Our Watch welcomes the release of the Commonwealth Government’s Anti-Bullying Review, and supports a national, coordinated approach that prevents bullying at its roots by tackling inequality and harmful social norms.
As Australia’s national leader in primary prevention, Our Watch’s submission to the Review recommended embedding Respectful relationships education (RRE) across all schools nationwide to address bullying and discrimination through a gendered and evidence-based lens.
Bullying and discrimination have serious impacts on young people’s mental and physical health, safety, and wellbeing, and there are well-established links between bullying and gender-based violence.
The social norms and unequal power dynamics that exist in most societies have a pervasive influence on violence, including school-related gender-based violence.
RRE is a vital part of helping school communities understand how bullying and discrimination fit within the broader scope of gender-based violence, and preventing it. This is an essential part of addressing the underlying drivers of harmful behaviour.
Our Watch CEO Patty Kinnersly said the organisation is encouraged by the findings of the Review.
“Bullying is not only about individual behaviour. It reflects the beliefs, power dynamics and peer cultures that young people learn and see every day. Gender inequality drives a large part of bullying, discrimination and gender-based violence against all young people. Preventing bullying must begin with building equality and respect across the whole school community.
“Respectful relationships education helps students recognise discrimination, challenge stereotypes, and understand what healthy, equal relationships look like. The evidence shows this approach strengthens student wellbeing, improves classroom behaviour and school culture, and reduces gender-based bullying and harassment.
“We welcome the Government’s commitment to national action on bullying and look forward to working with the Commonwealth and all states and territories to embed access to evidence-based Respectful relationships education,” Kinnersly said.
Schools are powerful environments to drive change and are one of the main places where young people have their attitudes, behaviours, and understandings of respect and equality shaped.
It is also where many young people experience bullying or discrimination. One in 3 Australian teenagers report experiencing discrimination, and 60.2% of young people who identified as LGBTIQA+ have felt unsafe or uncomfortable at secondary school in the past 12 months due to their sexuality or gender identity.
To properly help prevent bullying before it starts, a whole-of-school approach to RRE is essential. RRE must engage principals, teachers, parents, and students to build respectful cultures across every level of school life.
A nationally consistent approach to RRE is critical in preventing bullying and discrimination in schools. It will ensure all Australian children learn skills to recognise discrimination, challenge harmful norms, and build healthy and equitable relationships.
Please contact media@ourwatch.org.au or call 0448 844 930.
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1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family, and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via www.1800RESPECT.org.au, or text 0458 737 732. Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can access support through 13YARN.
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Our Watch is Australia’s leader in the primary prevention of violence against women. The organisation was created to drive nation-wide change in the practices, norms, and structures that lead to violence against women and children. Read more about Our Watch here.