6 things Australia must do if it’s serious about tackling school bullying

Bullying is arguably one of the most serious issues facing Australia’s schools.

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 an increased risk of mental health problems and self-harm.

On Friday, submissions close for the federal government’s rapid review into school bullying. Here, we suggest six key areas on which governments, schools and education authorities need to focus to re-imagine Australia’s approach to tackling bullying.

Read more: With a government review underway, we have to ask why children bully other kids

1. A national approach to bullying

At the moment, there is no clear, consistent definition of bullying in Australian schools. Nor are there consistent policies.

This naturally leads to confusion about current best practice to both prevent bullying and support students who have been bullied.

For example, there are several definitions of cyberbullying between the different states and territories.

2. Consistent data to track bullying

Australia also has no nationally consistent approach to track or measure bullying and cyberbullying.

This means it is impossible to say whether bullying is getting worse or better – or if certain parts of the country are more successfully addressing it.

So we need metrics to better track, analyse, report and respond to bullying incidents across schools, regions, states and territories.

For years, researchers have noted schools themselves also need accurate data to analyse, monitor and evaluate the degree to which an intervention is effective.

3. A whole-school approach

A national strategy should also prioritise whole-school approaches to bullying prevention – this is what research shows to be most effective.

A whole-school approach sees anti-bullying efforts as the responsibility of everyone connected to a school. School leaders, teachers, support staff, students, families and the wider community are all expected to promote safety and inclusion.

Addressing bullying should see strategies implemented across multiple locations, including the classroom, wider school and home environments.

This goes beyond simply dealing with individual bullying incidents as they arise.

Research also suggests schools should focus on proactive, non-punitive strategies and a positive school culture. This includes clear procedures to report bullying, effective education programs, and establishing consistent classroom and school rules.

If bullying occurs, schools can respond with a restorative approach, which focuses on repairing harm done to relationships.

Studies suggest whole-school approaches such as these can reduce bullying behaviours by 20-23% and victimisation by 17-20%.

4. Teach social and emotional skills

As part of the whole-school approach, we also need to make sure schools are teaching social and emotional skills. This includes how to identify and manage emotions as well as communicating and cooperating with others.

While it is part of the Australian Curriculum, research shows social and emotional skills are not always taught using evidence-based, formal approaches.

A large body of research demonstrates that schools which teach social and emotional learning across all aspects of school engagement, report higher academic achievement, lower rates of bullying, improved student wellbeing, and stronger connections between students and adults.

In part, this is because these approaches empower students to take ownership of their behaviour.

Read more: Schools today also teach social and emotional skills. Why is this important? And what's involved?

5. Training for teachers

Teachers play a pivotal role in making sure all students feel safe and supported at school, helping children and young people to understand and manage their emotions.

A 2014 study found teachers who had participated in anti-bullying training were able to provide this support more effectively.

Teachers specifically need training that helps them provide safe, inclusive spaces for students from marginalised groups, including students with disability and young people who face homophobic or transphobic bullying.

School staff should receive consistent, culturally responsive training, so they are equipped with the most current and effective ways to support all students.

6. Give students an active role

We should also look at ways to give students a greater role in shaping anti-bullying policies.

Research shows when students are included in decisions that affect them, it increases their engagement with learning and motivation at school.

Along with helping to make policies, students can also be involved in peer-mentoring programs and leading campaigns to raise awareness about respectful relationships. This can create a sense of shared ownership for anti-bullying interventions.