Student Wellbeing
Wellbeing
Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club is open to all students so please join us 8am - 8:30am Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Uniform Shop foyer, for some free healthy food to start your day!
Cyberbullying
When you're experiencing cyberbullying, it can sometimes feel like no-one else understands, and like there’s nowhere to turn for help. But you're never alone in dealing with cyberbullying. If you're wondering how to deal with cyberbullying, then read on for some strategies.
Strategy 1: Don’t respond immediately
The aim of a lot of cyberbullying is to annoy, upset or confuse the person who is being targeted, so that they react emotionally. If you’re being cyberbullied, keep in mind that the person who’s targeting you wants you to respond.
A good strategy for dealing with this is not to give them what they’re looking for. If someone says something to you online, tags you in a photo you don’t like, or just generally does something unkind, put down your phone for an hour or more. Take that time to give yourself some emotional distance and think carefully before you respond.
Strategy 2: Follow up when you’re calmer
After an hour, you’ll hopefully feel a little calmer. Now you can go back online, if you feel up to it, maybe even with a friend or family member in the room with you. The idea at this stage is to get a proper feel for the situation before contacting the person who is cyberbullying you.
Using calm, neutral language, try to work out the situation with the person without letting them get to you. They might not even realise that you interpreted their actions as cyberbullying, so a calm conversation is a good place to start.
Strategy 3: Take screenshots
Screenshots are the best way for you to report an instance of cyberbullying. After all, the person who’s cyberbullying you may delete their comment or photo when they realise that it might get them in trouble. Screenshots will ensure you always have a copy of what was said. Note: if you take a screenshot on Snapchat, the other person will be notified that you did so.
Strategy 4: Try to stop frequently checking posts
When you’re in the thick of a cyberbullying attack, it can feel like the person who is cyberbullying you is literally in the room with you, shouting things in your ear and demanding your attention.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can always limit your social media time to a few hours a day, or whatever feels right for you. That way, the bullying doesn’t feel constant, and you can take a break from the online world to look after yourself.
Strategy 5: Report and block
Most social media sites want to help you feel safe online. They don’t want you to experience cyberbullying either, so they have a lot of built-in tools to keep you safe.
If you’ve exhausted the reporting and blocking options within your social media platform and things are still really bad, you can make a report to The eSafety Commissioner by filling out this form.
Before you make a complaint, you need to:
- have copies of the cyberbullying material ready to upload (screenshots or photos)
- report the material to the social media service (if possible) at least 48 hours before filling out the form
- gather as much information as possible about where the material is located
- allow 15-20 minutes to complete the form.
Strategy 6: Talk to an adult
- Let your parents/parent or trusted adult know, so they have the opportunity to help, support and/or guide you
- Speak to someone at school – your Year Level Leader, Assistant PrincipalI've, trusted teacher or Wellbeing staff.
This information has been sourched from Reachout.com.
eSafety Commissioner
Resources & Support Services
The Wellbeing Team have compiled a range of resources and support services for students and families to access via Compass under Community (the two people) – School Documentation – For Students/For Parents – Wellbeing Resources.
Youth Support services
headspace: visit headspace.org.au to find your nearest centre or call headspace on
1800 650 890.
Kids Helpline:
1800 55 1800 or kidshelpline.com.au
ReachOut: reachout.com.au
SANE Australia: 1800 187 263 or sane.org
National 24/7 crisis services
Lifeline:13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au
beyondblue:
1300 224 636 or beyondblue.org.au
Student Wellbeing Team
Email: wellbeing@wantirnacollege.vic.edu.au
Guiseppe Relia – Wellbeing Coordinator
Talea-Jane Simpson – School Counsellor
Lea Marrison - Mental Health Practitioner
Tajinder Wulff - Mental Health Practitioner