ONLINE BULLYING IN SPOTLIGHT FOR NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION

Queensland school students today joined more than one million students across Australia to mark the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA).

At Brisbane State High School today, Education Minister Kate Jones said it was the sixth year that students across the country had actively promoted the Bullying. No Way! message.

“This year more than 300,000 students from 600 Queensland primary and secondary schools are involved,” Ms Jones said.

“We know that approximately one in four young people are bullied and one in five young people experience online bullying.

“Children aged between 10 and 15 are the most likely to be involved in online bullying.

“By working together, schools and communities can generate discussion to find workable solutions to address bullying and violence.

“NDA, led by Queensland’s Department of Education and Training, is a significant awareness-raising event for schools throughout Australia.”

Ms Jones said research showed that 83 per cent of students who bully others online also bully offline and that young people consider online and face-to-face experiences to be connected.

“It’s important that the parents, community members as well as teachers and students spread the word against all forms of bullying and violence,” she said.

Ms Jones said the cybersafety session for 500 Year 8 students at Brisbane State High today was one way the department was increasing students’ online safety.

“Since July last year more than 23,000 Queensland students have benefitted from the Enhancing your Digital Identity workshops at more than 80 state schools,” she said.

“Through these workshops the department’s Cybersafety and Reputation Management team promotes safe and positive online behaviours.

“The workshop shows students how to respond to and report negative online comments and how to stand up for themselves and their friends online.

Brisbane SHS Executive Principal Wade Haynes said the school had a strong focus on four core values: learning, excellence, respect and public education.

“We believe that each person is expected to act with respect towards others, themselves and to their school,” Mr Haynes said.

“Initiatives such as the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence allow our entire school community to be visibly supporting ideals of value, tolerance and diversity. 

“Our ARC (Academia, Resilience and Careers) program is a carefully integrated pastoral care program in which our current Year 8 students are exploring cybersafety.”

At the school today Minister Jones joined students in writing positive messages on an anti-bullying wall before meeting with 10 students from the school’s leadership team about NDA events.

For more information visit www.bullyingnoway.gov.au

 

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