How schools respond to bullying

Hello, I’m Norm Fuller, President of the Queensland Secondary Principals’ Association and an executive member of the Australian Secondary Principals Association. 

Today I’d like to talk to you about how Australian schools respond to bullying, and how to work with the school if your child is being bullied.

Schools are aware of the potential harmful effects of bullying, including cyberbullying, on young people and take reports of bullying seriously.  

While all Australian school communities are different and each student’s circumstances are different, there are some common actions schools take to address bullying.

Most schools have a policy about how they manage bullying. This might be part of a behaviour policy, or it may be a specific anti-bullying policy. You can ask the school for a copy or it may be available on their website.

Most schools also have strategies that are part of everyday routines to prevent and manage bullying. Processes such as supervising students between classes and at break times, and using the curriculum to develop students’ relationship skills are some examples. 

Despite these efforts, unfortunately bullying will still occur. The earlier the school knows about a bullying issue, the quicker they can respond. As students get older, they are less likely to report bullying to teachers. If you find out your child is being bullied, request a meeting with school staff to discuss your concerns.

Each bullying episode is different. Schools will put in place strategies to deal with bullying issues depending on the individual circumstances. Strategies are generally developed for both the student who is being bullied and the student or students doing the bullying. For example, teaching techniques to help a student become more assertive in dealing with bullying or mediation can be useful in some circumstances. 

In some cases, the school may take disciplinary action against students who are bullying others.

The school may also involve support staff such as a school psychologist, counsellor, guidance officer or other welfare staff to provide support to students involved.

For some students, the increasing availability of technology can mean that bullying extends beyond the school. If bullying happens outside the school, for example bullying that occurs online or via text messages, let the school know especially if other students from the school are involved. 

As a parent you are an important partner with the school in enabling your child to reach their full potential.  Consider becoming involved in the parent association of your child’s school to participate in discussions about the policies of the school.

School staff understand that it can be distressing to report that your child is being bullied. They will try to support you and your child as much as possible and include you in discussions about strategies that could be used. 

Working together with the school is the best way to help your child resolve bullying issues. The Bullying. No way! website has more information on working with your child’s school.