Your rights 

We all have human rights. 

Human rights are things that countries agree we all need to live safe, happy and healthy lives. 

Children have extra rights. These are written down in an international law called the Convention on the Rights of the Child. These extra rights apply all the time, including when you are taking part in the arts. 

• You have the right to safety. No one should do anything to you that makes you feel frightened, upset, uncomfortable or unsafe.
• You have the right to privacy and control over your body. No one should touch you or photograph you unless you agree to it.
• You have a right to be treated fairly and equally no matter your identity, ability or background. This might mean that you or others need individual attention so that everyone can participate equally.
• You have the right to speak up and ask for help when something is wrong. If you don’t get the help and support that you need the first time, keep trying until you do.
• You should be treated with care and respect by adults. When making decisions, the most important thing for adults to consider is what’s best for you.
• You have the right to have a say and be involved in decisions that affect you. Generally, your parents or guardians should also be involved in decisions about you. But adults should listen to what you have to say.  

In some circumstances, you can make decisions without your parents or guardians if: 

• it is in your best interests to make a decision without their involvement, and
• you understand the decision and its consequences.  

For example, if you understand that some people may not be supportive, but you think it’s right for you, you might decide for yourself things like: 

• using a particular dressing room that aligns with your preferred gender
• being part of a performance that has themes that other people might be uncomfortable with.  

Some organisations have policies or rules about keeping children and young people safe, including what they will do if something goes wrong. You can ask if they have one, and you can ask to read it.  

Even if your organisation doesn’t have its own policy, there are laws that require organisations to keep you safe and adults to protect you from harm. 

Your responsibilities 

All rights come with responsibilities. Just as everyone must treat you with respect, you must treat others with respect. 

Everyone who participates in the arts has the right to be safe, supported and included. This means that everyone, including you, has a responsibility to behave in a way that is respectful of others.  

• Be respectful of others. Do not to do anything that might make other people feel unsafe.
• Treat others fairly and equally. You must not discriminate against others because of where they were born, the colour of their skin, their religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.
• Treat others with care. You must not engage in behaviours like bullying or harassment, including things like name-calling, spreading rumours or deliberately excluding people.
• Respect people’s privacy. Do not make or share private or embarrassing images or videos of other people. Doing this can be against the law.
• Respect people’s boundaries. If someone doesn’t add you on social media or won’t meet you privately outside of your classes or rehearsals, you need to respect that. This applies to both adults and other young people. 

Things adults should do to keep you safe

The adults in your life have a responsibility to keep you safe. This includes teachers, instructors, directors, other performers and artists. It also includes any of the supporting crew behind the art, from people in the office, make up and costume, to people who do the lights and sound or drive you places. Adults must not hurt you in any way, including physically or sexually. They should not touch you in a way that makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

• Adults should speak to you respectfully and in a way that encourages you. They should not constantly criticise or ignore you. They should not talk to you about ‘adult’ things including things of a sexual nature.
• Adults must not discriminate against you because of your gender, sex, culture, race, religion, disability or sexuality.
• Adults may need to treat you or other young people differently to make sure everyone can be included and participate fully. You should always feel like you can speak up if this makes you uncomfortable.
• Adults should respect your culture and make you feel that your identity and experiences are valued, including if you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
• Adults should treat everyone fairly. They should not give you or others gifts or special attention. They should not contact you privately online, or meet you alone when you’re not making art. They should not ask you to keep secrets from others including from your friends, family, other adults or anyone else.
• Adults should not take photos of videos of you unless you or your parents say they can. Adults should not make arts based on you or your experiences unless you or your parents say they can. If your parents say it's OK but you don't want to, you should always feel like you can speak up.
• Adults should not be alone with you in a changing room. They should not touch you in a way that is not necessary to teach you or physically support you.
• Adults should listen to you when you raise a concern. They should take your concerns seriously.
• Adults should help you if you tell them that you have been harmed or feel unsafe. This includes physical, sexual and emotional harm by another young person or by an adult, including a parent, carer, family member or friend.
• Adults should not treat you badly if you speak up about feeling unsafe.

Most adults will need to have a Working With Children Check before working with you. This is a special permit that tells your arts organisation that they have not hurt children before and can be responsible when working with anyone who is under 18.  

What to do when something feels wrong 

If you, or a child or young person you know, is feeling unsafe:  

• Find an adult you trust. This can be a parent, guardian or other adult family member, a teacher or instructor, or another trusted adult you know.
• Tell them what happened. You can do this in whatever way is most comfortable for you. For example, if talking about it is too hard, you can write it down or draw a picture.
• It’s OK if you get upset. It’s normal to get upset thinking about things that are hurtful or scary.
• Your trusted adult may have some questions for you. Try to answer these as best you can. It’s OK if you don’t know all the answers.
• Your trusted adult might ask you to tell your story to other people who can help you.
• If at any time you do not feel safe or you feel uncomfortable talking to anyone about what happened, you can stop.
• Some adults are required by law to tell someone else, such as the police or child protection, if they are concerned that a child or young person may have experienced, or be at risk of experiencing, harm. If they have to do this, they must only tell the people who need to know to keep you safe.
• Remember — you have done nothing wrong.  

Where to get help 

If you feel unsafe and you need help, you can talk to an adult you trust, like a parent, family member, teacher or instructor.

You can also ask for free and confidential help from experts. Confidential means the person you speak to will not share what you tell them with anybody unless you agree — but they may have tell someone if you or someone else is in danger. 

• Kids Helpline
  • www.kidshelpline.com.au
  • Free call 1800 55 1800 (available 24/7)
  • counsellor@kidshelpline.com.au
• Headspace
  • www.headspace.org.au
  • Email or chat online
  • Free call 1800 650 890 (3pm–10pm, 7 days a week)
  • Visit a Headspace Centre
• Youth Law Australia if you need legal information
  • www.yla.org.au
  • Check the contact phone number for where you are
  • advice@lawmail.org.au   

You can also call the police. 

• Call 000 if you need urgent help right away
• Call 131 444 if it is not urgent
• Visit your local police station.