The Wellbeing Page

Bullying No Way Day: Week 4

SMPS does not tolerate bullying. We have Bullying Prevention and Engagement and Wellbeing policies which prevent and respond to bullying. 

SMPS are participating in National Week of Action: Bullying No Way! in Week 4. 

An important first step in protecting students from bullying is having a shared understanding of what bullying is. 

The national definition for bullying in Australian schools is:

Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. 

It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening. Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). 

Bullying behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records). Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.

A shared and accurate language for defining and discussing bullying is important. 

Sometimes, things that are called 'bullying' are not really bullying at all. If there is no power imbalance, we don't call it bullying, we call it 'conflict'.

3 main features of bullying:

• Misuse of power in a relationship
• Ongoing and repeated
• Contains behaviours that can cause harm

If you are concerned that your child, or another child in our school is being bullied, please contact your child's class teacher as soon as you can, or contact Jo May (Leading Teacher for Wellbeing & Disability Inclusion) via joanna.may@smps.vic.edu.au

There will be more information about this in the next iNewsletter. 

Here is a 4-part series to support families to discuss bullying with their children:

What is bullying? - national definition of bullying (2 minutes 29 seconds)

What is bullying? - misuse of power in relationships (2 minutes 15 seconds)

What is bullying? - ongoing and repeated (2 minutes 15 seconds)

What is bullying? - behaviours that can cause harm (3 minutes 21 seconds)