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Bullying – advice and support for parents and families

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    Parents, carers  and families can play a key role in preventing and responding to bullying.

    Bullying is complex and multiple layers of support are needed when responding to bullying behaviour.

    What is bullying

    We recognise the national definition of bullying for Australian schools:

    Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social or psychological harm.

    It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.

    Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious or hidden.

    Bullying behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records).

    Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders.

    Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.

    To find out more, watch what is bullying? (YouTube 2.29 minutes).

    Types of bullying

    Bullying can be verbal, social, physical or take place online. Verbal and social bullying are the most common forms of bullying reported by children and young people.

    Verbal bullying

    Verbal bullying can include:

    • name calling
    • hurtful mimicking
    • insulting
    • making sexist, racist or homophobic remarks or jokes
    • making verbal threats and intimidation.

    Playful teasing between friends can be okay as it uses humour to bring people together. It can lighten your mood, improve relationships and is enjoyable for the person being teased.

    Hurtful teasing is done on purpose and unkindly to put someone down.

    Social bullying

    Social bullying is sometimes called ‘relational bullying’. It involves hurting someone’s relationships or reputation on purpose. This can include:

    • embarrassing or humiliating someone on purpose
    • gossiping, telling lies or spreading rumours about someone
    • ignoring someone or encouraging others to do so
    • leaving someone out on purpose or encouraging others to do so
    • sharing images that will have a harmful effect on the other person
    • unwelcome facial expressions or body language
    • playing jokes to embarrass someone
    • hurtful mimicking.

    Physical bullying

    Physical bullying can include:

    • hitting, kicking or punching someone
    • bumping, shoving, tripping or ‘shouldering’ someone
    • physically threatening someone
    • damaging or stealing someone’s belongings.

    Online bullying

    Online bullying is often called cyberbullying and could be on phones, laptops, computers, gaming devices or tablets.

    Cyberbullying is concerning because:

    • it's more likely to be anonymous
    • online content can be shared quickly and easily with more people
    • children and young people can be exposed to online bullying at any time of the day, in any location where technology is available.

    Signs that your child is being bullied

    Children and young people can react and act differently if they are experiencing bullying.

    If your child is being bullied they may:

    • no longer want to go to school
    • change the way they travel to school – the route, the mode of transport they take
    • have mood changes, be angry or be upset
    • have changes in their academic performance
    • have changes in their eating or sleeping
    • have bruises, scratches or cuts
    • increasingly become withdrawn.

    These resources can help you identify if your child is being bullied :

    Help your child if they are being bullied

    Working with your child’s school is a great way to provide joint support if your child is being bullied.

    Speak to your child’s teacher if you are worried or if your child has told you they are being bullied. All school staff have access to bullying and prevention response tools and resources.

    Bullying. No Way! provides more information for parents and carers on how families can respond to bullying.

    External agency supports

    Bullying. No Way!

    Bullying. No Way! has bullying prevention advice for children, young people and their families. See their support and advice for parents and families.

    eSafety

    The eSafety Commissioner (eSafety) is Australia’s national independent regulator for online safety. They offer advice, teaching resources and training to help parents, carers, schools and preschools.

    eSafety can receive complaints about serious cyberbullying and image-based abuse that happens to children and young people. In response to serious reports, eSafety can request that the online site remove the offensive content.

    ThinkUKnow

    ThinkUKnow is an Australian Federal Police led program. The program has information about online safety, child sexual exploitation, and resources for parents and carers.

    Student Wellbeing Hub

    The Student Wellbeing Hub is home of the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework. It’s an evidence-based tool that supports schools to become communities that promote safety, wellbeing and learning. They have a section for parents and carers about bullying, online safety and communicating with your child and their school.

    Engagement and Wellbeing

    Email: education.behaviourpolicy@sa.gov.au

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