Sammy D Foundation enlisted following shocking fight videos at Golden Grove High School
More than 1000 students at embattled Golden Grove High School will participate in an anti-bullying program, following shocking videos of on-campus violence.
Education
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An embattled northern suburbs high school has enlisted the country’s leading anti-violence foundation in a bid to stamp out bullying after a spate of violent brawls.
Over the next fortnight, more than 1000 Golden Grove High School students will participate in a workshop run by the Sammy D Foundation teaching year 7-10 students the consequences of violence.
On Tuesday, almost 300 year 9s heard the first-hand experience of Sammy D Foundation co-founder Neil Davis, whose 17-year-old son Sam was killed in a one-punch attack at a party in 2008.
The visit to Golden Grove also marked a major milestone for the not-for-profit organisation, which has now educated more than 200,000 participants across its 14-year history.
Mr Davis said the program hoped to teach students about the consequences of bullying and arm them with de-escalation strategies.
“When (a student) gets home, he’ll tell his parents about that story,” Mr Davis told 7NEWS.
“He’ll tell his parents how he’s going to stop it happening in his school.”
Sammy D CEO Brigid Koenig said 92 per cent of participants in the foundation’s programs did not get involved in bullying because of the information they were given, and 98 per cent were made more aware of the impacts of a one-punch attack.
“These results show that our programs are working and we are making a real difference, but there is still so much more that needs to be done,” Ms Koenig said.
An Education Department spokeswoman said the Sammy D presentations were part of the school’s wider wellbeing program, which would also see visits from Head Space, Restorative Journeys and Relationships Australia across term 4.
“(This program) will provide students with age-appropriate information, knowledge and tools about appropriate behaviour, while providing an opportunity for open discussions,” she said.
Security guards were deployed to Golden Grove High School school earlier this month after videos emerged of three shocking fights on campus.
Twenty students were suspended over the incidents, with Education Minister Blair Boyer bringing in former principal Peter McLaren, behaviour specialists and a parent liaison to ease tensions at the school.
One of the videos included a sickening attack on a young boy in the toilets, where a group of students encouraged a bigger boy to carry out the assault.
The Advertiser understands the alleged perpetrator – a year 7 boy – was reported to police over the attack and will appear in court at a later date.