The Victorian Popular Fiction Association (VPFA) aims to create a welcoming and safe environment at all its conferences and study days. We recognise the vulnerability that comes with sharing our work with the wider academic community, and we want all participants to feel valued and to have an enjoyable and fulfilling experience at our events, regardless of professional seniority, race, age, disability, job titles, sexuality, sex, gender identity or expression, religion, body size, class, belief or other characteristics.
We therefore as and expect all attendees to consider how their behaviour and conduct impacts on colleagues, and to show respect and courtesy to other attendees throughout any VPFA event.
This Code of Conduct sets out our expectations for behaviour at VPFA events. These principles apply equally in pre-event planning stages, during the conduct of the event itself, at social occasions (whether forming part of an event or adjacent to it), and in post-event activities such as feedback forums. They also apply equally to events held in person and remotely, and to online behaviour (such as on social media and blogs).
Principles for Conduct at VPFA Events
All participants must:
- Conduct themselves at all times in a manner that is professional, considerate, inclusive, respectful and collaborative.
- Listen respectfully to the views of others and engage constructively with them.
- Use preferred pronouns, titles and names, where other delegates have expressed such preferences.
- Behave supportively towards other delegates.
- Set an example to others in being kind in both formal conference sessions and social events.
- Be mindful of the power dynamics in academic and social interactions, and strive to support those over whom your status potentially confers power.
- Consider how questions to presenters are phrased, and avoid questions and comments that might tend to undermine the speaker.
- Respect the wishes of other participants before taking photographs or making recordings of presentations or at social gatherings, and where possible ask permission in advance.
- Refrain from harassment and all other forms of unacceptable behaviour as defined in this Code of Conduct.
What Constitutes Unacceptable Behaviour?
Unacceptable behaviour includes, but is not limited to:
- Harassment;
- Intimidation;
- Bullying;
- Discrimination;
- Derogatory or demeaning conduct,
“Harassment” includes, but is not limited to: making offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion; criticising a person’s nationality or country of residence; criticising technology choices; posting material online that might cause distress or embarrassment; displaying or viewing sexual images in public spaces; deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following; harassing photography or recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.
Reporting Unacceptable Behaviour
Participants are asked to alert the VPFA Executive Committee if they experience distress by reason of breaches of this Code of Conduct, if they notice someone else in distress, or if they become aware of unacceptable behaviour on the part of any participant.
This can be done by reporting it in person, or by emailing vpfainfo@gmail.com
Any participant asked to stop any harassment or other forms of unacceptable behaviour, even if it is unintentional, is expected to comply immediately.
VPFA members found to be engaging in behaviour that violates this Code of Conduct may also be subject to investigation by the Executive Committee. In cases where an offender appears to present the risk of continuing harm, expulsion from the conference or study day is a possible sanction; in extreme cases this may extent to exclusion from subsequent events as well. In cases where a person is proven to have committed an offence, VPFA membership and any honours granted by VPFA may be revoked.
Disclaimer
VPFA cannot control the behaviour of individual conference attendees and does not assume legal liability for unacceptable behaviour taking place at its events. This Code of Conduct is accordingly for information only: whilst VPFA strives as an organisation to ensure the safety and wellbeing of participants at its events, and intends to take steps to enforce this Code of Conduct, this Code of Conduct is not intended to create an legally-enforceable obligations or other legal duty on the part of VPFA or its officers.
Page last updated: 2-May-25