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bully [n.]
[pl. bullies] a person who deliberately intimidates or persecutes those who are weaker. [verb - bullies, bullied] intimidate.
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ORIGIN probably from Dutch boele ‘lover’.
‘Student Welfare refers to the promotion and maintenance of good learning, good mental and physical health as well as social well-being of students, and conditions which are conducive to these’.[1]
Schools and other educational institutions have a responsibility to every student to ensure they have the best possible educational experience. As the above quote indicates, this is not just in reference to learning but also in respect of their physical and emotional well-being. This is becoming more necessary with the increasing access to, and use of, new technologies such as the internet and mobile phones. Internet safety and the prevention of cyber bullying are as damaging at least, as physical and verbal bullying. Vigilance is also required with regard to child abuse of any kind, with teaching staff as mandatory notifiers.
Schools and other institutions have Welfare Policies designed to provide clear guidelines for all parties and including strategies involving all relevant parties - student, staff, parents and outside bodies where required. Samples of these are provided below.
This page looks at Student Welfare requirements and procedures in all states & territories.
The Second Page looks at welfare articles & documents, Australian and International information about bullying, including cyber bullying, peer support, policies, support groups and more.
We would be happy to consider further areas and inclusions as time permits.
States & Territories
Australian Capital Territory
- Countering Bullying, Harassment and
Violence
Countering these in ACT Public Schools. Policy download. - Countering Racism in ACT Public Schools
Policy download. - Providing Safe Schools Policy
Policy download. - Student Wellbeing
‘The specific focus is on supporting students to take positive action and responsibility for their physical, social, emotional, moral and spiritual health’. Department of Education & Training. - Sun Protection
Policy download.
New South Wales
- Anti-Bullying
Programs, links, contacts. - Bullying : Preventing and Responding to Student Bullying
in Schools Policy
NSW Government Schools Policy document. - Child Protection [Catholic Schools]
Guidelines. - Child Protection : Guidelines, Procedures and Policies
- School Holiday Parent
Kit
‘It’s good to have some ideas and information to give you inspiration when the kids say those dreaded words I’m bored. Ten fact sheets providing a collection of tips on avoiding holiday stress, safety issues and fun activities for the kids during the school holidays’. - Student Leadership, Student Representative Councils and Participation
Another aspect of student welfare. - Student Wellbeing [NSW]
Includes the following.
- Student Welfare Policy
Download a copy of the Policy Document here. - SWPDA
Student Welfare and Personal Development Association of NSW. Events, newsletters, links, resources, more.
Northern Territory
- Behaviour
‘Work toward a safe, supportive and caring environment in order for each individual to recognise their potential, interact more effectively and accept responsibility for their behaviour’. - Building Relationships and School Wellbeing
‘10 Key Elements including the National Safe Schools Framework to develop a climate of wellbeing within the school community’.
You now need to be able to log in to access this site. - Safe Schools Northern Territory
‘The Code of Behaviour and tip sheets aim to help parents, students and teachers deal with some of the issues in schools such as bullying and harassment, safe play and cyber bullying. The tip sheets offer hints about areas of concern’.
Queensland
- Bullying and Harassment
‘Education Queensland does not tolerate bullying in any form. Bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence are abuses of power that jeopardise the rights and wellbeing of others’. Information from Education Queensland. - Code of School Behaviour
‘Defines the responsibilities that all members of the school community are expected to uphold and recognises the significance of appropriate and meaningful relationships. It outlines a consistent standard of behaviour for all state school communities in Queensland, inclusive of students, staff and parents’. -
Cybersafety
‘Being cybersafe and a good cybercitizen is primarily about learning how to behave in the online environment. While technical solutions are part of ensuring safety and security, cybersafety in schools depends on people acting appropriately’. Multiple links to a range of information and resources. - Fighting the School Bullies - What
Needs to be Done ?
‘Discusses the changing nature of bullying including the increase in cyber bullying and studies the impact bullying has on victimised children, the bullying student and bystanders. The approach taken by the Queensland Government to combat bullying and other inappropriate student behaviour through the Code of School Behaviour and the Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students is discussed before moving on to a brief overview of the policies and programs in other states and territories’. - School Health and Wellbeing Initiatives
- Student Health and Wellbeing
Initiatives operated by Education Queensland. - Student Health and Wellbeing Curriculum Framework
Information under a series of headings. - Student Management & Support
Department of Education Manual. - The Queensland Schools Alliance Against Violence
‘The Alliance is responsible for providing advice to the Minister on best practice measures to address bullying and violence in Queensland schools’. One program is Working Together : A Toolkit for Parents to Address Bullying, also available in MS Word format. There are also links to YouTube videos and podcasts. This is part of the larger Working Together Against Bullying site.
South Australia
- Behaviour Education
Catholic Education. Information, contact details. - Behaviour Management Library
Select via a series of keyword options or use one of the four Quick Links. -
Bullying and Harassment
Part of the Child and Student Wellbeing area. It also includes a link to the DECD School Discipline Policy, other areas and activities. -
Child Protection
Internet safety, policies, notification, students in care, resources. - Health & Wellbeing [SA]
Use the menu on the left for individual items. Includes behaviour management, child protection, cyber safety and more. - Student Welfare Policies and Procedures
Health Promotion, Managing Complaints & Challenging Situations, Bullying & Harassment, Child Protection, Grief & Loss. Emergency and Crisis Management section of Schoolcare, Department of Education and Children’s Services. Download the text of the site or Critical Incident Flowcharts
Tasmania
- Child Protection and Children In Care
‘Outlines the role of the Department of Education in ensuring that children experiencing abuse and neglect are cared for and educated in a manner which maximises their opportunity to grow up in a safe and stable environment and to reach their full potential’. Mandatory reporting, family group conferencing and general information about child abuse. - Discipline Guidelines
Covering all disciplinary procedures. - Promoting Positive Behaviour
‘Schoolwide Positive Behaviour Support is an organised and tailored system of strategies that support social and learning outcomes for students, whilst preventing problem behaviour [Turnbull, Edmonson and Griggs et.al. 2002]’. - Student Health, Safety & Wellbeing
Major areas, strategies and guidelines. - Unacceptable Behaviour and Discipline
Information for Parents. Includes Discipline and Bullying.
Victoria
- Building Respectful and Safe Schools
‘The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is committed to providing safe, secure and stimulating environments for all students, and provides a range of an anti-bullying policies and strategies for schools to deliver on this commitment’. - Child Protection [Vic]
Protocol and Safe From Harm documents. PDF. - Framework for Student Support Services in Victorian Government
Schools
Detailed information on processes to be followed when developing and implementing student wellbeing support. -
Health, Wellbeing and Safety
Catholic Education Office, Archdiocese of Melbourne. - Independent Schools Victoria Compliance Framework - Student
Welfare
Establishes criteria then components of appropriate student welfare policy directions and inclusions. Links to resources to assist this. - Informing Staff
Of Their Legal Responsibilities for the Care, Safety and Welfare of Students. Common sense steps to ensure staff are aware of their obligations. From the AISV but applicable to all schools. - Pastoral Care of Students in Catholic Schools
Click on Policies, then go to 1.14. - Risk Assessment and Management Process
‘An early identification and intervention process designed to improve the wellbeing and access to learning opportunities for at-risk students. It has been developed, trialled and evaluated over a seven year period and has been implemented in more than 20 primary and secondary schools in the state of Victoria in Australia. ’ Available for purchase. - School Focused Youth Service
‘Complements the increase in support provided to schools in response to the recommendations of the Suicide Prevention Taskforce. The focus of the initiative is the co-ordination of preventative and early intervention strategies for young people, to be delivered through school and community clusters’. The SFYS Guidelines can be found here, while a Case Study can be studied via this link. - Student Wellbeing [DEECD]
Portal entry that includes Student Safety, support for schools, drug education and publications. - Student Wellbeing Policy
4 PDF documents. Teacher Resources to summary pages. - The Provision of Student Welfare in Schools
Australian Education Union [Victoria].
Western Australia
- Behaviour and Wellbeing
‘The DET Behaviour Standards and Wellbeing Directorate works to ensure schools are safe, supportive and engaging environments for learning and teaching where the social and emotional wellbeing of all students and staff is nurtured and developed’. Behaviour Management, Student Engagement and Social & Emotional Wellbeing. Related sites include :
- Behaviour Management in Schools
Policy Statement, background, downloadable copy, further information including contact details. - Students Online
Policy Statement, document information, Contact information, downloadable copy.
Catholic Education Office of WA
- Child Abuse
- Dealing with Bullying and Harassment [Students]
- Information and Communication Technology Use by Students
- Educational Policies Related to Students at Educational Risk
Includes Behavioural Management, Social Justice and the main policy. - Health & Wellbeing
Part of the larger Students at Educational Risk site. - Student Wellbeing [WA]
A series of links to programs and resources related to Student Wellbeing in government schools. [Scroll down to ‘Student Wellbeing’ links.]
References
- 1. Websites about Student Welfare.ppt. Scribd, 18 Mar. 2009. Web. 20 Jan. 2010. http://www.scribd.com/doc/13377967/Websites-about-student-welfareppt.