Former Lourdes Hill College students expose horrific bullying

Former students at an elite Brisbane girls’ school say they are still traumatised 10 years after unwittingly becoming targets of bullying campaigns at the school. READ THEIR STORIES

Brave former students of a Brisbane private girls’ school have lifted the lid on a culture of toxic bullying, teachers turning a blind eye and the relentless torment which left one teenager seconds away from taking her own life.

The Queensland women – Brianna Carlin and Lillian Jones – felt the urge to speak up about their horrific experiences at Lourdes Hill College in disbelief that girls were still enduring the same treatment they did more than 10 years after they graduated.

It comes after 12-year-old former Lourdes Hill College student Ella Catley-Crawford took her own life earlier this month after relentless bullying at the school which followed her on social media even when she left.

Ella Catley-Crawford, 12 went to Lourdes Hill and Redlands College.

Ms Carlin, now 27, endured a campaign of bullying in her final year at the college in 2015 which pushed her to the absolute edge.

“My life was almost over that year,” Ms Carlin said.

“When I was at that tipping point, it was right in my face, it was seconds, but there was just a voice in my head that didn’t tip over the edge.”

Ms Carlin was 17 when girls in her grade turned against her for reasons she still doesn’t understand – at its worst leaving her in the foetal position hiding inside the school grounds.

Brianna Carlin was a victim of school bullying at Lourdes Hill College. Picture: John Wilson

She was extremely alienated – left to sit on her own at formal and graduation – and struggled to come to terms about why students had suddenly turned against her.

“This one particular incident the girls eliminated me from being included in the Year 12 book,” Ms Carlin said.

“They made me break down in tears in front of the whole cohort. They belittled me and used personal things against me.

“My dad had to come and find me in the school, I was in the foetal position.”

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The school was made aware of the bullying, but Ms Carlin said it turned a blind eye to her ordeal.

“I had gone from this very charismatic person to very reserved. They knew what was going on.

“Not one girl was pulled aside, the teachers turned a blind eye, there were no meetings, no talks, there was just victim blaming.”

Former Lourdes Hill College student Lillian Jones, 27, at a park near her work in Hawthorne, Brisbane. Lillian was a victim of bullying during her schooling, resulting in years of therapy. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Another student, Lillian Jones, said her high school years were so traumatic that only after years of therapy has she been able to reflect back on it.

Ms Jones said in her final year, the students wrote vicious rumours underneath a table in the library.

“It was covered in rumours, insults and almost everybody in the grade was on there,” Ms Jones said.

“If someone finds a way to lynch your reputation, it’s going to happen. There was a real vibe of nobody is safe.”

Like Ella, Ms Jones was offered a position at Lourdes Hill College through an academic scholarship. She believes her scholarship made her a target for bullies.

“There was immediately an attitude of ‘you’re an outsider’ to me.”

The bullying escalated to the point where students were spreading horrific rumours about Ms Jones, including spreading lies she was pregnant and had chlamydia.

“I was not sexually active at the time. (The students) very confidently started telling teachers, too.

“I found out there were multiple group chats on Facebook where they shared stuff about me and things they didn’t like about me.

“It was shocking. I graduated from Lourdes Hill College wondering what was wrong with me because I didn’t understand how many people could hate me without me giving them a reason.

“In reality, I probably just was an easy target.”

Lourdes Hill College is an all-girls school in Hawthorne. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Ms Carlin, who also lost her former partner to suicide while at university, said the torment she suffered at Lourdes Hill has stayed with her.

“I still hold a lot of what has happened but I use it in a positive way to be a voice for others.

“I was a shell of the person I am today. The school is raising women to not support other women and pinning them against each other.”

A spokeswoman from Lourdes Hill College said the school had “strict policies and procedures” to address bullying.

“All students are expected to behave in accordance with our Code of Student Behaviour, and we have a comprehensive suite of policies, programs and practices that outline appropriate college behaviour expectations.

“Any allegations of bullying are addressed in line with our behaviour management policies.

“For privacy reasons, it is school policy not to comment on any matters involving members of our community.”

Ms Carlin found herself in western Queensland while working on a cattle property after she finished school, and is now stronger and happier than she could have ever imagined.

“If you’re going through bullying, just stay strong and just realise your self worth. It does get better.”