholic Education Commission (TCEC). It articulates the rights and responsibilities of all members in the Catholic education sector regarding cyberbullying and aims to eliminate bullying in all forms. The policy covers various forms of cyberbullying, the duty of care, ethical conduct, and guidelines for responding to cyberbullying incidents.
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CYBERBULLYING POLICY RELATED DOCUMENTS TCEC Anti-Discrimination, Harassment & Bullying Policy (2007) TCEO Computer Usage Policy (2009) TCEC Code of Conduct (2006) RATIONALE Catholic schools and offices have a responsibility to provide educational and workplace environments that promote the dignity and respect of everyone within their organisations and therefore must aim to eliminate bullying in all of its forms. Cyberbullying, like all other forms of bullying, must therefore not be tolerated in our places of learning and work for it has a negative impact on all who are touched by it. It adversely affects student learning outcomes. It erodes the rights and the physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual and social well-being of individuals. It lowers workplace morale for it can interfere with the effectiveness of work and learning environments by making them hostile, unpleasant and offensive places. Thus, the purpose of this policy is to articulate the rights and responsibilities of all in the Catholic education sector with regards to cyberbullying and, by doing so, to continue the growth of Catholic school communities that: Respond to human need with compassion, fairness and justice that respects the dignity of all; Create an inclusive environment that values and respects diversity, equity and subsidiarity; and Build and sustain relationships based on Gospel values that are life-giving and empowering. TCEC Mission Statement (2006)
When addressing issues of cyberbullying, all Catholic school and college authorities will consistently apply the principles and procedures contained within this policy document. In regard to this policy, the employing authorities recognise their responsibility to ensure that the rights of employees, students and volunteers to be physically, emotionally and psychologically safe in, or in activities associated with, their relevant school or office workplace, will be protected. This responsibility may extend to beyond school / workplace-based online behaviour where such behaviour impacting harmfully upon students, staff and volunteers becomes known. Cyberbullying will not be tolerated in Catholic schools, colleges or workplaces.
matters. For parents, this could be in forms such as information evenings and afternoon student-parent sessions.
2. School / workplace cyberbullying policies: 2.1 In order to help manage risk, protect users and protect the organisation, Catholic systemic schools and related workplaces are required to put in place a range of local technology usage policies, one of which is the Cyberbullying Policy. This policy will be promulgated and effectively communicated to all stakeholders in the school / workplace community. It is expected that the effective and appropriate monitoring of workplace practices relevant to the Policy will be ongoing. This Policy should remain accessible to all stakeholders in the workplace. 2.2 An ‘Acceptable Use Policy’ concerning a commitment to the appropriate use of all technologies available in a school / workplace should be signed off annually by individual students / employees / relevant others. 3. Recommended strategies for individuals to respond to instances of cyberbullying: 3.1 The following general strategies are recommended to assist those who are victims of cyberbullying activity: 3.1.1 Report any incidence of cyberbullying or upsetting hostile cyberspace behaviour, including deliberate exclusion, to a relevant parent, trusted adult, line manager or school / workplace authority. 3.1.2 Do not respond to further messages / postings from the bully and, if possible, block their mobile phone number or email address.
3.1.3 Keep evidence of any cyberbullying (including screen captures, the bully’s screen name, text and images) to assist in tracking down the bully and as necessary reporting the matter to Police. 3.1.4 Report any concerns to the administrator of the service used for bullying whether this be the mobile phone provider if SMS is involved, the website administrator or internet service provider if social networking or chat services are the vehicles for the cyberbullying occurring. 3.1.5 Seek support from an appropriate and supportive contact such as the school counsellor (for children) or from a professional colleague / workplace authority (for adults). 3.1.6 Contact Police immediately in cases of possible serious threats to life or physical well-being or where a child protection offence (e.g. child pornography, grooming) has occurred. See APPENDIX 3 for a summary of recommended responses to instances of cyberbullying.
Chairman of the TCEC DATE: 23 June 2011 Approved by: TCEC Issuing Group: TCEC Implementation Date: 23 June 2011 Supersedes Policy Dated: N/A Revision Date: 2012 TCEO Contact Officer: Allan Clark – Head Human Services
(adapted from the Archdiocese of Sydney’s ‘Dealing with Cyberbullying’ Operational Draft August 2008) Cyberbullying can include, but is not limited to, the items listed below. This list outlines the types of cyber behaviour that are not consistent with this Cyberbullying Policy nor are they consistent with Acceptable Use policies across the full range of systemic Catholic schools and workplaces in the state. Email: Sending harassing, threatening and / or menacing messages to targets either directly, anonymously or using another person’s address or alias. Instant Messaging (IM): (systems include MSN Messenger, Yahoo and Bebo) Harassing someone or having heated arguments (called ‘flaming’) in private chat rooms with the use of inappropriate / obscene language. Chat Rooms / Bash Boards: Allowing students / others to anonymously write / create anything (true or untrue) or add cruel comments about someone in a world wide forum. Short Text Messages (SMS): Masquerading as someone else and using that person’s mobile phone or computer to send harassing or threatening messages.
(adapted from the TCEC Anti-Discrimination, Harassment & Bullying Policy 2007)
2.6 Persons using this policy must not be victimised and have the right to take action under this policy, or via such agencies as the Anti- Discrimination Commission, if they believe victimisation has occurred.
(If perpetrated by a student) Contacting parents Suspending / expelling / taking other action (according to school &/or system policies) Counselling PRINCIPAL / PRINCIPAL’S DELEGATE (e.g. DP, AP) … who may choose to notify the Head of School Services/Governing Council Executive Officer (according to the seriousness of the incident/s) (If perpetrated by an employee) Activating Taking Care Policy Activating processes in Anti-Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying Policy Counselling PRINCIPAL (for school employees) … who notifies Head of School Services/Governing Council Executive Officer (as appropriate, advice given to Principal) who in turn may choose to notify the Director TCEO (according to the seriousness of the incident/s) DIRECTOR TCEO (for TCEO employees) Bullying (If perpetrated by other than a student / employee) Contacting Police Contacting relevant others PRINCIPAL (for school-based offences) … who notifies Head of School Services/Governing Council Executive Officer (as appropriate, advice given to Principal) who in turn may choose to notify the Director TCEO (according to the seriousness of the incident/s) DIRECTOR TCEO (for TCEO-based offences) (If perpetrated by a student) Contacting Police Contacting Child Protection authorities Contacting parents Suspending / taking other action (according to school &/or system policies) Counselling PRINCIPAL … who notifies Head of School Services/Governing Council Executive Officer who in turn notifies Director TCEO (as appropriate, advice given to Principal) (If perpetrated by an employee) Contacting Police Activating Taking Care Policy Counselling PRINCIPAL (for school employees) … who notifies Head of School Services/Governing Council Executive Officer who in turn notifies Director TCEO (as appropriate, advice given to Principal) DIRECTOR TCEO (for TCEO employees) Overt sexual content (If perpetrated by other than a student / employee) Contacting Police PRINCIPAL (for school-based offences) … who notifies Head of School Services/Governing Council Executive Officer who in turn notifies Director TCEO (as appropriate, advice given to Principal) DIRECTOR TCEO (for TCEO-based offences) (If perpetrated by a student) Contacting Police (mandatory) Contacting Child Protection authorities Contacting parents Suspending / expelling / taking other action (according to school &/or system policies) Counselling PRINCIPAL … who notifies Head of School Services/Governing Council Executive Officer who in turn notifies Director TCEO (as appropriate, advice given to Principal) … who then steps back and allows Police investigation to run its course … who then considers school / system response according to policy should the Police investigation find no case to answer (If perpetrated by an employee) Contacting Police (mandatory) Activating Taking Care Policy Counselling PRINCIPAL (for school employees) … who notifies Head of School Services/Governing Council Executive Officer who in turn notifies Director TCEO (as appropriate, advice given to Principal) … who then steps back and allows Police investigation to run its course DIRECTOR TCEO (for TCEO employees) … who then steps back and allows Police investigation to run its course … who then considers system response according to policy should the Police investigation find no case to answer Threats to life / sexual assault / child protection offences / other criminal activity (If perpetrated by other than a student / employee) Contacting Police (mandatory) PRINCIPAL (for school-based offences) … who notifies Head of School Services/Governing Council Executive Officer who in turn notifies Director TCEO (as appropriate, advice given to Principal) … who then steps back and allows Police investigation to run its course DIRECTOR TCEO (for TCEO-based offences) … who then steps back and allows Police investigation to run its course NOTE Where a school / workplace authority or an individual employee is aware, or becomes aware, that a child / employee / other person is experiencing cyberbullying outside of normal school / workplace hours, then duty of care can extend to these times (from both a legal and moral perspective) and may demand that the matter be addressed either through direct action or through escalation.
The numerous State and Commonwealth Government laws, which cover cyber crime include: Commonwealth Government Criminal Code Act 1995. Section 4.7.4. It is an offence for a person to use a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence. Commonwealth Government Criminal Code Act 1995. Section 4.7.4. It is an offence for a person to use a carriage service to make a threat. Commonwealth Government Crimes Act 1914. Part VIIB, Section 85ZE It is an offence for a person to knowingly or recklessly use a telecommunications service supplied by a carrier in such a way as would be regarded by reasonable persons being, in all circumstances, offensive. Tasmanian Government Criminal Code Amendment (stalking) Bill 2004. It is an offence for a person to transmit offensive material and send electronic messages with the intention of causing physical or mental harm. The sending of images is also covered by various State and Commonwealth Government laws that prevent the publication of material that is objectionable, unclassified or unsuitable for minors.
