Bullying is when one person (or a group of people) with more power than someone else deliberately and repeatedly tries to upset or hurt them.
Bullying can happen in person or online, and it can be obvious or hidden.
Bullying involves misusing any power that a person has to harm someone else, and might involve repeatedly:
- physically hurting someone
- keeping someone out of a group (online or in person)
- saying mean or humiliating things, or spreading rumours or lies
- sending nasty messages or inappropriate images online
- tagging inappropriate or unflattering images online
The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence is an initiative started by the Australian Government. There is a theme every year and this year’s theme is ‘Kindness Culture- It starts with you’. This theme aims to promote a sense of community and belonging for all students and children across Australia. It also aims to encourage inclusion and respect. The belief is that together we can hero these qualities and be the change we wish to see.
As we strive to build a Kindness Culture here at GCC, we say “Bullying. No Way!” during the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence on Friday 18 March but this is an issue that we all should be mindful of every single day of the year. This year’s theme Kindness Culture offers us an opportunity to talk about what is bullying and what is not, kindness, demonstrating kind behaviour and ways to report bullying behaviour.
At GCC, having a supportive culture, a reporting culture and a culture of kindness where children feel safe and heard is the hope of my heart.
Gail Mitchell, Head of Primary