Family of dead teen issue Ed Qld with list of demands as more students on suicide watch

The family of a 13-year-old child who suicided after being bullied at her Queensland high school has met with the Education Department, as it is revealed more students at the school are on suicide watch.

The grieving family of a 13-year-old child who suicided after being bullied at Beaudesert State High School has met with senior Education Department representatives today with a list of demands to drive urgent change.

Onyx Rose Lambert. Photo: Facebook.

It comes as at least three Year 7 students are said to be on suicide watch amid claims of unchecked bullying at the school, 67km south of Brisbane, and internal surveys show the majority of children do not feel safe there.

Ivy Lambert, the sister of Onyx Rose Lambert who died on July 16, said “lots of important issues were raised” in the morning meeting with several department officials, including an associate director-general, two deputy directors-general and one assistant director-general.

“It did feel hopeful,” said Ms Lambert, who previously accused the department of “blindsiding” her after it invited parents to book online for the one-on-one meetings, effectively scuppering the open forum her family had organised for 4pm today – and which the department had declined to attend.

Ms Lambert said only around 20 parents turned up this morning, in part due to the department’s online booking link “not working properly”.

“It took Mum half a day to register and other parents gave up,” she said, adding there were some “walk-ins” who came to have their say.

“We are demanding real change because kids come to school to learn and feel safe, not to be bullied to death,” she said.

Twenty months ago, 16-year-old Lilly Osborne suicided after her mother said Beaudesert High and the education department failed to tackle the scourge of bullying.

Lilly Osborne with her mother Jasmine Osborne.

Ms Lambert said their list of demands would be submitted by the department to Education Minister Grace Grace – and Ms Lambert said she would be seeking a timeline for them to be actioned.

“We’re not going to stop until we see a real difference,” she said.

The demands include having a separate precinct for Year 7s and 8s, as well as for special education students, to “protect them” from problematic older students during breaks.

Onyx Rose with her sister Ivy Lambert. Photo: Facebook

The parents want existing policies around reporting bullying and other anti-social behaviour changed so witness accounts are taken seriously and not as “hearsay” by the school.

Inner-school suspensions should be implemented so all children see the consequences of poor behaviour and those suspended are still made to do school work instead of “hang out at home”.

A buddy system involving responsible older students would help younger ones feel safe and create a sense of belonging, and the bus drop-off and pick-up zones should be monitored.

Ms Lambert said the demands also included having a “properly trained transgender counsellor” on site, who could help children such as Onyx Rose, who this year came out and said she identified as a boy.

An Education Queensland spokesperson told The Courier-Mail Wednesday’s meeting was “very positive”.

He confirmed problems with the booking link, saying it worked for some but not others, but any parent who wished to rebook could do so, including by calling the school directly.

“The department would like to thank the Beaudesert State High School community for

participating in the parent forum today and we look forward to continuing to work with

local families to find local solutions,” the spokesperson said.

“The department is committed to putting in place an action plan that incorporates the

feedback from today’s forum.”