Dads, this has been written from a student perspective so you  can easily pass it directly  on to your child.  We recommend you read and act accordingly. (Also see Dads’ Club article on choosing a school)

YOU HAVE RIGHTS

If you are the victim of bullying it is important you stand up and seek help. It is not OK to be bullied and you don’t have to put up with it.

You have every right to feel safe, especially at school. Your school will have policies in place to address bullying, so you can do any of the following:

• Talk to a school counselor or teacher and ask them to help you do something about it
• Tell your parents so they can talk to the school about it
• Tell your teachers or the principal, so they can address the bully/bullies
• Keep telling people, until someone helps you

WHEN YOU’RE IN THE PLAYGROUND

Try these steps if you’re in a confronting situation:

• Walk away
• Avoid contact with the bully
• Avoid contact with the bully
• Stay positive
• Mix with other people
• Show confidence
• Seek help

MAKE A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE SCHOOL

If telling is not enough to stop the bully’s behaviour, you can make a formal complaint to the school. Ask your parents or someone you trust to help make the complaint.

GET LEGAL ADVICE

If you are not getting a satisfactory response from your school, you can contact a community legal centre and get legal advice. This is a free and confidential service. For contact details see below.

CALL THE POLICE

If someone has been physically or sexually violent towards you, or threatened to be physically or sexually violent towards you, or has damaged or stolen your things, you can tell the police. These behaviours are against the law and if the bully is over 10 years of age, they could be charged or given a warning by the Police.

MY FRIEND IS BEING BULLIED…

• Don’t be a silent bystander. If you have a friend who is being bullied, try to support them.
• Talk to them about what is happening and ask them if you can help them to do something about it.
• Yo could offer to go with them to talk to the school counsellor or the teacher  or the principal.
• Helping your friends is not dobbing, it is keeping them safe.
• You can call the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800

WHY DO PEOPLE BULLY OTHERS?

If it often the insecurities of the tormentor which causes bullying. There are certain characteristics fitting most bullies. These include:

• Having low self esteem
• Being a victim of violence
• Need to feel more powerful
• Not as tough as they act
• Motivated by jealousy, lack of knowledge, fear or misunderstanding
• Trying to deal with their own problems.

CONTACTS

• In an emergency dial triple zero (000)
• Lifeline 131 114
• Kids help line 1800 55 1800
• Parentline 132 055
• Police assistance Line 131 444
• Netalert Helpline 1800 880 176
• Nationall Children’s and Youth Law Centre 9385 9588
• Youth Action and Policy Association Inc. (YAPA) 1800 627 323

WEBSITES

Find out more about bullying:

• reachout.com.au
• bullyingnoway.com.au
• ncab.org.au (National Centre Against Bullying)
• netalert.gov.au

Find out about you and the law

• police.nsw.gov.au
• lawlink.nsw.gov.au/abd
• lawstuff.org.au
• ncylc.org.au

Find out about getting help:

• beyondblue.org.au
• lifeline.org.au
• headspace.org.au
• parentline.com.au
• youth.nsw.gov.au

Find out about policy and procedure:

• industrialrelations.nsw.goc.au
• det.nsw.edu.au/antibullying
• yapa.org.au

Taken with permission  from A community information initiatuve  by Don Page MP, Member for Ballina, NSW.