Bullying

  • Having trouble with your supervisor or lecturer?
  • Are you intimidated to the point where you don't wish to study anymore?
  • It may be because you are being bullied.

This brochure will outline some of the behaviours that are not acceptable on campus and the procedures which students can use to deal with it.

Bullying is unwelcome and unreasonable behaviour which creates a hostile, uncomfortable atmosphere and demeans and humiliates individuals or groups of students.

It can often occur as a misuse of power or authority such as in the student-supervisor relationship. It can be hard for students to identify what they are experiencing is bullying especially when it is coming from an academic staff member whose job may be to assess the student's work and performance. However there are some signs that differentiate constructive feedback or criticism from bullying.

Bullying can include behaviours such as:

  • constant criticism
  • trivialising of student concerns
  • Deliberately excluding students
  • Teasing or belittling of student opinions or suggestions
  • Putting down students in front of other staff or students
  • Comments that belittle a student's intellectual capacity or ability

The consequences of this behaviour should not be underestimated. It can damage your self esteem, make you doubt your ability as a researcher/academic, undermine and affect your study and research progress. It is common for students to blame themselves for what is happening or to think that if they were "good enough" the behaviours would not occur.

Many students and workers experience bullying at some time in their lives. If the conduct of University staff or students is making you uncomfortable there are steps you can take to deal with it.

John is having trouble with his supervisor. His supervisor shows no interest in his research project. She rarely has time to meet with him and when she does, she is rude and scathing of his attempts to ask for assistance. When they have group project meetings she puts down his contributions in front of the other researchers. She tells him that he does not put enough work in although John is working at the lab eight hours a day. The final straw was when she told him he was a problem and she shouldn't have to deal with him anymore. This is affecting John to the point that he does not want to go to the lab when she is there. He is afraid of telling anyone else what is happening. His supervisor is high up in the department and he thinks that if he rocks the boat he will be kicked out of the research program.

This is happening to me. What can I do about it?

Firstly you may wish to speak to the person who is perpetrating the behaviour directly. Sometimes it is enough to point out that the behaviour is making you uncomfortable, is offensive and unwelcome.

Often it is difficult to do this especially if the person is in a position of authority. You can always speak to the Graduate Student Advocacy Service who will be familiar with these issues and you can discuss what is the best way to deal with it. You can make an appointment with the Graduate Student Advocacy Service on 8344 8657.

You can try talking to your Postgraduate Cco-ordinator or your Head of Department about what you are experiencing. They must listen to your issue in confidence and act as appropriate. If they are the ones that are causing the problem the next people to speak to would be the Associate Dean of Postgraduate Studies in your Faculty, the General Manager in your faculty or the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies if you are a PhD student.

If you take these next steps it is advisable to speak to the Graduate Student Advocacy Service first to explore who is the best person to deal with the problem. Do keep a logbook of the behaviours and show it to the person that you seek advice from.

Sometimes this sort of behaviour can also be described as harassment on the basis of sex or other attributes such as race or religion. Then it is also covered by the University's Sexual Harassment Policy and Anti Discrimination Policy. There are networks of sexual harassment and anti discrimination advisers and you can find out more about these through the Equal Opportunity Unit on 8344 4438.

If bullying is occurring in your employment at the University there is a specific procedure that is conducted by Human Resources. You can contact them in confidence on 8344 6078. Or you can speak to the National Tertiary Education Union on 8344 6828.

If you are experiencing or witnessing on campus behaviours like these do speak to the Graduate Student Advocacy Service about what you can do about it. The Graduate Student Advocacy Service will not act unless you give permission. Sometimes all you need is someone else to talk to about it for support. Other times action may be required to make the behaviours stop.

  • University staff are obliged to behave at all times in a professional manner to students and colleagues and have a duty of care towards their students (Responsibilities of University Staff Policy).
  • All students and staff have the right to work in an environment free of harassment, bullying and intimidation.

For more information call the GSA on 8344 8657 or go to the Equal Opportunity Unit