There are so many reasons why children and adults bully and it really does need to be tackled by everyone at all levels. There needs to be a zero tolerance to bullying and it does indeed need to be called out and managed and there need to be strategies in place that work. A review and going forward with a workable plan is a good idea.

I don’t fully agree with you tessie. One of my foster daughters had sooooo many detentions and suspensions over the years for unacceptable behaviours towards staff and peers that I could write books about it. She also has several diagnosis and is on the NDIS, so despite that plenty of consequences were applied (and rightly so).

I think it comes from the parents on how they raise their children. One thing can be – child is raised in similar circumstances at home, his/her parents bullying him/her at home. Other thing can be – parents don’t have time to look after kids and they basically do what they want. Lastly – parents know how they children act, but they either don’t say anything or they think “better them being bullies then being bullied”.

I know bullying has been going on for a long time but it’s worsened since we are no longer allowed to punish children who misbehave. I don’t mean always smacking them either. Since some children will lie about their punishments, most parents just give their children what they want. When I went to school the pupils had to respect their teachers and fellow pupils and they were punished if they didn’t. They were given 3 chances, the first time they had to write a composition on why they shouldn’t do whatever, the second was sitting in the principals office and missing out on something they really wanted to do and the third was a smack with the cane which rarely if ever happened. Now those things can’t happen so the bullying intensifies. Also cyberbullying makes it even worse.

As a mother who’s child was bullied the education department absolutely sucks balls! From teachers principals mayors local members of parliament and the education department itself all need to hang there heads in shame! Noone takes bullh seriously and it seems that the perpetrators seem to get all the benefits and safeguards! System choking itself

My son was bullied from kindergarten onwards constantly and to be told that he was in trouble if he reacted back at the bullies makes it even worse. Was told on one occassion that the child who was bullying had not taken his medication so that was why he hit my son. Not good enough this is what is causing so many issues in our systems now. Eventually I had enough and removed both my children to another school where they were treated much better. My children who have above average intelligence were seen by these bullies as a threat and as I assisted in lots of the school’s activities for each of my children’s classes it was extremely hard not to act on the bullies when you observed them doing things to all other children and getting away with it daily. The bullies should be disiplined accordingly and made to miss out on what others are doing as a punishment too.
The schools are part to blame as they do not handle the situations correctly. When a bully has your child in a head lock and your child hits the bully in the stomach to release the hold and who gets into trouble…. not the bully….. could keep going on this but removing my children was the best thing for them and myself.

I was the target of bullying all my way through school (primary and high school) and it definitely affects you later in life. I definitely feel that I am more shy and reclusive than I might otherwise have been. I tend to think that kids who feel insecure bully to make themselves feel better.

Bullying in schools is a real concern and starts at a young age. Unfortunately my daughter is being bullied at the moment and it is heart breaking to hear her come home and be upset. We need more tools and tips to help us guide our kids through these times and have the schools help manage this when it happens too.

Bullying in a school environment is a dynamic many fail to observe and explore without imposing their personal experience and projecting their feelings onto the subject. Unfortunately so many of us have been the victim of bullying or the parent of a victimised child, that it’s hard to recognise the bully as a victim of any description also. It’s hard to have sympathy for those that have been cruel to us but it is absolutely essential to understanding why people bully, and implementing effective change.

My ASD son has had the same bully since Year 7, when you are sitting in the principal’s office in Week 4 of Year 7 after your child has been bullied, physically bullied, verbally threatened with violence, that is not on, and now in Year 9 it is still happening. Police are now called in, my son is being physically assaulted by this student, just this one student… enough is enough, no gentle parenting or school discussions is going to fix this, we need stronger action. My son should not be the one who misses out or has to change or has to remove himself from situations or walk in a different area just to avoid this one student. I have had enough; my son has had enough. The school has heard me, and boy, did they hear me. I am tired of the non-action, or” it will be alright action”, this is physical bullying and enough is enough.

This article is a whole lot of drivel. Bullying has been going on for ever. All of our 4 children were bullied at some stage of their school lives and now our grandchildren are being put through far worse bullying to the stage that they refuse to attend school. These bullies are the thugs of the future. Discipline has been taken out of the hands of everyone and the bullies are just laughing. I honestly don’t know what the answer is but the judicial authorities need to take a good look at themselves.

You have hit the nail on the head!!

This is a good read and great this subject continues to be studied. Personally I think it all begins at home where we lay the basis for respect for all the beautiful differences in people, where we lay the basis for empathy, love, care and where we teach our children to be inclusive.

It’s great that they’re looking into it, as to why it occurs, but more needs to be done to actually stop it. Schools already have so much on their plates so I don’t like saying they should do more but if they can, with more programs, it would help. Parents really need to have bigger discussions with their children about it and how to handle it.

This review and all the data is targeted at the Bully.. what about the kids who are bullied and have the Post traumatic stress of it and consistently watching their backs for more bullying. I totally understand the needs to stop bullying but it seems no one cares about the victim.. the one being bullied..
They have to suffer in silence whilst the schools focus on fixing and rehabilitation of the bullying.
This it’s not right and why we hear of the bullied kids dying.

Definitely home life adds to the list of reasons someone may lash out at others too and their social environment. It’s great that the Government is taking this much more seriously and looking into ways to help manage and prevent this. It’s a step in the right direction for all kids to be happy.

I don’t think there is any exact reason that kids become bullies. Nature vs nurture. How they are treated at home and the personalities and behaviors that are shown to them, and how the outside world has treated them. Definitely insecurities and wanting to fit in. I just hope that outreach programs and assistance for those affected can be widely available so we aren’t seeing young kids lost to bullying