National conversation and action on bullying
Published Sunday, 21 January, 2018 at 08:22 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk
More than 817,000 young Queenslanders will return to school this week.
We hope they had a good, relaxing break with family and loved ones, and we wish them well for their studies in the year ahead.
Sadly, I know there are children and parents apprehensive about the return to school. They are concerned that the resumption of classes will also mean a resumption of bullying in person and online.
I can assure Queenslanders our 1241 state schools take a zero tolerance approach to bullying. Each school has a Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students that sets out clear standards expected of all students.
In March each year, the Queensland Department of Education coordinates the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence.
Schools also use the national Bullying. No way! website to access information, resources and successful practices to counter bullying, harassment and violence in Australian schools.
We know bullying is a complex and can have tragic circumstances, as the death of Amy “Dolly” Everett has highlighted to all Australians.
Bullying can take many forms and it can occur inside and outside of the school.
No longer can a “bad day” at school be left behind at the school gates. Through social media platforms, school yard taunts and harassment can follow students into their home. From the classroom to bedroom, some young Queenslanders feel there is no respite from criticism or worse. Imagine receiving – repeatedly – the message “you are not wanted and no one likes you”?
I urge parents to talk with their children – are they receiving bullying messages on their phones and devices? Are they aware of classmates who are receiving them? Or, and let’s be frank, is their child sending these messages because some are?
As Premier, I do not know who is to blame, but I know we all need to be part of the solution.
Therefore, I will be re-dedicating the Queensland Government to work with children, parents, our schools, our communities, experts and other stakeholders to help young Queenslanders, and put the search for answers on the national agenda.
We need to raise awareness around this issue and we must have a national conversation and action about how we tackle it as we have done on family and domestic violence.