Information sheet
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Whole school community |
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Building a safe and supportive school and preventing bullying |
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Foster an inclusive school culture and ethos that supports all students and values the diversity of the student, staff and community population including culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability and economic status |
Because bullying, harassment and similar behaviours are still part of our wider social practice, it is crucial to work together as school communities to recognise, understand and challenge discriminatory behaviours and to develop more socially constructive and equitable interactions.
Students and the wider school community can be empowered to challenge and take action to address the causes, not just the symptoms, of discriminatory behaviour. It is crucial to not simply acknowledge the behaviours but also develop a concerted, cohesive, collaborative and curriculum-related whole school approach that engages with the role of power and the social forces – including sex, gender and race politics – that maintain the behaviours. By doing this, students, staff and carers are more able to create new behavioural options that meet their own needs – and those of others.
Many of the examples in Schools in action show approaches schools are taking to empower students to critically understand and challenge bullying, harassment and other discriminatory behaviours in their school and society.
Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy Support Materials
http://www.education.tas.gov.au/school/educators/support/antidiscrimination
Department of Education Tasmania
Hobart: Department of Education Tasmania
Professional development materials to address issues of beliefs, attitudes and discrimination including on the basis of disability, racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia. Provides background information, definitions, documents to support discussion, questions and answers, sample student learning experiences and lists of resources.
Resources for teaching against violence (revised) [Kit]
New South Wales Dept. Of School Education (1996)
NSW Department of School Education, Sydney
Provides teachers with introductory information on bullying, domestic violence and homophobia. Designed to assist schools in their effective provision of safety and learning outcomes and complements behaviour management planning processes. Includes responses to commonly raised questions and beliefs, teaching modules and resource lists.
Racism. No way! website
http://racismnoway.com.au/
CESCEO (2000)
A comprehensive resource that assists teachers and students to address the challenges relating to racism. The website includes information to assist in recognising and addressing racism in schools; teaching strategies and opportunities for teachers and schools to share their approaches; and a large annotated bibliography on topics such as countering racism; cultural diversity and multiculturalism; migration and refugees; and stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination. Developed by Australia's government, independent and Catholic schooling sectors.
