Post on 09-Jun-2020
Bullying hurts
Bullyingisanongoingmisuseofpowerinrelationshipsthroughrepeatedverbal,physicaland/orsocialbehaviourthatcausesphysicaland/orpsychologicalharm.
Itcaninvolveanindividualoragroupmisusingtheirpoweroveroneormorepersons.
Bullyingcanhappeninpersonoronline,anditcanbeobvious(overt)orhidden(covert).Bullyingofanyformorforanyreasoncanhavelong-termeffectsonthoseinvolved,includingbystanders.
Singleincidentsandconflictsorfightsbetweenequals,whetherinpersonoronline,arenotdefinedasbullying.
What is bullying?
Types of bullying
What is not bullying?
•Verbal or written abuse-suchastargetedname-callingorjokes,ordisplayingoffensiveposters.
•Violence-includingthreatsofviolence.
•Sexual harassment-unwelcomeorunreciprocatedconductofasexualnature,whichcouldreasonablybeexpectedtocauseoffence,humiliationorintimidation.
•Homophobia-andotherhostilebehaviourtowardsstudentsrelatingtogenderandsexuality.
•Discrimination including racial discrimination-treatingpeopledifferentlybecauseoftheiridentity.
•Cyberbullying-eitheronlineorviamobilephone.
•Mutual conflict whichinvolvesadisagreement,butnotanimbalanceofpower.Unresolvedmutualconflictcandevelopintobullyingifoneofthepartiestargetstheotherrepeatedlyinretaliation.
•Single-episode acts ofnastinessorphysicalaggression,oraggressiondirectedtowardsmanydifferentpeople.
•Social rejection or dislikeisnotbullyingunlessitinvolvesdeliberateandrepeatedattemptstocausedistress,exclude,orcreatedislikebyothers.
It’snotalwayseasytotellifayoungpersonisbeingbullied,assometimestheydon’twanttodisclosewhat’shappeningtothem.
Ifyounoticeasignificantchangeinbehaviour,thiscouldbecauseforconcern.Othersignscanincludechangestomoodoreatingandsleeppatterns;withdrawalfromfamily,socialgroupsorfriends;declineinschoolperformanceorunwillingnesstoattend;lost,tornorbrokenbelongings;scratchesorbruises,orimplausibleexcusesforanyoftheabove.
•Staycalm.Remember,thebehaviourisatfault,ratherthanthechild.
•Makesureyourchildknowsbullyingbehaviouris inappropriateandwhy.
•Trytounderstandthereasonswhyyourchildhasbehavedinthiswayandlookforwaystoaddressproblems.
•Encourageyourchildtolookatitfromtheother’s perspective,forexample,“howwouldyoufeelif…”
•Helpyourchildthinkofalternativepathsofaction.•Provideappropriateboundariesfortheirbehaviour.
Signs that your child might be being bullied
What to do if your child is bullying others
Things you can do if your child is being bullied1. Listen to your child’s story
Trytolistentothewholestorywithoutinterrupting.Beempathic,calmandvalidatewhatyourchildsays.Askwhatyourchildwouldliketohappen,beforemakingsuggestions.
2. Have a conversation about what happened
Trynottoletyouremotionsgetinvolvedasitmightdeteryourchildfromtalkingtoyou.You’llhelpthemmoreifyoustaycalm.Remindyourchildit’snormaltofeelhurt,it’sneverOKtobebullied,andit’sNOTtheirfault.
3. Make a record of events
Noteallincidentsofbullying,includingwhat,whenandwheretheyoccurred,whowasinvolvedandifanybodywitnessedtheincidents.
4. Work with your child’s school to find a solution
Findoutiftheschoolisawareofthebullyingandwhetheranythinghasbeendonetoaddressthesituation.Checkyourschool’sbullyingpolicy.Makeanappointmenttospeaktoyourchild’steacherorwellbeingcoordinator.Followupwithanothermeetingtoensurethesituationisbeingaddressed.Remember,theyaretheretohelp.
5. Find other ways to support your child
Coachyourchildtouseneutrallanguageor,ifappropriate,jokinglanguageinresponse,andexplainthatitisbettertostayawayfromunsafesituationsifpossible.Don’toffertoconfrontthepersonyourself.
Encourageyourchildtogetinvolvedinextra-curricularactivitiessuchassportsandhobbieswheretheycanspendtimewithotheryoungpeople.
Bullying is serious• 27percentofyoungpeoplereporttheyarebullied
everytwoweeksormoreoften.
• CyberbullyinghappenstoaboutoneinfiveyoungAustralianseveryfewweeksormoreoften.
• Manyyoungpeoplewhobullyonlinealsobullyfacetoface.
• Someyoungpeoplewhoarebulliedlatergoontoengageinbullyingothers.
• Bullyingcanseriouslydamagephysical,socialandemotionalhealth.
• Bullyinghurtstheperpetratoraswell.Youngpeoplewhobullyovertimearemorelikelytoengageinongoinganti-socialbehaviourandcriminality,haveissueswithsubstanceabuse,demonstratelowacademicachievementandbeinvolvedinfuturechildandspouseabuse.
©Copyright2015.Disclaimer:Theinformationcontainedinthisbrochurewascorrectanduptodateatthetimeofprinting,andmaybesubjecttochange.
Who can help?Kids Helpline 1800551800www.kidshelp.com.au
Cybersafety help www.cybersmart.gov.au
Australian Federal Police www.afp.gov.au
ReachOut.com au.reachout.com
Beyondbluewww.beyondblue.org.au
Bullying. No way! www.bullyingnoway.gov.au
The Australian Psychological Society www.psychology.org.auTodownloadanelectronicversionofthisbrochure,visittheNationalCentreAgainstBullying(NCAB)website:www.ncab.org.au
TheAlannahandMadelineFoundationPOBox5192SouthMelbourneVic3205t(03)96970666f(03)96905644einfo@amf.org.auwamf.org.au
foundation partner
Contact usTheAlannahandMadelineFoundationisanationalcharitykeepingchildrensafefromviolence.TheFoundationwassetupinmemoryofAlannahandMadelineMikac,agedsixandthree,whoalongwiththeirmotherand32othersweretragicallykilledatPortArthur,Tasmaniaon28April1996.