Katherine High School parents say time to act to stop bashings

Katherine High School parents have spoken out about the daily fear they have for the safety of their children and of the beatings their children have been subjected to.

School attendance officers talk to NT minister for education and training Jo Hersey patrol Yeperenye Shopping Centre in Alice Springs on Thursday, February 6, 2025. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Katherine High School parents have spoken out about the daily fear they have for the safety of their children and of the beatings their children have been subjected to.

The parents, who all asked to remain anonymous for fear their children will be further targeted, have called for a harder stand against those responsible for the bashings.

They have also called for stronger enforcement of the NT Government’s no phones in schools policy.

“This went on all last year and it is continuing this year,” a parent said referring to the schoolyard assaults.

“My daughter missed so much schooling last year … and it has continued again this year.

“We have been back and forth to the school for answers to get it stopped.

“I ask my daughter how things have gone at school and she responds ‘Yep another kid got bashed at school today’ which is alarming to hear.

“It’s almost bashings on a daily basis.”

The parents have echoed Minister Hersey’s sentiments of consequences for those responsible for the bashings.

“"Consequences, there needs to be tougher consequences,” a parents said.

“It is time to act to stop these bashings and the bullying.

“My kids has been bashed on the school bus and in the schoolyard.

“I’ve seen video of a kid getting his head jumped on.

“It is a pack mentality. It is mostly the younger kids, year seven, year eight and year nine. It’s not the older kids.

“The daughter of one of my neighbours was bullied so badly she was at the point of threatening to kill herself.

“The bullying is happening at school and through social media.”

The parents warned about an Instagram site where much of the video and boasting was being posted.

“There are teenage girls taking these videos just to promote their threats and bullying,” a parent said.

“I spoke to the principal last year and I’ve done it twice this year. I want them to do something about it.

“I have two of my kids at Katherine High School and both have been victims of this behaviour.

“My daughter has been called all sorts of names, she has been told to go kill herself, she has been getting threats from other students who say they are going to harm her.

“I’ve had to remove her at times from the school because I have been so worried.”

Originally published as Katherine High School parents say time to act to stop bashings