MEDIA RELEASE
11/7/2013
ADDRESSING BULLYING BEGINS AT HOME
One of Victoria’s most experienced educators is concerned many young Australians are at
risk of learning bullying behaviours in the home.
Former Camberwell High School principal Elida Brereton said while schools are often
blamed for bullying incidents, many behavioural issues arise from what students see and
hear in their own home and more effective partnerships between schools and parents are
required to address this.
“Schools treat the issue of bullying very seriously and most schools have safety nets in
place to protect students from bullying and to try and prevent them from being bullies,” she
said.
“However, schools can only do so much to protect the students in their care. Students are
exposed to so many different influences in the home environment outside of school hours
and it is very hard to police without a strong parental partnership.”
“It is important that parents take a hands-on role to address potential bullying behaviours.”
Ms Brereton said cyberbullying was a particularly difficult problem to address.
“The potential for harmful communication to spread to so many people and be so farreaching in the online environment is terrifying,’’ she said.
“I am glad I am my age and not a teenager today because an online communication can
go so far, involve so many and still be anonymous.”
“It is important that schools ensure any harmful communications on school equipment are
monitored and dealt with, but it is up to parents to monitor what students do in their own
time and on their own equipment.’’
“This is a relatively new and rapidly-growing area and it is important that parents and
educators keep abreast of the latest research and how to deal with the issue.’’
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Ms Brereton will be a special guest at the Bullying, Young People and the Law Symposium
in Melbourne on 18 and 19 July.
She will join a panel of experts in a discussion on the duty of care of schools and parents
respectively at the two-day legal symposium.
The national symposium is an initiative of the National Centre Against Bullying, the
Australian Federal Police and Victoria University, and has attracted an international
audience of educators, law makers, legal experts and police, communications experts and
parental groups.
Ms Brereton, a principal or assistant principal for 23 years of her 43-year teaching career,
said while the incidence of bullying is not increasing, children are more frequently reporting
bullying because schools encourage children to speak out and students are more
comfortable raising the subject with staff than they had been in the past.
She praised The Alannah and Madeline Foundation’s eSmart Schools initiative for
supporting this cultural change. The eSmart schools program is currently being
implemented in more than 1,800 schools across the country to help teach students to be
smart, safe and responsible users of technology.
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To coordinate media interviews, please contact: Robert Masters and Associates (03) 9036 6390
Rob Masters: 0413 147 080 / Maria Vampatella: 0421 112 216
About the National Centre Against Bullying: An initiative of The Alannah and Madeline Foundation, the National Centre Against Bullying (NCAB) is a peak body
working to advise and inform the Australian community on the issue of childhood bullying and the creation of safe schools and communities, including the issue of
cybersafety. Established in 2002, NCAB’s members include some of Australia’s leading experts in the field of bullying and cyberbullying – including psychologists,
academics, researchers and educators.
About The Alannah and Madeline Foundation: The Alannah and Madeline Foundation is the leading national not-for-profit organisation protecting children from
violence and creating behavioural change in the community to eliminate bullying and cyberbullying. The Foundation was established in memor y of Alannah and
Madeline Mikac, aged 6 and 3, who were tragically killed with their mother and 32 others at Port Arthur, Tasmania on 28 April 1996. The Foundation cares for
children who have experienced or witnessed violence, and runs programs that help to prevent violence in the lives of children. Our vision is that every child will live in
a safe and supportive environment. For more information visit: www.amf.org.au or call 1300 720 747.
About the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre: The Sir Zelman Cowen Centre forms part of the College of Law and Justice at Victoria University. In partnership with the
Cambridge University Board of Continuing Education, the Centre provides training, research and support to the government, judiciary, legal practitioners, court staff
and other professions associated with the legal sector. By working with a range of employers, practitioners and professional bodies we identify training needs and
design programs and events to meet those needs. The Centre is named in honour of Australia’s former Governor-General and distinguished legal academic, the late
Sir Zelman Cowen.
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