15 Mar 2019
All schools are aware of the potential harmful effects of bullying, including online bullying (cyberbullying) on young people and take reports of bullying seriously. Itis also important to recognise that as adults, we can also experience bullying in many areas of our lives including the workplace or in the community. Being the victim of a bully can be a devastating experience, and can affect every aspect of a person’s life at any stage of life, long after the bully has moved on to another victim. As adults, we need to model respectful relationships for our children and support every child to understand how to deal with bullying behaviours they may experience or observe. As a school and community, when we have a shared understanding of bullying is and how it differs from other types of conflict or aggression, we are able to respond appropriately.
Remember that there is strength in numbers! Every school and community has more kids who care than kids who bully. Becoming an upstander and actively speaking out against bullying takes courage, assertiveness, compassion and leadership. A confident, positive and resilient attitude can help to stop bullying from continuing.
To be an upstander, you must take action to:
- Tell the bully to stop
- Get others to stand up to the bully with you
- Help the victim
- Shift the focus and redirect the bully away from the victim