The Code of Conduct contained in this leaflet is designed to protect Minus18 patrons, volunteers, and adults from possible accusations of bad behavior. It also covers the rules by which Minus18 operates.

We believe that adherence to the Code of Conduct will result in smoothly run events in a safe, friendly environment.

This Code has been prepared after legal advice.

PLEASE NOTE:
Your attendance at any function conducted by Minus18 denotes your acceptance of this code of conduct as controlling your behavior and it will be strictly enforced.

Please read this code carefully and, if you do not accept it, then do not attend the events.

DRESS CODE
Minus18 strongly believe in freedom of expression, especially through attire. That being said, the venues we hold our events at require you guys to wear closed toed shoes at all times (no thongs or sandals etc). Minus18 need you guys to keep your clothes on at an event too. 

If you decide to wear something that could be classified as "revealing" please consider your own safety when travelling to and from an event. We provide a free cloak room, so Minus18 strongly encourages you to wear a jacket, or change when you arrive.

NO ALCOHOL
Patrons found in possession of alcohol with have the alcohol confiscated and it will not be returned on departure. Intoxicated persons will not be admitted. Intoxicated patrons found on the premises will be evicted. Local liquor retailers and licensed premises are advised in advance of Minus18 events and, by law, are not permitted to sell or serve alcohol to underage patrons.

NO DRUGS
Patrons found in possession of non-prescription drugs will have the drugs confiscated and destroyed. Patrons under the influence of drugs will be denied entry or evicted.

DRUG DEALING
Sales of illegal drugs are NOT permitted on the premises under any circumstances. Anyone caught selling drugs will be held and the police will be informed. Anyone thinking of attempting to sell drugs is hereby warned of the consequences. Anyone suspected of being a drug dealer, whether that suspicion is right or wrong, can expect to be watched closely by venue security, staff, and volunteers.

NO PASS OUTS
There will be no pass outs available during Minus18 events, including for making and receiving telephone calls. This policy will be strictly enforced to protect patrons from outside forces which Minus18 is unable to control. Once a patron decides to leave, they are not permitted to return, unless they pay another entry fee and at the discretion of security. Any exceptions to this policy are rare and will only be in case of emergency.

LICENSED PREMISES
Where Minus18 is run in licensed premises, the venue has Liquor Licensing Victoria approval for the Minus18 underage event. All alcohol and advertising for alcohol are covered. When an event is run in the premises at the same time as a licensed event, any doors between the licensed area(s) and the area(s) for Minus18 are locked.

NO SEXUAL ACTIVITY
Minus18 events provide a safe, friendly environment for underage gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and Intersex youth and their accepting heterosexual friends. Everyone should feel comfortable and not be confronted with sexual activity. Therefore no sexual activities, apart from kissing or hugging, are permitted on the premises. This includes all areas of the venue including the toilets. Offenders will be warned by security and evicted if they persist. Although Minus18 in no way encourages patrons to partake in sexual activities, we do make Safe Sex literature, condoms, lube and dental dams available to patrons for use after they leave the event if they so wish.

CLOAK ROOM
Although all care will be taken, Minus18 is not responsible for items left in the Cloak Room.

MEDIA
From time to time, Minus18 may allow representatives of the media to attend an event. The media representatives will be carefully chosen and mindful of the implications of a patron’s privacy being invaded or of them being outed. Permission must be obtained by all media representatives prior to the use of any photograph, footage, or interview with an underage person at the event.

Minus18 takes video footage of the events for archival and promotional purposes only. Minus18 will not show anyone on commercial television without their express written permission.

No patron is authorized to take part in any Media publicity without the permission of the Minus18 executive. All patrons who are authorized must be aware of the implications if someone they do not wish to know of their sexuality finds out due to a media assignment. Parental permission may be required.

MAILING LISTS
Minus18 mailing lists, both postal and email, are strictly confidential and all information is collected in accordance with our privacy policy. This information will never be given to another party without your express written permission.

ADULT COMMITTEE MEMBERS OVER 18 YEARS
For the purpose of this code of conduct, and adult is any person over the age of 18 years.

All adult committee members are expected to behave in a manner that protects underage patrons from abuse, both physically and verbal, and allows the patrons quiet enjoyment of a Minus18 event.
No harassment will be tolerated
Bodily contact between Adults and underage patrons is not permitted, excepting for a light kiss/hug greeting or farewell.
Relationships (casual or permanent) between adult committee members and underage patrons outside of Victorian law are not encouraged. However relationships within Victorian law are permitted but should not be displayed at a Minus18 event in case someone gets the wrong impression.
Adult committee members must be aware of their responsibilities to underage patrons. This includes any situation where an Adult Committee Member may find himself/herself alone with an underage patron, including a motor vehicle or a residential address. Exceptions would include (but not limited to) meetings between Committee members of any age in a public place to discuss Minus18 business or hold meetings. Included in this restriction if the inappropriate use of public chat lines on the internet. If in doubt, reference should be made to the Minus18 Executive.

NOTE: ALL committee members, regardless of age, are expected to behave in a manner that causes no disrepute to Minus18 or affiliated organizations by abiding by the Minus18 policy manual, confidentiality agreements, code of conduct, and the law. Underage committee members (i.e. those under the age of 18) are expected to act at all times in a similar manner to that expects of Adult Committee Members.

Any accidental or unintentional breach of this code should be reported immediately to the Minus18 executive in writing and signed by both parties. This information is confidential and will be used only in the subsequent investigation of a complaint.

CODE OF CONDUCT – VOLUNTEERS
Minus18 volunteers are responsible adults over the age of 18 and are generally under 25. Only volunteers known to the committee are permitted to work at Minus18 events. Committee members over the age of 18 are considered volunteers on the night. Volunteers are chosen based on their commitment to Minus18 and their friendly attitude to the Minus18 patrons. They are bound by the same rules as everyone else.

CODE OF CONDUCT – PATRONS
For the purposes of this Code of Conduct, a patron is any person who is attending a Minus18 event, whether paying or otherwise, other than for the purposes of working or volunteering with Minus18.

Patrons are advised that any bad behavior will not be tolerated, and that, if deemed necessary by venue management, security, or the executive, patrons may be evicted.

Patrons who become aware of other patrons offending against this code of conduct at a Minus18 event are encouraged to report the matter to an executive or security. Confidentiality will be observed and complaints should be made in writing.

Patrons must observe that Minus18 does not tolerate sexual or sexually suggestive behavior.

Patrons must also observe that harassment of other patrons will not be tolerated, and any persons partaking in such behaviors will be referred to the youth worker in attendance.

VICTORIAN LAW
Victorian law is the same for relationships between people of the same sex and relationships between people of the opposite sex. There are age limits on when you are allowed to have sex. If you are:
UNDER 10 – No one is allowed to have sex with you (even if you agree).
BETWEEN 10 & 16 – a person is not allowed to have sex with you if they are more than two years older than you (even if you agree).
AGED 16 OR 17 - A person is not allowed to have sex with you if you are under their care, supervision, or authority, e.g. teacher, youth worker (even if you agree).

Subject to the age limits, the law says that two people are not allowed to have sex unless they both agree. If you don’t agree and someone threatens you or touches you sexually, they are breaking the low.

(Source: “Am I Old Enough”, 11th Edition, May 1998. Courtesy of Victoria Legal Aid.)

COMPLAINTS
Any person, wishing to complain about the behavior of any person should do so in writing. Complaints should be addressed to: “The Convenor, Minus18, Level 8 / 225 Bourke St, Melbourne 3000”

Minus18 will investigate every complaint and take appropriate action. Complaints found to be malicious may result in action taken against the person making the complaint. Genuine complaints, found to be incorrect, will not result in action taken against the complainant. All complaints will be kept strictly confidential, although it may be necessary within the course of investigations to reveal some details.