For schools and educators

Creating safe, inclusive and respectful learning environments requires a whole-school approach—with staff, students, parents and the community working together to teach, model and promote values and positive behaviours.

Responding to incidents of bullying

The first key steps are to:

1. ensure the immediate safety and wellbeing of students
2. follow your school's policy or Student Code of Conduct (for Queensland state schools) which outlines how to respond to reports of bullying and the supports available.

Relevant resources are available below.

• Bullying and school aged students fact sheet and flowchart (PDF, 92KB)—outlines the responsibilities of Queensland state school principals, staff and students in responding to bullying.
• Cyberbullying and school aged students fact sheet and flowchart (PDF, 924KB)—outlines the process for reporting online incidents and the responsibilities of Queensland state school principals and staff in responding to cyberbullying.
• Wellbeing and mental health support staff—lists support services that can assist Queensland state school students.

Cyberbullying

• CyberSafety hub for teachers and staff—gives teaching staff useful information and resources on cyberbullying. Departmental staff can search 'CyberSafety Hub' on OnePortal.
• eSafety guide—offers teachers and staff information about the features of popular apps, games and online platforms, helping them educate students on how to safeguard themselves against cyberbullying.
• Spotlight on cyberbullying—this eSafety Commissioner website features resources designed to assist in developing a comprehensive school-wide approach to tackling cyberbullying.

Frameworks, policies and procedures

• Child and student protection policy—outlines the Department of Education’s approach to keeping children and students safe by protecting them from harm or risk of harm in schools.
• Inclusive education policy—sets out the Department of Education’s commitment to continue to work towards a more inclusive state education system and the principles, which will guide that work.
• Positive behaviour for learning (PBL) is a whole-school framework that promotes positive behaviour across a school and helps schools develop safe and supportive learning environments. The bullying behaviour and positive behaviour for learning fact sheet (PDF, 1.7MB explains how PBL can be used in schools to prevent and respond to bullying by promoting positive behaviour and respectful relationships.
• Student Code of Conduct fact sheet (PDF, 470KB)—outlines key information about the requirement for all state schools to have a Student Code of Conduct. This is the school's behaviour policy, with information about school rules, consequences and processes for addressing bullying and the use of technology.
• Student discipline procedure—sets out the responsibilities and processes to promote safe, supportive and disciplined learning environments in Queensland state schools. It includes the Student Code of Conduct template.
• Student Learning and Wellbeing Framework—guides schools to implement a whole school approach to supporting students' wellbeing and mental health.
• Student protection procedure—outlines the responsibilities of employees and visitors to state schools and state delivered kindergartens when dealing with student protection matters, and the process for responding when they suspect a student or child has been harmed or is at risk of harm.

Teaching resources

• BeYou—contains a program directory that is designed to help educators choose mental health and wellbeing programs to implement in their learning community.
• Bullying No Way—provides comprehensive resources and support for educators to understand, prevent and respond to bullying, promoting safe and respectful school environments across Australia.
• Kids Helpline—offers free online learning for primary school students about how to recognise and respond to bullying behaviour they experience or witness.
• Resources for primary school students—provides resources for primary school educators to help students stay safe online, protected from cyberbullying and other online dangers.
• Resources for secondary school students—gives educators resources they can use to teach older students how to manage their online presence and make smart choices to stay safe from cyberbullying and other online risks.
• Respectful Relationships Education Hub—provides school staff with information, resources and tools on respectful relationships.
• Student Wellbeing Hub—bullying prevention—provides educators with resources, lesson plans and tools to promote student wellbeing, including strategies for addressing bullying.
• The Allen Adventure app—is a fun, interactive story app that helps young students learn about making friends, respecting others and preventing bullying.
• This Way Up Schools—provides health and wellbeing courses for school students aged 12–15 years. Including topics on mental and physical health, managing stress, overcoming anxiety and combating depression.

Professional development

• Classroom Management Hub—provides teachers with an overview of the practices that have been shown to have the greatest positive impact on learning, wellbeing and behaviour.
• LGBTIQ+ student inclusion workshops—give educators a comprehensive introduction to guide schools in implementing a whole-school approach in creating inclusive, safe environment for LGBTIQ+ students. Departmental staff can search 'LGBTIQ+ student inclusion workshops' in the Education Futures Institute (EFI) catalogue.
• Respectful relationships education professional development—helps build state school staff expertise and capability to provide respectful relationships education for all students. Departmental staff can search 'respectful relationships education professional development' in the EFI catalogue.
• Wellbeing podcasts—offer insights and strategies for educators to support student mental health and address issues like bullying within school communities.​