download "Solid understandings about bullying" review
Bullying is a relationship issue. It involves group values and group standards of behaviour. Addressing bullying requires a collaborative and consistent action across the school community for positive change to occur. For further information about bullying read 'Understanding bullying - Aboriginal context' section.
It is essential that awareness and a shared understanding of bullying is developed for the whole school community. A shared understanding could be developed through active discussion with teaching and non-teaching staff, students, parents and carers, and other service providers in the community. Conducting a bullying prevention workshop is a useful way for staff, parents and carers, community members and students to discuss bullying. A school bullying workshop can provide:
- a clear definition of bullying behaviour
- common understandings about bullying as a relationship issue
- an opportunity to clarify personal attitudes and beliefs about bullying
- the whole-school ethos towards prevention of bullying
- a consistent approach to achieving the vision for a safe and supportive school environment
- a consistent response plan to identify, report and manage bullying incidents
- staff with a consistent and immediate response to bullying
In schools with Yamaji students, this also includes common understandings for staff managing bullying incidents involving Aboriginal students. For example, the whole-school planning committee would create a school guideline that AIEOs (ATAs or AEWs) were included in the pastoral care and/or ‘disciplinary’ processes or ‘follow-up’ actions when an Aboriginal student was involved in bullying.
The reflection questions below link to the National Safe Schools Framework (NSSF) Key Element Three, ‘Provision of education and training’ (DEST, 2003).
Reflection questions for solid understandings about bullying
- Are staff provided with professional development opportunities that will:
- enhance their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander worldviews and culture?
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enhance their knowledge and ability to build solid relations
- between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students
- between themselves and Aboriginal students
- between themselves and the parents and carers of their Aboriginal students
- help them learn about local and national Aboriginal organisations that could help them if they experienced aggression/violence or felt bullied?
- facilitate their awareness about bullying within the school environment?
- enhance their ability to respond effectively to bullying incidents involving Aboriginal students?
- enhance their knowledge and ability to integrate solid ways to deal with bullying in teaching and learning activities?
- encourage reflection on their own behaviour and interactions and the influence of these on the values and behaviour of their students?
- Are Aboriginal students provided with:
- age-appropriate bullying prevention curriculum content that is culturally relevant and secure?
- opportunities to contribute to the development of school bullying prevention and management guidelines?
- skills for solid relationships and cooperative behaviour?
- Are Aboriginal parents provided with opportunities:
- to learn about bullying and how to respond to it?
- to obtain culturally relevant information about how their children can develop strong and happy relationships?
- to promote and contribute to the development of bullying prevention and management guidelines?
- to access community-based resources and information to support their role as parents and carers?
