Hume primary schools united in anti-bullying push

A UNIQUE anti-bullying program involving every primary school in Craigieburn, Roxburgh Park and Mickleham is under way.

A UNIQUE anti-bullying program involving every primary school in Craigieburn, Roxburgh Park and Mickleham is under way.

The sweeping program was launched after growing concerns about school student bullying in the northern suburbs.

A whole generation of Grade 5 students at 14 schools in the Craigieburn police district will be taught how to be anti-bullying role models to younger students, then carry the anti-bullying message as they move into Grade 6 and secondary school.

The Craigieburn Blue Light Disco and the RAMS Home Loans’ greater western region franchise have paid for the $28,000 program involving 1075 students, with the support from Reach’s long-term supporter PFD Food Services.

The disco’s secretary Acting Senior Sergeant Dale Wesselman said there had been an increase in bullying-related complaints to local police and the Blue Light committee “decided to use money raised from discos to initiate the program”.

“Schools indicated emerging concerns (about bullying),” he said.

“The disco committee saw the need for early intervention to reduce bullying over a long-term period.”

RAMS’ greater western region franchise boss Vas Nikolovski said the program offered the business a way of investing in the community and its children.

The anti-bullying workshops are delivered by youth organisation the REACH Foundation, founded by the late Jim Stynes and Australian film director Paul Currie. It uses young “facilitators” who speak to children.

The foundation’s Frankie Swithinbank said the first workshop, held earlier this year, was called “Peer Connections” and celebrated differences among classmates.

The second, “Positive Behaviours”, will be held in November and includes developing personal responsibility and techniques for working as a team.

Craigieburn Primary School welfare officer Simon Rennick said the program was unique and taught children to respect their differences and support each other.