If your child is being bullied
Bullying of any kind is not acceptable in NSW schools and should be taken seriously.
More information about how to help your child if they are being bullied is available in 35 languages on this page: Anti-bullying fact sheet.
Bullying is not tolerated
Our schools have a responsibility to take positive action to help prevent any kind of bullying and to respond appropriately when it does occur.
Schools are required to establish strategies and practices to encourage positive student behaviour, recognise and reinforce student achievement and wellbeing, and manage disruptive student behaviour.
Research suggests that a planned whole-school approach that actively involves staff, students, families and communities in promoting positive behaviour is an effective strategy to minimise bullying behaviour.
This includes social and emotional learning for students and professional learning for school staff on the different types of bullying behaviour and the signs to look for.
Steps to a resolution
Your child needs to know that they are being heard. Their feelings matter and their concerns should be taken seriously.
If your child tells you they are being bullied, the following ideas may help:
Encourage your child to talk about what happened. Tell your child that reporting the bullying is okay.
Listen carefully. After they've told you about it, ask questions to get more details if you need to: who, what, where, when.
Many children blame themselves and this may make them feel even worse.
Say things like, 'That sounds really hard to deal with' or 'I'm so glad you told me. You should feel safe at school.'
It is important that you help your child to find their own solution as this will help them feel that they have some control over the situation.
Your child may be reluctant for you to speak to school staff. Discuss the idea and reassure them that the school would want to know and is able to help.
Make an appointment to meet with your child's teacher and, if you need to, ask to talk with the principal.
Contact the school immediately if you have a concern about your child's safety.
Ask the school for a copy of the school behaviour support and management plan and any information they have on bullying.
Work with your child’s school to resolve the issue by establishing a plan for how the current situation, as well as any future bullying will be addressed. The school’s counsellor or psychologist is also available if required.
It’s important to know that schools must follow privacy laws and may not be able to tell you everything about any other children involved. These laws also keep you and your child’s information private too.
Keep a record of the school meeting and ways in which you will work together to resolve the issue.
If the bullying continues or increases, contact the school. Working together with the school is the best way to help resolve bullying issues.
Many children and young people want to try to deal with the bullying themselves in the first instance.
The strategies below may be useful if your child feels safe using these ideas:
- Ignoring the person doing the bullying.
- Telling them to stop and then walking away.
- Pretending you don't care; act unimpressed or not bothered.
- Moving to somewhere safe.
Practise with your child at home so they can use the strategies in situations they find difficult. Give feedback on whether they are getting their message across assertively. Practising at home can help your child feel more confident about trying the strategies at school.
Adapted with permission from Bullying. No Way!
Resources
- The Parent and carer tips factsheet includes information about how to help your child if they are being bullied.
- The NSW anti-bullying website brings together, in one place, evidence-based resources and information to support NSW schools, students, parents and carers. The website was developed in consultation with the school sectors, principal and parent groups.
- Our complete step-by-step guide can help you support your child if they are experiencing bullying.
- If your child wants to talk to someone other than the school, or you think added support would help, you may refer them to Kids Helpline. They can also call for free on 1800 551 800.
- Further information is available on the eSafety Commissioner website on the parent webpage, including the what to do if you child is being cyberbullied webpage and how to report online harm.
Access wellbeing support
It is important to look after your own and your child’s wellbeing. For more information to stay safe and well access our Resources to support wellbeing and wellbeing services.
Kids Helpline also has a parent line with trained teams who provide support, information and counselling for parents of children aged 0-18 years. You can call them for the cost of a local call between 9am to 9 pm Monday to Friday and 4pm to 9pm on weekends on 1300 1300 52.
You can speak to the parent line counsellors using an interpreter. The Translating and Interpreting Service can be contacted on 13 14 50 to arrange this.
Learn more about bullying at Bullying. No Way!