Beaudesert State High School accused of toxic culture of bullying after suicides

Two teenagers are dead and several others are on suicide watch as a toxic culture of bullying runs rampant at Beaudesert State High School, furious families claim.

• Revealed: Bullied teen’s tragic final hours

Furious families claim a toxic culture of bullying is entrenched at Beaudesert State High School – as The Courier-Mail can reveal two teenagers have suicided in the past 20 months and several are on suicide watch.

Heartbroken relatives say the school and the State Government have failed them in “the most horrific way”.

Dozens of parents contacted The Courier Mail to express concern about toxic bullying after a report on Tuesday about the July 16 suicide of Beaudesert High student Onyx Rose Lambert.

The 13-year-old’s life will be celebrated at a service in Jimboomba today (Saturday).

Parents say claims of bullying – including children being bashed to the point of needed corrective surgery and being told to go kill themselves – are not investigated.

Instead, victims are advised to “avoid” the perpetrators and parents are accused of being “over-protective”.

Onyx Rose suicided on July 16. Photo: Facebook

One brave teen told The Courier-Mail of battling suicidal thoughts for the past year.

“I was called every name under the sun and told to go kill myself and that I shouldn’t have been born, but the school said I shouldn’t be making up lies about other people and trying to get people in trouble,” said the child, recently withdrawn from the school.

“It’s disgusting; no one would listen to me.

“Honestly, it’s been really hard, I’ve thought about suicide and am still in a bad place.”

Meanwhile, a teacher said staff had their “hands tied” because unless they actually witnessed the bullying, claims were “classified as hearsay”.

Desperate parents have met with local Scenic Rim mayor Greg Christensen, begging him to intervene, and representatives from Education Queensland visited the school on Wednesday and had discussions with principal Grant Stephensen.

Onyx Rose (left) with sister Ivy Lambert. Picture: Facebook

Ivy Lambert, the grieving sister of Onyx Rose, described the level of care at the school as “disgusting”.

“Students are scared to report things and don’t feel they can talk to the teachers safely,” Ms Lambert, 32, said.

“Mum and I begged (the school) to do something about the bullying but nothing came of it.”

She said the office of Education Minister Grace Grace contacted her on Thursday to arrange a meeting of concerned parents – which comes ahead of a public rally Ms Lambert is organising.

“Why does it take the death of a child and the threat of a public protest to get some attention?” she said.

Allegations of unchecked bullying at Beaudesert High stretch back as far as 2014, according to newspaper reports, with a 2018 public protest by parents showing a makeshift coffin and the words: “No family should bury a child for bullying”.

Onyx Rose. Picture: Facebook

Onyx Rose. Picture: Facebook

One parent told The Courier-Mail it was “horrendous” watching her child suffer.

“My child has threatened to suicide and I don’t want that for my child or anyone’s,” she said.

“The school doesn’t care – there is a toxic culture of bullying but they don’t want to change anything and I just don’t know why.”

Another parent said: “My son was told not to attend school for his own safety. He had been bashed by kids who told him they were going to run through our house, rape me in front of him and then kill us all.”

A mother said: “Violence is out of control because the school tells kids to avoid the bullies but then things escalate and kids are left to fight it out.”

The school was “known to have a history with police for bullying and abuse”, said another person, whose friend’s daughter was “assaulted so brutally she needed facial surgery”.

Yet another parent said when she reported her son’s abuse – which included being spat on and having food thrown at him – “the exact words were, ‘he needs to learn to ignore’.”

One parent claims their child was told not to attend Beaudesert State High School for their own safety. Picture: Supplied

The Courier-Mail contacted Mr Stephensen for comment but did not receive a reply.

In response to questions including what Education Queensland was doing to address complaints of entrenched bullying at the school, a department spokesperson said: “The Beaudesert State High School community is deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of one of their students.

“We are devastated by this tragedy, and our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with families, caregivers, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.

“The department and school are working hard to provide support to all who have been impacted by these events. Regional staff have been onsite this week to support the entire school community.

“Senior officers from the department have been in contact with family members and have offered to meet to discuss opportunities to support the school.”

Heartbroken mum will ‘blow the roof’ on toxic bullying

Jasmine Osborne is a deeply private person but says it is “time to blow the roof” on toxic bullying at Beaudesert State High School after the suicide of her only daughter.

Lilly Patricia Rose Osborne died on November 24, 2021, after Ms Osborne says repeated pleas for the school to “end her torture” were ignored.

Lilly Osborne, with her mother Jasmine, died by suicide at age 16 in November 2021.

The heartbroken mum is speaking out for the first time, saying she was “kicked into action” by a Courier-Mail report on the suicide of 13-year-old Beaudesert High student Onyx Rose Lambert.

Onyx Rose died on July 16, which would have been Lilly’s 18th birthday.

“Losing my beautiful Lilly literally nearly killed me, I have been in a zombie-like state for the last 20 months,” Ms Osborne, 46, said.

“But it is time to blow the roof on this because innocent young lives are being lost and families torn apart in the most horrific way – yet when you complain, you’re told you’re being over-protective and creating a fuss.”

Ms Osborne, who has three sons aged 22, 20 and 11, said her family has been broken by the loss of Lilly.

“I was the one who found her, but we all suffer,” she said.

“Personally, I have so much anger because this could have been avoided.

“Lilly should have led a wonderful life; she loved animals – her dogs, cats, chickens, mice, betta fish – and wanted to be a vet.

“She was very artistic, a wonderful drawer, and taught herself guitar and keyboards.”

Jasmine Osborne says she has ‘so much anger’ over Lilly’s death. Picture: Tara Croser

Ms Osborne said the bullying began at Tamrookum State School and she removed Lilly in Year 5 and sent her to Rathdowney State School where she “flourished” and became a school captain.

But when Lilly began Year 7 at Beaudesert High in 2018, the bullying recurred, becoming “more cunning and vindictive”.

“Lilly was punched, kicked, tripped, had her hair pulled, and other kids were roped in to amplify the bullying while others stood by and watched,” Ms Osborne said.

“She would come home in tears every day, but the (school) did nothing. I was told I was over-protective; it was like, ‘hush, hush, go away, we don’t want to know’,” Ms Osborne said.

“Towards the end of Year 8 things got so bad I had to remove Lilly and start homeschooling her, but the damage had been done.

“She was never the same again, and although we got her a new phone and put blocks on people on social media, they tracked her down and kept attacking her.

“Lilly died the following year.”

Jasmine says Lilly was never the same again after ‘cunning and vindictive’ bullying at Beaudesert State High School.

Ms Osborne said the State Government had failed her daughter, educationally and mentally.

“We sought help from the Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS) but a counsellor didn’t believe it was as serious as it was.

“Lilly kept notes on what happened to her, how desperate she was feeling, and although I did everything I could to protect her, it wasn’t enough.”