Computerbank Sexual Harassment Policy

Acknowledgements:
Travellers Aid Disability Access Service for letting Computerbank adopt parts of their Access and Equity Policy. Kylie Davies for edits and alterations appropriate to Computerbank Service Provision.

Policy Created: 27 January 2001
Revised: 27 January 2001 by Kylie Davies
This suggested revision: 13 September 2001 by Jo-Anne Bianchi.

What Does This Policy Cover?

This document sets out to outline and explain the Sexual Harassment Policy for Computerbank Australia Inc. (Computerbank).

Who is Covered by This Policy?

This policy covers all people involved with Computerbank in any way including:

• Service users
• Volunteers
• Staff

What is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual Harassment is behaviour of a sexual or coercive nature directed at another person who does not welcome it. This behaviour is directed at any person or group by another person or group and may be intentional or unintentional.

Sexual harassment is the way in which behaviour is perceived by another person/s, and may or may not be the original intention of the person engaging in the behaviour. Sexual harassment may include the following:

• Sexual jokes, offensive phone calls or emails
• Displays of pornographic material or objects including screen savers and computer programs
• Sexual propositions or persistent requests for dates
• Patting, pinching or touching in a sexual way. Unnecessary and unwanted physical contact such as deliberately brushing against a person or putting an arm around a person's body
• Remarks about a person's sex or private life
• Inappropriate comments about a person's appearance or body
• Leering, wolf whistles, catcalls, obscene gestures
• Indecent exposure
• Sexual assault and rape, both of which are criminal offences. The person experiencing such offences will be strongly encouraged and supported to contact the police.
• Unwelcome use of terms of endearment such as 'love', 'honey', 'dear' etc.
• Any activity or behaviour a person considers sexually inappropriate or unwelcome
• Any behaviour of a sexual nature which, even though the perpetrator does not feel it to be inappropriate or unwelcome, is considered to be inappropriate or unwelcome by any other person

Sexual harassment does NOT include a mutual attraction between two consenting people.

Policy

Computerbank believes it is not acceptable to sexually harass another person. Any form of sexual harassment or abuse by or against any person involved with Computerbank will not be tolerated.

Reporting Cases of Sexual Harassment

If you feel you are the victim of sexual harassment or abuse do not under any circumstances ignore it as this may give the impression that what is occurring is acceptable.

• Follow the Computerbank Grievance Procedure. The victim and the accused have the right to an advocate.
• Report the incident/s to the police. Computerbank will assist you to do this if you wish.

Victims of sexual harassment or abuse should take one or both of the following courses of action:

Breaches of CBV Sexual Harassment Policy

If a person contravenes any statement in this policy a grievance procedure will be instituted. (refer to Computerbank Grievance Policy and Procedures for dealing with grievances)

Policy Updates and Revisions

Computerbank will undertake to review and update all policy documents on a regular basis. Date of Last revision will be noted on each policy document and all contributors should be acknowledged at the end of each policy document.