DANCENERGY BULLYING POLICY 2026

Our Commitment

Dancenergy is committed to creating and maintaining a safe, nurturing, and supportive learning environment for all students and staff.

  • We are committed to a bully‑free studio, both in person and online. 

  • We work in partnership with students, staff, and parents/carers to address and prevent bullying. 

  • We expect everyone in our community to help foster a culture of respect, kindness, and inclusion.

Background

With the increase in social media use, bullying can now extend into a student’s online life, making it feel inescapable for those affected.  

Bullying is a serious issue because it can have negative impacts on:

  • The person being bullied 

  • Bystanders 

  • The person engaging in bullying behaviour 

  • The wider school or studio community

Almost all young people are affected by bullying in some way—by experiencing it, engaging in it, or witnessing it.

A whole‑school / whole‑studio approach recognises that:

  • Bullying affects everyone, and 

  • All members of the community, students, families, and staff have a role in preventing it.

Encouraging respectful relationships among students, positive family relationships, and strong support from friends and adults can reduce the negative effects of bullying.

Definition of Bullying

Bullying is: An ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical, and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social, or psychological harm.

Key points:

  • It can be carried out by an individual or a group. 

  • It involves a real or perceived power imbalance. 

  • The person being targeted feels unable to stop it. 

  • It can occur in person or online, across a range of digital platforms and devices. 

  • It may be obvious or hidden. 

  • The behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated over time. 

  • It can have immediate, medium, and long‑term effects on everyone involved, including bystanders.

The key features of bullying are that it:

  • Causes hurt and distress

  • Is repeated

  • Involves the unfair use of power

What Is NOT Bullying

The following are not defined as bullying (although they still need to be addressed):

  • One‑off incidents of social isolation or exclusion 

  • Conflicts or disagreements between equals 

  • Random acts of aggression, intimidation, or meanness

These behaviours are still taken seriously at Dancenergy, but they are managed as misbehaviour or conflict, not as bullying.

What Dancenergy Will Do

Dancenergy will:

  • Create class environments that are supportive and encourage open communication between students, student leaders, and teaching staff. 

  • Encourage students to “tell” a trusted adult about any incidents of bullying or if they feel they are being bullied. 

  • Establish “telling” as valued, responsible behaviour in our community—not “dobbing”.

Response to Reports of Bullying

When a concern or report of bullying is received, Dancenergy will follow a clear process.

Initial Response – “No Blame” Approach

  • Dancenergy adopts a “no blame” approach in the first instance. 

  • Those involved will be interviewed (by the Principals, Kirstyn Burton and/or Tenisha Clarke) and made aware of the suspected bullying and the studio’s anti‑bullying position. 

  • At this early stage:

    • There may not yet be formal consequences. 

    • Parents may or may not be notified, depending on the situation. 

    • If the behaviour is not deemed to be bullying, the incident may still be recorded and kept on file.

If Bullying Is Identified

  • The Principals will contact the parents/carers of both the child displaying bullying behaviour and the child who has been bullied. 

  • An action plan will be developed, which may include:

    • Mediation 

    • Group discussions in class 

    • Individual counselling or support

A record of the incident and actions taken may be kept on file.

Support and Monitoring

Following an incident:

  • Ongoing monitoring and support will be provided by the relevant dance teacher(s) and/or the Principal for an agreed period of time. 

  • The length and type of support depend on factors such as:

    • Age of the students involved 

    • Severity of the incident 

    • Frequency or pattern of behaviour

  • Monitoring and support provided may also be documented and recorded.

Continued Bullying

If bullying behaviour continues after initial intervention, further action may be taken by the Director, which may include:

  • Opportunities for reconciliation between the students involved 

  • Referral for ongoing counselling with an appropriate external agency 

  • Rewards for positive behaviour and improvements 

  • Offering an alternative class or timetable, where practical 

  • Removal of service (termination of enrolment) in serious or ongoing cases

Record Keeping

All complaints or reports of bullying may be recorded and kept on file.

Records may include:

  • Details of the incident 

  • Dates and names of the students involved 

  • Names of any student bystanders and staff witnesses 

  • Actions taken and any follow‑up or monitoring

Dancenergy Kindness Code (Student Pledge)

At Dancenergy, we promise to help make our studio a happy, safe place for everyone.

I will:

  • Treat everyone with kindness and respect

  • Use friendly words and actions

  • Include others in games and groups whenever I can 

  • Listen to my teachers and follow their instructions 

  • Take care of the studio, equipment, and uniforms

I will not:

  • Bully, tease, or leave people out on purpose

  • Hurt others with my words, actions, or online posts

  • Join in or laugh when someone else is being unkind

If I see bullying or unkind behaviour:

  • I will tell a teacher, parent, or trusted adult

  • I will try to be a good friend, not a bystander

At Dancenergy, we stand together against bullying.
We are a team, and everyone deserves to feel safe and welcome.