Bullying solutions must be an all school approach from bus drivers to tuckshop staff: Top psych

School bullying remains a major concern across Queensland but there is new hope on a fix.

Leading child psychologist Professor Marilyn Campbell will join the Anti-Bullying Stakeholder Reference Group.

Child experts have welcomed Queensland’s bold new $33 million anti-bullying approach for schools, featuring specialist “flying squads”.

The initiative, led by Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek, includes $4.2 million for Rapid Support Squads to assist schools facing critical bullying incidents, particularly in regional and remote areas.

In addition, the plan provides for professional development, community engagement, and input from a newly formed state government Anti-Bullying Stakeholder Reference Group.

Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek, left, has been praised for his bold bullying initiative. Picture: John-Paul Langbroek Facebook.

The rollout comes as a federal “rapid review” into school bullying gets underway, prompted by public outcry over the deaths of a bullied student in Sydney and the tragic death of Redland schoolgirl Ella Catley-Crawford.

Queensland University of Technology child psychologist Professor Marilyn Campbell, a member of the new reference group, welcomed the state’s approach — but with conditions.

Dr Campbell said the rapid response teams were highly important, but without long-term prevention measures no policy would be sustainable.

Ella Catley-Crawford, 12, died after being bullied. Picture: Contributed from Facebook

She warned that emergency squads alone would not solve the complex issue, and said lasting bullying prevention would come from educating an entire school community including lollipop supervisors, bus drivers, tuckshop workers, groundspeople, teachers, principals and students.

Her input on the newly formed reference group will include advocating for a student voice.

“We want the kids to be actually talking about it among themselves … but the adults have to model that,” she said.

“You give a voice to all the adults in the school community — teacher aides, lollipop supervisors, bus drivers, groundspeople, staff and principals … all the people the kids encounter.

“Inclusive approaches work because students feel they have a voice. If it’s just adults coming in to tell them what to do, it won’t stick.

“Without long-term prevention measures, the government will be sending squads to more and more schools without ever solving the root causes.”

A federal government “rapid review” into school bullying is also under way.

Education Queensland described its plan as “nation-leading” but it is still unknown whether it will follow Victoria’s approach, unveiled this week, which prioritises empowering principals to help patrol bullying incidents even outside school grounds.

Education Queensland said self-paced anti-bullying education modules, tailored to different school roles, would also be rolled out for staff in July, allowing flexible learning.

“The department is working closely with Parentline to expand its hours and create new referral pathways, including the Parent Navigator service,” it said.

“Hundreds of additional schools will receive funding for chaplains and student wellbeing officer services.”

Each of the state’s eight education regions will have a team of senior guidance officers and support staff on call to respond to school requests.

Dr Campbell said one of the main “missing pieces” of current bullying prevention in Queensland was the lack of baseline data and benchmarking and she and urged both tiers of government to work together.

“Comprehensive national data on bullying has been limited since a 2009 survey and without data, how will we know what’s working?” she said.

“An annual survey would be a national, stratified random sample of kids, and you ask them three key questions: ‘Have they been bullied? Have they bullied someone else? Have they seen any bullying?’ That’s the only way you can measure.”

The state Anti-Bullying Stakeholder Reference Group is expected to meet in July and the federal rapid review is due to report back by July after submissions close this month.

■ If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.

Originally published as Bullying solutions must be an all school approach from bus drivers to tuckshop staff: Top psych