Anti-bullying report outlines national strategy to crack down on behaviour
The national plan will have a particular focus on addressing cyberbullying and deepfakes. (ABC News: Keana Naughton)
In short:
Australian schools will need to act on a bullying complaint within two days of a reported incident as part of a new national plan to tackle bullying.
A final anti-bullying review report recommends providing trauma-informed training for teachers, targeted resources to address cyberbullying, and clear guidance to help early intervention.
What's next?
The plan will be backed by $10 million in federal funding to create a national awareness campaign and new resources for teachers, students and parents.
Schools must initiate action against a bullying complaint within two days of a reported incident as part of a new national plan to tackle bullying.
The announcement follows a renewed focus on the devastating impacts of school bullying, which has been linked to the suicides of young people across Australia.
The federal government's final report from an Anti-Bullying Review, published on Saturday, delivered eight key recommendations to help parents and teachers respond to the crisis.
They include providing trauma-informed training for teachers, targeted resources to address cyberbullying and deepfakes, and clear guidance to help schools intervene early.
It comes as NSW Police investigate reports that digitally altered explicit images of female students from a Sydney high school have been circulating online.
The anti-bullying report also recommended schools "make reasonable effort" to respond to observed or reported bullying within two school days of them becoming aware of the behaviour.
The government will invest $10 million in creating an awareness campaign and adequately resourcing teachers, students and parents. (ABC News: Hamish Harty)
That responsibility includes keeping records of every reported incident of bullying, such as evidence and details about who was involved.
Education Minister Jason Clare said many parents had told the government it was taking too long for some schools to act on bullying complaints.
"If we're going to properly tackle bullying, we need to nip it in the bud and to act early," he said in a statement.
"And we need to make sure teachers have the right tools and training so they know how to act and what to do."
The national plan will be backed by $10 million of federal funding to create a national awareness campaign and new resources for teachers, students and parents.
Education ministers from all states and territories agreed to the plan on Friday.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare speaking in Sydney about the government's new anti-bullying plan. (ABC News: Abbey Haberecht)
Education union says teachers need more support
The Australian Education Union (AEU) has welcomed the announcement but raised concerns about the workload for teachers.
In a statement, AEU federal president Correna Haythorpe said teachers were "on the front line" of responding to school bullying and they needed more support.
"Providing materials and resources is important, but without investing in the people who deliver them through professional development and training, staffing, reduced workloads and proper support, the risk is that those resources will not be able to be used effectively in schools," she said.
The anti-bullying review, led by clinical psychologist Charlotte Keating and suicide prevention researcher Jo Robinson, received more than 1,700 submissions from parents, students and teachers.
The review heard more than half of young people had been cyberbullied, and more than one in four year 4 to year 9 students reported being bullied at least every few weeks.