What is bullying?
Bullying covers a range of harmful behaviours that deprive other individuals and groups of their rights.
It includes:
- People calling you names
- Threats and intimidation
- Being teased
- Being hit or attacked
- Having rumours spread about you
- 'High tech' abuse (e.g. nasty emails or sms messages)
- Being ignored or left out
- Having your belongings damaged or stolen
Bullying and harassment both involve a more powerful person oppressing a less powerful person or group on the grounds of 'difference'. Both behaviours can be motivated by fear, jealousy, ignorance or misunderstanding.
What does it feel like to be bullied?
Being the target of a bully may make you feel scared or upset. In some cases it can make you so worried you can't focus on school or homework.
Bullies may make personal or offensive comments about your weight, your family, your religion, colour or culture.
If you're being bullied it's important to remember there's nothing wrong with you! Bullies thrive on getting a reaction and making others feel powerless or bad about themselves.
Your rights
We all have the right to be treated with respect, and to learn in a safe and supportive school environment that is free from bullying and harassment.
All Victorian government schools are required to make sure they offer a safe and supportive place for all students. A school's Student Code of Conduct must include anti-bullying policies and strategies that promote care, tolerance, courtesy and mutual respect.
You can empower yourself by knowing your rights and informing yourself about your school's policy on bullying.
What you can do about bullying
It can be difficult to tackle a bully on your own, even if you do have the support of your friends.
Sometimes the only way to stop the bullying cycle is to tell an adult. This might be: a parent; grandparent; year level co-ordinator or teacher; school counsellor; or another adult you trust.
Often people don't tell about bullying because they are afraid the bully will find out. Although this is a natural fear, asking for help and letting someone else know what's going on can help break the cycle.
All schools are required to have anti-bullying policies and strategies which are included in the school's Student Code of Conduct. For example, your school might have specially assigned teachers who are there to help, or set procedures in place to help deal with bullying incidents.
Speaking out about bullying and breaking a bullying 'cycle' may help other students as well. The more the message gets around that bullying will not be tolerated, the more open, just and equitable your school community will be!
Links
The following websites have good information and tips for dealing with bullying:
Addressing Bullying Behaviour
This website has been developed by the Student Wellbeing Branch with assistance from SOFWEB and Schools Television.
Bullying NoWay
This project is developed and managed by all participating Australian education authorities.One of the aims of this site is to provide a nationwide resource of State and Territory approaches to minimising bullying, harassment and violence in schools.
National Coalition Against Bullying
The National Coalition Against Bullying (NCAB) is an initiative of The Alannah and Madeline Foundation. NCAB brings together a group of individuals from key organisations to draw national attention to the issue of bullying and to bring about a social change in our community.
