After a shocking bullying incident at a NSW school, annual behaviour contracts for students and parents are being proposed. But educators say paperwork alone won’t stop bullying — and the reality of monitoring and enforcing them may be more complicated. A disturbing bullying incident at a...
A government review wants schools to respond to bullying complaints within 2 days. Is this fair? What else do we need? Asks Matthew White and Paul Kidson Recently, the federal government released its rapid review into school bullying. Authored by clinical psychologist Charlotte Keating and suicide prevention...
Should anti-bullying approaches encourage kids to be ‘upstanders’? The evidence is not clear, writes Karyn Healy School bullying is one of the most serious issues facing Australian schools. Students who are bullied can be left psychologically and emotionally devastated for years afterwards. Recently, the federal government released the...
Bullying in schools can have a devastating impact on victims. Research shows it can lead to reduced academic performance, depression, anxiety and even suicidal behaviour. So, preventing and reducing bullying is an urgent priority for governments as well as families and schools. However, a common obstacle to...
With a government review underway, report Marilyn Campbell and Shannon O'Brien, we have to ask why children bully other kids. The federal government has launched a “rapid review” to examine what works in preventing bullying in schools. Led by mental health experts, the review will inform a...
Is this a good idea? Professor Paul Kidson looks at the new powers and what it means for students and staff. When does a school’s responsibility for student behaviour end? Is it at 3pm when the bell goes? Or does a school still have to respond...
How can school playgrounds be set up to stop it? Brendon Hyndman has some ideas. Children spend thousands of hours in playgrounds at school. A lot of this time does not have the same levels of teacher preparation and supervision as classrooms do. Research shows school playgrounds...
Bullying is arguably one of the most serious issues facing Australia’s schools, write Vanessa Miller and Tony Yeigh About one in four students between Year 4 and Year 9 report being bullied regularly. This can have serious and lasting consequences. Research suggests students who are bullied are at...
What do you do when your child is being bullied—and the school insists everything is fine? Anthea Rowan shares her harrowing journey through denial, doubt, and finally, decisive action to protect her son. The First Signs: “Some of the boys hit me” It began when Jack* was...
Research shows that anti-bullying efforts are more effective when students are involved. It also shows we need to involve the whole school to stop it. write Fiona MacDonald and Nina Van Dyke About one in four students report being regularly bullied in Australian schools. Children who are...
