A Tarneit school hopes a new online method of reporting bullying will encourage more students to come forward and seek help.
Ahead of this Friday’s National Day of Action Against Bullying, Tarneit’s Thomas Carr College has developed a ‘bully box’, which enables students to send emails to well-being staff if they witness an incident or are being bullied themselves.
These concerns can then be followed up by staff, allowing the appropriate action to be taken.
The leader of the college’s student well-being team, Susan Ward, said the bully box would offer students another avenue for reporting bullying.
It also gave them more choices of how they could access support.
“Many students don’t want to be perceived as ‘dobbing’,” she said. “Some may feel very comfortable walking straight up to a staff member and telling them directly if they have a problem or concern. Others prefer email because it’s less daunting and less visible.”
Principal Dr Andrew Watson said the new approach was part of the school’s zero-tolerance approach to bullying.
“We need to continue to encourage our students to report any bullying they experience or witness,” he said.
“The bully box highlights in a very practical and tangible way that students don’t have to put up with bullying and that there are avenues for support.”
