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Responsible Conduct Policy

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8. Definitions

Abuse

Includes physical abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, bullying, harassment, threats and violent acts. Instances of abuse can be in person or through other communication means and can vary in their frequency and severity.

Child abuse

Any or all types of child abuse and neglect, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, and exposure to or involvement in domestic and family violence.

Child sexual abuse

Any act (including grooming) that exposes a child to, or involves a child in, sexual activities that are beyond their understanding, are contrary to accepted community standards, or are outside what is allowed by law.

Emergency

An emergency means any event, actual or imminent, that endangers, destroys, or threatens human life, property, or the environment; and requires an urgent and coordinated response (typically involving other agencies) to resolve the situation. Emergencies often also have a high likelihood for leading to traumatic effects for individuals.

Grooming

Any online or in-person behaviour intended to manipulate and control a child, their family, kin or caregivers, or other support networks or organisations, with the aim of gaining access to the child; obtaining the child’s compliance; maintaining the child’s silence; and/or avoiding discovery of sexual abuse. Grooming may be difficult to identify, and can be done by people already known to the child, including by a family member, kin or carer.

Harmful sexual behaviour

Developmentally inappropriate sexual behaviour displayed by children and young people that may be harmful or abusive, encompassing a range of behaviours, from problematic to abusive, that are directed towards other children, young people or adults, and that may be harmful to those displaying the behaviour as well as those to whom it is directed.

Mandatory reporting

Mandatory reporting is the legal (statutory) reporting obligation to report a reasonable belief of child abuse to the responsible authorities.

Property

For the purpose of this Policy, a person’s “property” means their belongings. “Libraries Tasmania property” means land, premises and resources under the control of the Secretary, DECYP from the Libraries Act 1984.

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