Assistant Principal's Page
Valkstone Primary School
Grant Rounsley
Supporting Our Children: Bullying, CyberSafety and Positive Relationships
At Valkstone Primary School we want every child to feel safe, connected and valued. Positive friendships are an important part of school life, and while disagreements and friendship challenges are a normal part of growing up, it is important to understand when behaviour moves beyond conflict and becomes bullying.
Bullying is repeated behaviour that deliberately hurts, intimidates or unfairly targets another person. It can include physical aggression, social exclusion, spreading rumours, name-calling, harassment or discrimination. A key feature of bullying is an imbalance of power, where the person being targeted may feel unable to stop what is happening.
As children spend more time online, cyberbullying has become an increasing concern for families. Cyberbullying occurs when technology is used to repeatedly hurt, embarrass or intimidate someone. This can include hurtful messages, exclusion from online groups, spreading rumours, sharing images without permission, or posting unkind comments. Unlike face-to-face interactions, cyberbullying can occur at any time and can quickly reach a wide audience, making it particularly distressing for young people.
The good news is that education and open conversations make a real difference. At Valkstone, students from Prep to Year 6 participate in learning through The Cyber Safety Project, which helps them develop the skills to stay safe online, build respectful relationships, recognise unsafe situations and seek help when needed. These lessons support our broader work in promoting kindness, empathy and positive behaviour across the school.
Families also play an important role. Regular conversations about friendships, online experiences and respectful behaviour help children feel comfortable seeking support when challenges arise. If your child seems reluctant to attend school, unusually worried, withdrawn, upset, or anxious about technology use, it may be worth checking in and reaching out for support.
For families seeking additional information and support, the following resources may be helpful:
Berry Street (information and support about bullying and cyberbullying):https://www.berrystreet.org.au/learning-and-resources/fact-sheets/urgent-help
National Centre Against Bullying (advice and resources for parents, students and schools):https://www.ncab.org.au/bullying-advice/
eSafety Commissioner (online safety information, parent webinars, resources and reporting pathways):https://www.esafety.gov.au/
- Report serious cyberbullying or online abuse:https://www.esafety.gov.au/report
As always, if you have concerns about your child's wellbeing, friendships or online experiences, please contact your child's classroom teacher or a member of our Wellbeing Team. By working together, we can ensure all students continue to feel safe, supported and ready to thrive.