New Toolkit Targets Bullying In Queensland Schools

The State Government's commitment to combating youth violence in and out of the playground was further demonstrated today, with the launch of an anti-bullying toolkit for Queensland schools titled Working Together.

Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson said the toolkit was an initiative of the Queensland Schools Alliance Against Violence (QSAAV) - set up in February 2010 to provide advice on best practice measures to address bullying and violence in schools.

"The State Government is dedicated to tackling bullying and this new toolkit will give all Queensland schools practical strategies to address the complex issue of student-on-student bullying," Mr Wilson said.

"I thank and applaud the Schools Alliance for their hard work in developing this Working Together toolkit, which is a positive outcome to address an increasingly complex problem."

Chairperson of QSAAV Professor Ian O'Connor said the downloadable document would give school leaders, teachers, specialists and teacher-aides useful ideas and a working framework to strengthen their schools' approach to bullying.

"Although we recognise many Queensland schools already have very well defined and comprehensive approaches to bullying, this new toolkit gives those schools that are still developing their approaches an excellent foundation to build upon," Professor O'Connor said.

"Within the toolkit, there are also a series of fact sheets that can be downloaded and given to students and parents because as we know combating bullying requires a community approach."

Key to the toolkit's framework is the 10 Elements of Effective School Based Action Against Bullying, giving schools a practical step by step approach.

The toolkit has been developed using recommendations and best practice from research by leading bullying experts within Australia and overseas and will be updated as new research becomes available.

It also includes elements from the United Kingdom's Safe to Learn resource which acted as a starting point for the development of the toolkit.

The toolkit implements another element of Professor Ken Rigby's report into bullying and is the second initiative of the QSAAV, following the series of free seminars titled Action Against Bullying by leading adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg.

These anti-bullying seminars for school leaders, teachers and parents kicked off in Cairns and Townsville in early May and will continue throughout the state in July and August.

For more information or to register to attend one of the seminars, visit: http://education.qld.gov.au/studentservices/bulletins/actionagainstbullying.html.

The Working Together: A toolkit for effective school based action against bullying is available to download free at http://education.qld.gov.au/studentservices/behaviour/qsaav/index.html.

Minister for Education and Training
The Honourable Geoff Wilson
17/07/2010