Code of Conduct | CBR Burlesque

Canberra Burlesque Academy

Community Code of Conduct

Purpose

Canberra Burlesque Academy Incorporated ("CBA") is committed to creating and maintaining a community that is welcoming, inclusive, respectful, safe and professional for all participants.

This Code of Conduct exists to support a culture where people can learn, create, perform, teach, volunteer, collaborate, receive feedback, take creative risks and participate fully without fear of discrimination, harassment, bullying, exclusion or retaliation.

This Code applies to all students, performers, volunteers, teachers, mentors, contractors, committee members, staff, guests and visitors participating in CBA activities.

Participation in any CBA activity constitutes agreement to comply with this Code.

Scope

This Code applies to all CBA activities including:

Classes
Workshops
Rehearsals
Performances
Mentorship programs
Professional development activities
Competitions
Volunteer activities
Meetings
Social events
Online learning
Social media interactions connected to CBA
Email communications
Messaging platforms
Any physical or digital environment where CBA activities occur

Our Community Values

At CBA we strive to:

Treat each other with respect.
Assume good intent while remaining accountable for impact.
Support people to learn, grow and make mistakes safely.
Celebrate diversity.
Prioritise accessibility and inclusion.
Foster cultural safety.
Respect consent and personal boundaries.
Encourage creativity and self-expression.
Protect privacy and confidentiality.
Speak directly to the source whenever possible.
Foster kindness, professionalism and collaboration.
Support constructive feedback and continuous learning.

Inclusion, Diversity and Cultural Safety

CBA welcomes and values people of all backgrounds and identities.

We are committed to creating a safe environment for:

First Nations peoples
LGBTQIA+ communities
Disabled people
Neurodivergent people
Sex workers
Culturally and linguistically diverse communities
Older adults
Carers
People from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds

Discrimination, vilification, exclusion or harassment based on a person's identity, background or protected attribute will not be tolerated.

General Principles

When participating in CBA activities, all participants are expected to:

Act with integrity, professionalism and honesty.
Treat all people with dignity, respect and consideration.
Respect diversity, lived experience, identities, access needs and personal boundaries.
Use CBA resources, facilities, equipment and information responsibly.
Avoid actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest.
Act in a manner that promotes the interests, reputation and values of CBA.
Respect the opinions and experiences of others.
Work collaboratively rather than competitively.
Perform responsibilities with care, skill and diligence.
Follow Academy policies, procedures and reasonable directions.
Act lawfully.
Raise concerns through appropriate channels.
Participate respectfully in discussions, meetings and feedback processes.
Listen actively and challenge ideas respectfully.
Support collective decision-making processes.
Comply with both the spirit and intent of this Code.

Consent and Personal Boundaries

CBA operates on a consent-first model.

Participants must:

Obtain consent before physical contact.
Respect personal boundaries.
Accept refusal without pressure or challenge.
Recognise that consent may be withdrawn at any time.
Seek permission before sharing photographs, videos or personal information.
Respect requests relating to accessibility, sensory needs and personal safety.

Teachers and mentors should seek consent before providing physical corrections wherever reasonably practicable.

No participant is required to engage in physical contact or activities that make them uncomfortable.

Confidentiality, Privacy and Community Trust

Participants are expected to respect the privacy and confidentiality of others.

This includes:

Personal stories, experiences and identities.
Information relating to a participant's health, disability, neurodivergence, gender identity, sexuality, cultural background or personal circumstances.
Mentorship discussions and feedback intended for individual participants.
Creative concepts, works in development and intellectual property.
Internal Academy information clearly identified as confidential.
Sensitive information relating to students, volunteers, contractors, teachers, mentors or committee members.

Participants must not:

Share another person's personal information without consent.
Share private discussions without permission.
Disclose confidential information about participants, mentors, teachers, volunteers or contractors unless completely de-identified.
Share confidential organisational information.
Record or distribute classes, workshops, rehearsals, mentorship sessions or private discussions without permission.

What Confidentiality Does Not Prevent

Nothing in this Code is intended to silence participants or prevent accountability.

Participants may:

Discuss their own experiences.
Seek personal, medical, legal, cultural or wellbeing support.
Make a complaint.
Provide feedback.
Report discrimination, bullying, harassment, abuse, unsafe conduct or misconduct.
Participate in mediation, investigations or dispute resolution processes.
Comply with legal obligations.
Raise concerns with relevant authorities or support services.

No participant will be penalised for making a genuine complaint or reporting conduct that may place someone at risk.

Intellectual Property and Creative Works

Participants must respect intellectual property rights.

This includes:

Choreography
Performance concepts
Costuming concepts
Educational materials
Workshop content
Creative works in development
Branding and promotional materials
Photographs and recordings

Participants must not reproduce, distribute, record, teach, perform or commercially exploit another person's work without permission.

Ownership of intellectual property remains with its creator unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Expected Behaviour

Participants are expected to:

Treat others with courtesy and respect.
Respect personal boundaries and consent.
Maintain confidentiality when sensitive information is shared.
Follow teacher, mentor and venue safety instructions.
Raise concerns through appropriate channels.
Support an environment free from discrimination and harassment.
Behave professionally during classes, performances and events.
Support fellow participants in their learning and development.
Contribute positively to community culture.

Unacceptable Behaviour

The following behaviour is not acceptable:

Bullying or intimidation.
Harassment or discrimination.
Sexual harassment.
Victimisation or retaliation.
Gossip intended to damage another person's reputation.
Deliberately spreading misinformation or personally perceived interpretation.
Sharing confidential information without permission.
Unauthorised recording or distribution of content.
Threatening behaviour.
Online harassment.
Public shaming or humiliation.
Creating unsafe environments for others.
Deliberately undermining another participant.
Repeated disruptive behaviour that negatively impacts the community.

Community Safety and Anti-Bullying

CBA believes every person deserves to participate in a safe environment free from bullying, harassment, discrimination and victimisation.

What Is Bullying?

Bullying is repeated unreasonable behaviour that creates a risk to a person's health, wellbeing, safety or ability to participate.

Examples include:

Repeated exclusion.
Rumour or gossip spreading.
Public humiliation.
Persistent hostile behaviour.
Deliberate attempts to damage someone's reputation.
Targeted online behaviour.

What Is Not Bullying?

The following do not constitute bullying when conducted respectfully and appropriately:

Reasonable feedback.
Performance coaching.
Enforcing policies.
Setting boundaries.
Addressing inappropriate behaviour.
Performance reviews.
Safety interventions.

Social Media and Online Conduct

Social media can be an important way to connect, celebrate achievements and share artistic journeys.

Participants are encouraged to:

Celebrate others.
Share their own experiences.
Promote events and achievements.
Engage respectfully with differing opinions.

Participants must not:

Share confidential information.
Share private conversations without permission.
Post identifying information about participants without consent.
Use social media to harass, intimidate or bully others.
Spread rumours or unverified allegations.
Present personal opinions as official CBA positions.

Where concerns relate to another participant, teacher, mentor or program, participants are encouraged to utilise CBA's complaints process before discussing matters publicly.

Reporting Concerns

Participants may report concerns through:

A teacher
A mentor
The Principal
The Feedback and Complaints process
Email
Written complaint

Complaints may be made confidentially where possible.

Grievance and Dispute Resolution

CBA is committed to providing a fair, transparent and accessible process for addressing concerns, complaints and disputes.

Informal Resolution

Where appropriate, participants are encouraged to:

Speak directly with the person involved.
Seek support from a teacher or mentor.
Request informal mediation.

Formal Complaints

Formal complaints may be submitted through:

The Feedback and Complaints Form
Email
Written correspondence

Complaints should include:

What happened
Who was involved
Relevant dates and information
Desired outcome

Timeframes

CBA will:

Acknowledge complaints within three business days.
Investigate as soon as reasonably possible.
Keep parties informed throughout the process.

Natural Justice and Procedural Fairness

All parties involved in a complaint will:

Be treated respectfully.
Have an opportunity to provide information.
Have concerns considered fairly.
Be protected from victimisation or retaliation.

Where a complaint concerns the Principal, an independent person such as a committee member, board member, external advisor or mutually agreed mediator may be appointed.

Breaches and Consequences

Where a breach occurs, CBA may:

Provide informal feedback.
Provide education or coaching.
Require mediation.
Issue a verbal warning.
Issue a written warning.
Require a behaviour agreement.
Suspend participation.
Remove a participant from a class, program, event or mentorship.
Terminate participation where necessary.

Actions taken will be proportionate to the seriousness of the conduct.

Continuous Improvement

Complaints, grievances and participant feedback may be reviewed in de-identified form to improve policies, programs and participant experiences.

Shared Commitment

By participating in Canberra Burlesque Academy activities, we are not agreeing to secrecy.

We are agreeing to look after one another.

We are agreeing to respect privacy.

We are agreeing to honour consent.

We are agreeing to protect vulnerable community members.

We are agreeing to respect creativity and intellectual property.

We are agreeing to support one another.

We are agreeing to help create a community where people feel safe to learn, create, perform, take risks, grow and shine.

Together, we contribute to a safer, stronger and more inclusive Canberra Burlesque Academy community.