Aboriginal students who are bullied are often reluctant to tell anyone for fear of shame or retaliation. They may also think that talking about a bullying situation is like ‘dobbing’.
- Yamaji wangi
- ‘Our kids don’t usually tell anyone about bullying because they think no one can or will help.’
- Yamaji parent
Aboriginal students in primary school appear to ask for help more readily than Aboriginal students of high school age. Older students, both boys and girls, tend to keep concerns related to bullying within their family rather than involve school staff. It is important to teach younger students and remind older students the difference between dobbing and asking for help.
- Dobbing is when a person tries to get attention, or to get someone into trouble, by telling on them.
- Asking for help is when kids feel a situation is out of their control and they are unable to deal with it alone. If kids see someone else in this situation, they should also ask for help. Asking for help is always okay.
