The Review, being led by mental health advocate and clinical psychologist Dr Charlotte Keating and leading suicide prevention researcher Dr Jo Robinson AM, is examining current school procedures and best practice methods to address bullying behaviours.
It will consult broadly with key stakeholders across metropolitan and regional Australia, including parents, teachers, students, parent groups, state education departments and the non-government sector.
About 20 per cent of younger students in Australian schools report experiencing online bullying in any year, while 27 per cent of Year 4-9 students report being bullied every few weeks or more often.
Minister for Education Jason Clare said bullying isn’t something that only happens in schools, but schools are places where we can intervene and provide support for students.
“All students and staff should be safe at school, and free from bullying and violence, Clare said.
“That’s why we’re taking action to develop a national standard to address bullying in schools.
Last year governments and departments worked together to ban mobile phones in schools.
“This is another opportunity for us to support students, teachers and parents across the country,” he said.
“We will listen to parents, teachers, students and work with the states and territories to get this right.”
Submissions will help the Government understand the different approaches to responding to bullying in schools and the effectiveness of them.
Clare said bullying has no place in Australia’s schools and students, teachers and staff should always feel safe in the classroom.
“That’s why we will listen to parents, students, teachers and staff to develop a national strategy that is grounded in evidence and informed by lived experiences,” he said in a statement.
Last month, the Queensland Government launched what it calls ‘a new nation-leading plan’ to tackle bullying in schools, with a $33 million dollar commitment to funding five anti-bullying initiatives.
The new programs include the establishment of rapid support squads to strategically target bullying hotspots, with the squads having the capacity to “fly in” to regional and remote schools and provide on the ground expertise in response to a bullying incident.
Services include family support, mental health assistance and professional development for staff.
The final report of the national Anti-Bullying Rapid Review will be presented to education ministers from each of the states and territories in coming months.
Submissions are now open and close on June 20, 2025.
Click here to make a submission, which can be made anonymously if preferred.
