Great Australian Parent Survey 2025 reveals almost half of kids are bullied at school

A national survey of parents has uncovered sky-high rates of bullying – and heaped pressure on governments to take a national approach to tackle the harmful behaviour.

Almost half of Australian children are being bullied at school, according to shocking new research that proves the Federal Government’s national standard for dealing with damaging behaviour can’t come soon enough.

Thousands of families have shared their experiences as part of News Corp Australia’s Great Australian Parent Survey 2025, revealing worryingly high rates of bullying and severe impacts on the mental health of some young people.

South Australian Education Minister Blair Boyer has declared he is “all in” on supporting a national standard for dealing with bullying, joining education ministers around the country in support of the move.

The federal government committed to change in the wake of the suicide of Sydney schoolgirl Charlotte O’Brien in September last year, whose story inspired the News Corp documentary Charlotte’s Wish.

The Great Australian Parent Survey found 47 per cent of parents and carers said their child had been bullied at school and 16 per cent had been bullied online.

Distressingly, at least seven per cent said it had led their child to have suicidal thoughts.

Almost a third did not feel their school adequately addressed the behaviour of bullies, while more than half disagreed or strongly disagreed that their school listened to and acted on concerns raised.

However, families were more confident that children’s mental health more broadly was supported by schools.

In a bid to develop a national bullying response federal Education Minister Jason Clare has appointed two experts to spend the next six months consulting with parents, teachers and students at public and private schools, and to deliver a report for ministers to consider.

Mr Boyer said a national standard should also include an agreed definition of bullying.

“Consistency is really important (but) schools do still need to be able to tailor things for their own sites,” he said.

NewsCorp Australia’s Great Australian Parent Survey 2025 revealed almost half of kids are bullied at school. Picture: File

University of Sydney clinical psychology professor Caroline Hunt said a national standard should outline “transparent and reliable outcomes for children who engage in bullying” and help schools to create a “culture that models respectful behaviour”.

“There needs to be consequences and children need to know that if a teacher finds out about bullying they’re not going to turn a blind eye,” she added.

UniSA education expert Deborah Greensaid bullying was not just “school problem but a community one”.

“It is most important for schools to validate parents’ concerns and listen to their experiences but it needs to be a partnership with schools to remedy the situation, not a confrontation,” Dr Green said.

University of Adelaide education professor Chris Boyle said a national approach must take into account differences in school size, location and type and teachers “really have to be involved in designing the policy”.

“It could be the best policy in the world, but if people are not able to implement the policies at the school level then it wouldn’t work,” he said.

SA Primary Principals Association president Tobias O’Connor said he was “cautious” about a national standard as “what is good in one context might not be right in another”.

“With the rise of social media issues spilling into school yards and classrooms, we need to think about different approaches and about the resourcing needed to address the issue,” he said.

SA Secondary Principals Association president Kirsty Amos said educators “work tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to create safe, supportive and inclusive environments where every young person can thrive”.

“That said, student wellbeing is a shared responsibility with schools working with parents, students and extended families to create a strong network that helps young people navigate challenges as they arise,” she said.

Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the government was committed to working with the federal government and education ministers across the states and territories on a collective national standard to tackle bullying.

“There is no room for bullying in our schools and it’s critical we get this national approach right,” Mr Langbroek said.

“All students, teachers and staff deserve to be safe at school and this will be the focus as we collectively progress this critical work.”

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Originally published as Great Australian Parent Survey 2025 reveals almost half of kids are bullied at school