Safety

Brisbane Balboa Weekend is dedicated to providing a safe event experience for everyone involved, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, race, ethnicity, or religion (or lack thereof). Everyone at our event (including attendees, DJs, volunteers, band members, staff and organisers) has an absolute right to feel safe and respected at all times. We do not tolerate harassment or bullying in any form.

Everyone attending or associated with Brisbane Balboa Weekend in any capacity is required to abide by the Brisbane Balboa Weekend code of conduct at all times. If you violate the following standards of conduct, we may ask you to leave the event immediately and we will notify the police if necessary. We may ask you to not return over the course of the weekend, or to future events. We reserve the right to decide who attends Brisbane Balboa Weekend and we will do everything in our power to ensure the comfort and safety of all attendees.

We expect every person to take ownership of their language.

This means not using racist, homophobic, sexist or transphobic language, sexualised, rude or violent language, or language designed to make another person feel uncomfortable or inferior.

We expect every person to take ownership of their actions. This can include:

  • Do not touch someone else without first asking. Do not touch anyone inappropriately.
  • Stop touching them if they ask or tell you to.
  • Only closely embrace someone with their consent.
  • NEVER attempt aerials, lifts or drops on the social dancing floor.
  • In a jam, ensure you have consent to perform an aerial, lift or drop, with every partner, every time. (We should not need to remind you that throwing your partner off their own weight without consent in any way or for any reason is a violation of personal space and safety.)
  • Take proactive steps to find out whether the person you are dancing with is comfortable.
  • It is your right to refuse any dance, for any reason at any time. It is your right to stop dancing with someone at any point for any reason.
  • If someone lets you know, verbally or non-verbally, that they are feeling uncomfortable, check your behaviour, apologise sincerely, and make a change immediately.
Need Help?

If you are injured, feel uncomfortable or unsafe, or are experiencing or witnessing inappropriate behaviour, please let us know immediately. We will take urgent action. We will handle your complaint with absolute seriousness and in the strictest confidence.

  • You can approach:
    • Brisbane Balboa Weekend’s Safer Spaces Contact
    • the Event Manager(s)
    • our Volunteers at the front desk
    • our Roaming Volunteers
  • Ask for the event manager(s), who will handle your issue as a matter of priority.
  • If you do not feel comfortable speaking to someone while at the event itself, please contact us at emma@brisbanebalboaswing.dance or rob@brisbanebalboaswing.dance  via a private message to our Facebook page or contact our events Safer Spaces Coordinator.
  • If someone lets you know that they are uncomfortable about another attendee’s behaviour, please encourage them to come and talk to us, or seek their permission to come and talk to us yourself. Even if they think it is not a big deal, we want to know about it so we can be prepared to take action and prevent situations from escalating.

Sexual  Harassment 

This policy is based on the Queensland standard – read more at  https://www.qhrc.qld.gov.au/your-rights/sexual-harassment

Sexual harassment is any form of unwanted, unwelcome or uninvited sexual behaviour which is or might be offensive, humiliating or intimidating. It can include an unwelcome sexual advance, unwelcome request for sexual favours or other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. Where sexual interaction is invited, mutual, consensual or reciprocated it is not sexual harassment.

The law further defines sexual harassment as unwelcome sexual conduct that a ‘reasonable person’ might anticipate would offend, humiliate or intimidate. When applying the ‘reasonable person’ test to sexual harassment, the particular circumstances of the case will be taken into account. These might include the age, race or impairment, etc., of the person being harassed, and the relationship between the people involved (e.g. manager and apprentice).

Sexual harassment can take various forms and may be obvious or indirect, physical or verbal. Specifically, examples of sexual harassment include:

  • unwelcome physical touching;
  • sexual or suggestive comments, jokes or innuendo;
  • unwelcome requests for sex;
  • intrusive questions about a person’s private life;
  • showing a person sexually explicit images or material e.g. on a phone or computer;
  • unwanted invitations of a sexual nature;
  • leering;
  • sex based insults or taunts;
  • sexually offensive communications, including telephone calls, texts, emails, social media messages and posts.

Sexual harassment does not have to be repeated or continuous to be against the law. Some actions or remarks are so offensive that they constitute sexual harassment in themselves, even if they are not repeated. Other single incidents, such as an unwanted invitation or compliment, may not be sexual harassment. Some forms of sexual harassment, such as assault, physical molestation, stalking, sexual assault, and indecent exposure, are also criminal offences.

Sexual harassment and bullying behaviours will not be tolerated at Brisbane Balboa Weekend. It is your responsibility not to sexually harass or bully other people. Educate yourself on what types of behaviour are appropriate, and act accordingly. Always seek consent.

These rules also apply to all online and electronic forms of communication that are associated with this event.

Brisbane Balboa Weekend Policies

Strong Scents Policy

Please refrain from wearing strongly scented deodorants or perfumes, as these can trigger allergic reactions or migraines in some people. If possible, please use low-scented or hypoallergenic deodorants. Please apply deodorant before you come to the venue, and if you need to reapply, please do so outside.

Alcohol Policy

Do not bring alcohol to our licensed events.

You may bring alcoholic beverages to non-licensed venues. All of this event’s venues are licensed.

  • The supply of alcohol to minors is illegal and doing so will result in immediate expulsion from the event. If you are unsure if a person is a minor, do not provide alcohol until proof of age is provided.
  • If you are behaving inappropriately as a result of intoxication, we reserve the right to remove you from the event.
  • Do not drink and drive. We can assist you in finding alternative arrangements.

Illegal Substances Policy

Attendees are not to bring illegal substances or items to any Brisbane Balboa Weekend event. This includes illicit drugs and weapons of any sort. Please familiarise yourself with the relevant Queensland laws if you are from interstate or overseas.

Unaccompanied Minors Policy

As Brisbane Balboa Weekend has licensed events, we are legally restricted from having minors attend without a parent or guardian.

All licensed or evening events require a parent or parent-appointed guardian to be in attendance at the event for all attendees under the age of 18 for the entire time that the minor attendee is at the event. It is the responsibility of the parent of any minor to organise this prior to the event, we are not able to stand in proxy for parents at an event that we run.

Accommodation for minors should also be organised by parents before the event so that they are comfortable with the arrangements and the minor feels safe in the environment in which they are placed.

Minors will be required to wear an identifying item (wristband, etc.) provided by Brisbane Balboa Weekend so that licenced venues and other attendees can identify them.

Hosting Policy

Brisbane Balboa Weekend will endeavour to find appropriate hosting for all people that request it, but due to high demand, this may not always be possible.

We will advise you of the status of your request as early as possible so that you can find alternative accommodation. Please let us know if your circumstances change and you no longer require accommodation.

Any Brisbane Balboa Weekend participant acting as a host or hostee, either officially or unofficially in the hosting program, shall be bound by the Code of Conduct.

Brisbane Balboa Weekend will not provide hosting for unaccompanied minors.

Brisbane Balboa Weekend Procedures

Reporting issues

You can contact us by:

Our response

All reports will be taken seriously.

When a report is made:

  • An organiser or volunteer will direct the reporter immediately to a designated Safer Spaces Coordinator or convey the report to the Safer Spaces Coordinator themselves.
  • Organisers will communicate with the other parties to determine all sides of the story as soon as practicable. The confidentiality of all parties will be respected.
  • We will communicate our response to all parties involved separately.

Actions

Depending on each individual situation, the following are possible actions that the Safer Spaces Coordinator or Event Manager(s) may take:

  • A warning to the person who prompted the report. This warning will include a reminder that any further complaints may result in further consequences. A copy of the code of conduct will be made available.
  • The person who prompted the report will be required to avoid all contact with the person who made the report for the remainder of the event. This includes any electronic forms of contact.
  • Immediately ending any positions of power the person who prompted the report holds (volunteer/organiser/staff/DJ/band member status).
  • Immediate expulsion of the person who prompted the report from the event.
  • Imposing a temporary or permanent ban on the attendance of the person who prompted the report at future events.
  • Please note this list is not exhaustive and each issue will be dealt with on an individual basis.

Brisbane Balboa Weekend would like to thank Melbourne Lindy Exchange for allowing us to use an adapted version of their Code of Conduct.