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Bullying is a pattern of repeated physical, verbal, psychological or social aggression that is directed towards a person by someone more powerful and is intended to cause harm, distress and/or fear.

Bullying might involve repeatedly:

• hurting someone physically
• leaving someone out
• abusing someone verbally or in writing
• insulting, belittling or intimidating someone
• using offensive language
• spreading nasty rumours or cruel teasing
• displaying offensive material
• threatening to commit violence
• committing harmful or offensive initiation practices
• behaving hostilely regarding someone’s gender or sexuality
• teasing or making someone the brunt of pranks or practical jokes
• encouraging others to participate in bullying behaviour
• interfering with someone’s materials, equipment or personal property.
  

Bullying may be perpetrated by a student towards a University staff member or vice versa. It can also occur between staff members or between students.

A person can be bullied about their:

• look
• home or family
• schoolwork
• popularity
• achievements
• race or culture
• gender
• physical and mental state
• sexuality
  

Bullying is not:

• single incidents
• providing constructive criticism
• mutual conflict
• social rejection or dislike
• differences of opinion
• interpersonal conflicts

Cyber bullying can take many forms, including:

• posting hurtful comments and embarrassing photos on social media
• sending abusive messages or images through mobile phones and on the internet
• sending emails that vilify, demean or cause humiliation to a person or group
• setting up hate websites and blogs to vilify someone
• using chat rooms, instant messaging and gaming areas to harass someone

Sexual assault is sexual activity that a person has not consented to. It can refer to a broad range of sexual behaviours that make someone feel:

• uncomfortable
• frightened
• threatened
  

Sexual assault can include:

• rape
• incest
• indecent assault
• child sexual assault
• sexual molestation
  

Consent is an agreement freely and voluntarily given by a person with the cognitive capacity to do so. Consent is not freely and voluntarily given if you:

• are being forced
• are unconscious or asleep
• are under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• are under threat or intimidation
• are in fear of bodily harm
• have a mistaken belief that the offender was your sexual partner
  

Silence does not mean consent.

If a person does not protest, physically resist, or suffer injuries, this does not mean they freely agreed to sexual activity. 

Sexual harassment is any unwanted, unwelcome or uninvited behaviour of a sexual nature, which makes a person feel:

• humiliated
• intimidated
• offended
• Sexual harassment can include:
• staring or leering
• unnecessary familiarities, such as deliberately brushing up against someone or unwelcome touching
• suggestive comments or jokes
• insults or taunts of a sexual nature
• indiscreet questions or statements about your private life
• displaying images of a sexual nature
• sending sexually explicit emails or text messages
• inappropriate advances on social media
• accessing sexually explicit internet sites
• requests for sex or repeated unwanted requests to go out on dates.
  

It’s not ok to behave this way. It’s not ok to be treated this way

Unlawful discrimination is treating, or proposing to treat, someone unfavourably because of a personal characteristic.

In Victoria, it is against the law for someone to discriminate against you because of a characteristic that you have, or that someone assumes you have. These personal characteristics include:

• age
• carer and parental status
• disability (including physical, sensory and intellectual disability, work-related injury, medical conditions, and mental, psychological and learning disabilities)
• employment activity
• gender identity, lawful sexual activity and sexual orientation
• industrial activity
• marital status
• physical features
• political belief or activity
• pregnancy and breastfeeding
• race (including colour, nationality, ethnicity and ethnic origin)
• religious belief or activity
• sex
• personal association with particular people.

Victimisation is subjecting, or threatening to subject, someone to something detrimental because they have:

• asserted their rights under equal opportunity law
• made a complaint
• helped someone else to make a complaint
• refused to do something because it would be discrimination, sexual harassment or victimisation.