Bullies exposed: Charlotte’s family speaks up to help form national school policy

Her tragic death after relentless bullying at school rocked every Australian parent - now she might just change the nation as we know it.

Australian schoolchildren who’ve been bullied, parents who’ve felt helpless to protect them and teachers who’ve witnessed the distressing behaviour in their classrooms are all being urged to share their stories as the Federal Government pushes for a national bullying policy in the wake of 12-year-old Charlotte O’Brien’s suicide death.

The Sydney school girl suicided last year after a relentless campaign of bullying, prompting outrage from parents and similar stories from others around the country who felt helpless against the bullying scourge.

Charlotte’s parents Mat and Kellie O’Brien bravely shared their story, telling of the morning they found the Year 7 daughter who had left a note in pink handwriting telling her mum to share her story, tell the school and raise awareness.

In response, the Federal Government promised to develop a national approach to address bullying in Australian schools.

Charlotte was just 12 when she suicided, gthe bullying at school all too much. Her mum Kelly won’t rest until until she can grant Charlotte her wish. Picture: Supplied

The Anti-Bullying Rapid Review, being led by Dr Charlotte Keating and Dr Jo Robinson AM, is examining current school procedures and best practice methods to address bullying behaviours.

The experts have been working with key stakeholders across metropolitan and regional Australia, including parents, teachers, students, parent groups, state education departments and the non-government sector.

Submissions will help in understanding the different approaches to responding to bullying in schools and the effectiveness of them.

Minister for Education Jason Clare, who has applauded Charlotte’s parents for speaking out, said bullying “is not just something that happens in schools, but schools are places where we can intervene and provide support for students”.

“All students and staff should be safe at school, and free from bullying and violence,” he said.

“That’s why we’re taking action to develop a national standard to address bullying in schools.

“Last year we worked together to ban mobile phones in schools. This is another opportunity for us to support students, teachers and parents across the country.

“We will listen to parents, teachers, students and work with the states and territories to get this right.

Kelly O’Brien collapsed with grief when she had to say her final goodbye to her duaghterw who will be forever 12. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Fighting back her overwheming urge to curl up in a ball, Kelly O’Brien found a way to be Charlotte’s voice. Charlie Bear now contains her little girl’s ashes. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“We will listen to parents, teachers, students and work with the states and territories to get this right.”

The final report of the Review will be presented to all Australian Education Ministers in coming months. Submissions are now open and close on June 20, 2025.

Visit www.education.gov.au/antibullying-rapid-review to make a submission, which can be made anonymously if preferred.

Charlotte’s parents spoke out after her death in September 2024, revealing she wrote down the names of children she wanted at her funeral, names of students she said had made her “life too hard” and begged her mum to “tell the school please”.

Mrs O’Brien is haunted by a misguided guilt that she didn’t do enough, did too much, gave the wrong advice, wasn’t empathetic enough, as she tried to help her daughter navigate the rollercoaster of friendship issues during Year 5, Year 6 and Year 7 at Santa Sabina College in Sydney.

Corrine Lee Cheu, who died by suicide in September 2023 when she was 13. Supplied by the Lee Cheu family.

She wasn’t the only mum concerned about the “toxic” goings on. Girls being included, girls being ostracised — in one day and out the next.

“Us mums couldn’t control it. We would talk and say ‘oh no here we go again, who’s not talking to who?’” Mrs O’Brien said.

Her story resonated with another mum in Far North Queensland.

Jodie’s Fitzgerald’s 13-year-old daughter Corrine Lee Cheu suicided after she was pushed around in the playground, told to kill herself and called an ugly rat to her face and online.

The two mums joined forces to push for more action on bullying, adding their voice to the Sunday Telegraph’s Charlotte’s Wish documentary, released across all News Corp mastheads last November.

Originally published as Bullies exposed: Charlotte’s family speaks up to help form national school policy