Rivendell School
Our School Anti-Bullying Plan
Rivendell School Anti-Bullying Plan – NSW Department of Education
Our School Anti-Bullying Plan
Our School Anti-Bullying Plan
This plan outlines the processes for preventing and responding to student
bullying in our school and reflects the Bullying: Preventing and Responding to
Student Bullying in Schools Policy of the New South Wales Department of
Education and Communities.
Statement of purpose
Rivendell School is committed to maintaining a safe environment in which all
students can achieve their best. ‘In a safe and supportive school, the risk from all
types of harm is minimised, diversity is valued and all members of the school
community feel respected and included and can be confident that they will
receive support in the face of any threats to their safety or wellbeing.’ (National
Safe Schools framework 2010).
Rivendell aims to develop a school community in which people respect each
other and everyone feels safe and secure, both physically and emotionally.
Protection
Bullying is repeated verbal, physical, social or psychological behaviour that is
harmful and involves the misuse of power by an individual or group towards one
or more persons. Bullying is a deliberate attempt to make another person feel
uncomfortable, embarrassed, hurt or unhappy. Bullying occurs when someone
acts aggressively towards another person in order to gain power over him or her.
Bullying involves behaviours that are intentionally controlling and hurtful in a
physical and emotional way. Bullying is a serious problem that creates a climate
of harassment and fear at school. No-one has the right to harass or discriminate
against another person on the basis of race, gender, culture, sexual preference,
religion, disability or physical appearance.
Bullying behavior can be:

an abuse of power
Rivendell School Anti-Bullying Plan – NSW Department of Education

verbal including name calling, teasing, swearing, intimidation, threats and
offensive comments

psychological including removing, hiding, damaging or destroying the
property of others

social including rumours, malicious gossip, deliberately excluding peers
from a group

physical including punching, kicking, spitting, fighting

planned and intentional

perpetrated by individuals or groups

blatant (overt) or subtle (covert)

degrading comments about another’s culture, religious or social
background

suggestive comments or other forms of sex-based harassment

cyber including making nuisance phone calls or sending unwanted
messages by mobile phone or email
Bullying is a serious issue and is everyone’s responsibility. Students, parents,
caregivers and teachers have a shared responsibility to identify and respond to
bullying behaviour.
Most bullying takes place when bystanders are present, although most
bystanders do not act to discourage it. When a bystander does act there is a
good chance, around 50%, that the bullying will stop. Students who are
‘defended’ are better adjusted and report less peer victimization one year later.
Reconciliation is more likely when bystanders intervene than when teachers
intervene. The majority of peer interventions are effective. (DEC Cyber bullying
Information for staff and schools)
Prevention
At Rivendell School, all classes are involved in formal and/or incidental social
skills lessons. The content of the lessons is planned based on the dynamics and
needs of the groups or individuals. A wide variety of topics are covered including
identifying and responding to bullying, forming positive relationships and
resolving conflict. The ‘communication model’ is taught in all classrooms which
encourages students to communicate in an assertive manner to ensure the rights
of all parties are being respected. Lessons are taught in group and individual
formats, depending on individual needs and are delivered formally in the
classroom, as well as incidentally when issues arise.
Students from all programs have the opportunity to work on expanding their
social and interaction skills when they come together as a group at break times
as well as during workshop times. All students collaborate with their teachers to
devise a ‘self-control’ plan (SCP) or ‘self-management plan’ (SMP) whereby
students recognise their behaviour, how it affects others and come up with a
variety of strategies to help themselves manage their behaviour.
Staff demonstrate appropriate and assertive ways of interacting with other staff
and students where the rights of all are respected. Clear, consistent, respectful
and appropriate language then becomes part of the school culture. Rivendell
School staff regularly attend professional development on bullying prevention
strategies and programs both at department in services, as well as on site
through staff development days and staff meetings.
Student’s self-management plans, individual management plans and risk
management plans are communicated to all teaching staff at our communication
and debriefing sessions each afternoon. These plans are also presented to, and
discussed with, the clinical health personnel at the program team meetings held
throughout the week.
Through social skills lessons, students are taught a variety of strategies to
respond to bullying. If students find that they are unable to respond to the bullying
incident themselves for any reason, they are assured they can discuss the issue
with a staff member who will deal with it in an appropriate manner.
Due to the diverse nature of the special needs of the students attending Rivendell
School, many of our students arrive with a history of difficulties in maintaining
social relationships, experience of bullying victimisation or engagement in
bullying behaviours. Some of these behaviours are identified prior to a student’s
enrolment and appropriate planning can be put into place. Teaching and
executive staff will devise a Risk Management Plan for students for whom
bullying is a major factor in their progress, and this information is communicated
to staff.
Students and staff work collaboratively on self-management plans. These plans
involve students identifying problem behaviours, possible triggers and agreeing
on alternative behaviours. Staff assist the students to identify possible bullying
behaviour and discuss the implications for both the student and the victims.
An Individual Support Plan (ISP) is developed in consultation with the student’s
therapist and home school staff. The ISP is presented to all staff and suggests
useful language and phrases and management strategies for a variety of
behaviours.
During Rivendell School’s daily debriefing session bullying, harassment and
victimisation behaviours are discussed as part of our staff communication.
Bullying issues that are presented encourage group discussion on effective
management strategies and response within the whole school community. Plans
may be made to separate certain students or for staff to be more vigilant in our
supervision of certain students. Where appropriate, clinical input is sought which
may result in a multi-disciplinary mini team meeting, depending on the nature and
severity of the incident.
Response
The Rivendell School assembly, held once per week and run by individual class
groups, is a forum to present and discuss whole school issues. It allows for
teaching and learning opportunities in the area of social skills new procedures
and initiatives, and acknowledges students who have achieved in the area of
positive social interactions.
A Rivendell School Bullying Incident Report proforma was developed in Term 4
2011 and continues to be used in 2015. Any student engaged in bullying
behaviour will immediately be interviewed by executive staff to gain an
understanding of the incident. The incident will be recorded detailing participants,
witnesses, severity and consequences of the bullying behaviour.
Early Intervention
Once all parties have been interviewed, executive staff will make a decision of
consequences based on the severity of the incident.
Rivendell School Anti-Bullying Plan – NSW Department of Education
Any serious incident involving assaults, threats, intimidation or harassment is
dealt with in accordance with the DEC policies and may include notification to
police, the Child Wellbeing Unit or Community Services. Contact will be made to
the police and School Safety and Response Unit where incidents of cyber
bullying include possible criminal behaviour.
Any Rivendell Student who has been identified as being affected by, engaged in
or witnessed bullying behavior will have the opportunity to take part in the antibullying class and/or individual lessons, work with their class teacher on
updating/revising their SCP or SMP, and take part in debriefing and peer
mediation if identified as applicable on the Rivendell School Bullying Incident
Report form.
Where appropriate, feedback is given to parents and caregivers about the
bullying incident and the response that has taken place at Rivendell School.
With students attending the health programs, details of any incident are
discussed with Clinical Health staff enabling them to monitor the wellbeing of
students involved. Families of students attending the Yaralla and Lawson
programs regularly attend family meetings where incidents and follow up
procedures are discussed.
If a report to the Child Wellbeing Unit of Department of Community Services is
being considered, the Principal will use the Mandatory Reporter Guide,
professional judgment and/or seek specialist advice to make the decision. The
Mandatory Reporter Guide will help determine if a report to the Community
Services Child Protection Helpline is required, and/or if contact with the Child
Wellbeing Unit is required.
Should parents or students consider that correct procedures have not been
followed or that an unfair decision has been made an appeal can be lodged.
Parents or students requiring assistance to lodge an appeal will be referred to
South West Sydney Regional Office. While most complaints will be resolved
informally, formal procedures as outlined in the Department of Education
Complaints Handling Policy will be followed.
Cyberbullying must be reported to the police by the victim and/or parent.
Teachers cannot report cyberbullying unless they are the victim, though they can
be a witness or provide supporting evidence. Parents and guardians are within
Rivendell School Anti-Bullying Plan – NSW Department of Education
their rights to report cyberbullying to the police and a school investigation will also
be carried out if appropriate.
If there is a report of sexting or child pornography, according to mandatory
reporting guidelines, Rivendell will report to police who must begin an
investigation. The victim/offender does not have to initiate this report.
The anti-bullying plan will be accessible to the Rivendell School Community on
the school’s intranet, and uploaded to the Rivendell School website.
The anti-bullying plan will be monitored and evaluated using the following
processes:
The Rivendell School anti-bullying committee will meet regularly to review and
monitor any bullying incidents that may have occurred. This committee will
provide discussions and feedback at executive meetings; provide regular follow
up with students, parents, teachers and nurses in relation to any bullying
incidents noted on the Bullying Incident Report form; and will inform staff of
current progress of ongoing bullying issues via the fortnightly staff meetings and
at communication/debriefing. Other ongoing strategies include:

Survey of the Rivendell School Community each semester to gauge the
effectiveness of the processes and procedures in place that are outlined
in the Rivendell anti-bullying plan;

The Rivendell School anti-bullying committee monitoring the Rivendell
School bullying incident reports;

Bullying prevention and response are reported on in each student’s PLP;
The Rivendell anti-bullying committee will meet regularly to discuss and update
the plan. The committee will communicate the effectiveness of the plan to the
whole school staff during a staff meeting in term 3 each year.
Additional Information
Police Youth Liaison Officer: Senior Constable Dean Perkins
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
Bullying No Way! : www.bullyingnoway.com.au
Mind Matters: www.mindmatters.edu.au/
Kidsmatter: www.kidsmatter.edu.au
National Coalition Against Bullying: www.ncab.org.au
Cybersmart kids online: www.cybersmartkids.com.au
Principal’s comment
The Rivendell School community has a right to be treated fairly and with dignity in
an environment that is safe. The safety of the school community is essential to
foster the academic, social development and wellbeing of all. Rivendell School is
committed to promoting the highest standard of learning and behaviour. We
expect the whole school community to take an active stand against any form of
bullying and to support the view that bullying is not tolerated. Any form of bullying
should be immediately reported.
Anne Reddie
Rivendell School Principal
Anti-bullying School Committee
2016 committee members to be confirmed.
School contact information
Rivendell School
Thomas Walker Estate, Hospital Road, Concord West, 2138
Ph: 02 9743 1075
Fax: 02 9736 3784
Email: rivendell-s.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Web: www.rivendell-s.schools.nsw.edu.au
Reviewed 2015
Rivendell School Anti-Bullying Plan – NSW Department of Education