Australian schools have one of the highest rates of bullying reported internationally, with an estimated one in four kids experiencing bullying at some point.
This is despite the government implementing a number of anti-bullying programs, and media outlets like Channel 7 Sunrise launching a nation-wide anti-cyberbullying campaign.
The question must be asked, where are we going wrong?
For Michelle Adams, her daughter Sarah who is now 17-years-old, first experienced bullying at the age of 12 following a school trip.
“They had school camp in the first two weeks of starting school, but I was unable to pay and asked for a week extension,” said Michelle.
“I was shut down, Sarah was told by the teachers that she couldn’t get on the bus because I couldn’t pay and would be all alone at school.”
It was not long after the teacher humiliated Sarah in front of her peers, that she soon became a target for bullied.
Michelle said the bullying continued all throughout year seven and into year eight.
“Sarah started having panic attacks and her anxiety was at its peak. I decided to contact the Federal Minister of Education. Within two days I got a phone call, they were doing something about her case,” said Michelle.
However, Sarah never received the help and instead the NSW Department of Education excused her from school.
She was then enrolled into Sydney Distance Education; an equity program for students whose circumstances prevent them from regularly attending school.
Earlier this year, a survey conducted by Relationships Australia found that over 90% of study respondents believe that bullying is a serious problem in school aged kids.
Val Holden, Regional manager at Relationships Australia, said education was key in trying to tackle the issue of bullying.
“We need to educate our young people on the harm that this kind of victimization does to a person, how it becomes a lifelong issue that people deal with for the rest of their lives,” said Ms Volden.
For student Emma*, the harm done to her by other students nearly cost her life.
“The teachers just told me that I could spend my breaks up in the staffroom to avoid the bullying and that it would be best for me to avoid the situation,” said Emma.
“Nobody was supportive until after I tried to commit suicide… they were like ‘woah’ we (teaching staff) didn’t realise it was this bad- even though I had already reported it.”
Despite this, Emma eventually had to resort to contacting the police after receiving threatening messages from her school peers, in hopes that the school would listen.
“Even then after contacting the police, it was only because the police told them (the school) my family was willing to take legal action if nothing was achieved,” she said.
“I believe that schools try to cover it up and sweep it under the rug. The approach they seem to take isn’t towards the bullies, it’s towards trying to ‘toughen up’ the victim.”
Currently in NSW, the Government’s bullying prevention plan says the appropriate steps are to intervene early, to recognise and respond when it occurs and provide support to victims.
However, the death of 14-year-old Dolly Everett earlier this year showed Australia how her parents’ attempt to intervene with the school fell on deaf ears.
Following Dolly’s death, her family set up Dolly’s Dream with the hope of raising awareness on the serious effects bullying and supporting the victims and their family.
Although more needs to be done in educating, stopping, and preventing bullying before any real change occurs.
But most importantly, more support needs to be in place to save more lives like Dolly from being lost every single day.
*name has been changed to protect the victim’s identity
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If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800, or visit kidshelpline.com.au