Coalition will empower principals to combat bullyi
31 Mar 2010
Media release A Coalition Government will seek to empower principals and introduce a new national education campaign to combat bullying and cyber bullying.
Future education funding agreements with state governments will include requirements to empower principals giving them the authority to tackle bullying and cyber bullying occurring both on and off campus within their school community.
Principals will have access to expert advice and be allowed to design flexible anti-bullying policies tailored to the specific needs of their school community and students.
Principals will also have the power to act on bullying and cyber-bullying occurring off campus, holding students to account outside of the schoolyard for how they treat their peers.
This $10.5 million policy will also include a national education campaign, featuring influential youth role models who will be invited to act as anti-bullying ambassadors. The campaign will provide additional resources and educational material to schools.
This new policy will shift the dynamic within schools putting power into the hands of principals and teachers to effectively develop plans to address bullying and cyber bullying.
The Coalition's plan to combat bullying in schools will:
- Grant new powers to principals giving them greater autonomy to deal with bullying issues in their schools.
- Launch a new national anti-bullying education campaign.
- Establish new National Cyber Bullying Taskforce comprising representatives from the internet industry, experts, education stakeholders, parents and students. The taskforce will be responsible for developing a code for social networking sites and recommending a universal system for children to report cyber bullying and refer offensive material.
- Develop national reporting requirements for all schools on incidences of bullying in schools, both for on and off campus bullying and cyber bullying.
- Expand existing research into cyber bullying. Under the previous Government two research projects were commissioned to better understand cyber bullying and how to address it. We will expand this research to include all school age groups.
Only a Coalition Government will take direct action on bullying and cyber bullying by empowering principals, and ensuring the best support measures and information is available to assist schools.
March 27, 2010
Media Contact: Adam Howard 0400 414 833