Cutting-edge approach to stop cyberbullying in schools

School children across Queensland will have access to new resources to “combat the menace” of cyberbullying within weeks.

SCHOOL children across Queensland will have access to cutting edge anti-cyber-bullying resources in classrooms within weeks.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who will table in Parliament this week a progress report on her Government’s response to last year’s Anti Cyber Bullying Taskforce, said resources to “combat the menace” would be rolled out to all schools in this term.

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She said the first biannual progress report showed her Government was “making good progress” on implementing all 29 recommendations by the taskforce late last year, but “there is still a lot to do”.

“Cyber-bullying is not a problem that ends at the school gate, nor is it something that ends at our border,” she said. “Sadly, the misuse of technology has developed faster than our ability to write the rule book. Yes, that’s what we have to do, we’re writing the rule book.”

In the six months since the taskforce reported, the Government has created a website to help schools design and implement anti-cyber-bullying programs, developed a new student code of conduct for behaviour in cyber space and created a fact sheet for principals which outlined their responsibilities for tackling the menace.

And despite leaving individual schools in control of whether mobile phones were allowed to be used on campus, the Education Department has prepared guidelines to assist school leaders deciding how mobile phones and technology are used.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with members of Queensland’s cyberbullying taskforce. Picture: Annette Dew

Ms Palaszczuk said $1 million would be available from semester 2 for students, parents and teachers to undertake school-based training with cyber-bullying experts.

“We must all work together as a community to combat cyber-bullying,” she said.

“There is not one thing that will end cyber-bullying, therefore it is critical that all sectors of the community take responsibility for their part in preventing and responding to cyber-bullying. Only by working together will we ensure a safer online environment.’’

A separate program for parents is also being developed so they can understand the breadth and reach of online technology.

Ms Palaszczuk said giving parents practical advice and more knowledge would help them keep their children safe using social media.

She also called on the winner of next month’s Federal Election to honour Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s pledge to consult on expanding right-to-be-forgotten legislation in all states and territories at the next Council of Australian Governments meeting.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who will table in Parliament this week a progress report on her Government’s response to last year’s Anti-­cyberbullying Taskforce, said resources to “combat the menace” would be rolled out to all schools in this term.

She said the first biannual progress report showed the Government was “making good progress” on implementing all 29 recommendations by the taskforce late last year, but “there is still a lot to do”.

“Cyberbullying is not a problem that ends at the school gate, nor is it something that ends at our border,” she said. “Sadly, the misuse of technology has developed faster than our ability to write the rule book.”

In the six months since the taskforce reported, the Government has created a website to help schools design and ­implement anti-cyberbullying programs, developed a new student code of conduct for behaviour in cyberspace and created a fact sheet for principals.