​​​Wellbeing is at the heart of Woree State High School's School improvement planning. Our core business is to teach, and we recognise that we need to support and respond to students who have difficulty meeting behavioural expectations just as we would support and respond to those who have difficulty with curriculum content. Our staff support students to learn to cooperate with others, respect the rights of others and make effective plans to achieve their goals. Our aim is to create a supportive school environment in which students feel safe and respected, in line with the Department of Educations's policy and the provisions of the Child Protection Act.

Our school and school community endorses the right to safety of all school community members. Bullying undermines this right and can prevent students from achieving their full potential educationally and socially. Bullying affects all members of the school community, not just the person who is demonstrating bullying behaviours or the person being bullied. Bullying can damage the supportive environment of the class and of the school in general. These outcomes are in direct contradiction to our goals and efforts to support all students and adults in our school community.

Students, staff, parents and caregivers all have a shared responsibility to prevent, refrain from, and respond to bullying behaviour.

​Definition of bullying

Is it bullying?

Single incidents, conflict or fights between equals, or a single act of social rejection, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.

However, these conflicts are still considered serious and need to be addressed and resolved. At Woree State High School our staff will work to respond to any matters raised of this nature in collaboration with students and parents/carers.

The Agreed National Definition for Australian Schools Describes Bullying as Follows​

• Ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm
• Involving an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening
• Happening in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). Repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records)
• Having immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders.

Woree State High School Definitions​​​​

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is treated at Woree State High School with the same level of seriousness as in-person bullying. The major difference with cyberbullying however, is that unlike in-person bulling, cyberbullying follows students into their community, their homes and their bedrooms, giving them no opportunity to escape the harassment or abuse during the evening, weekends or holidays.

In the first instance, students or parents/carers who wish to make a report about cyberbullying should approach their:

• Form Class Teacher
• Year Level Coordinator
• Responsible Behaviour Officer
• Head of Department Junior / Senior

It is important for students, parents/carers and staff to know that state school principals have the authority to take disciplinary action to address student behaviours that occur outside of school hours or school grounds. This includes cyberbullying. Parents/Carers and students who have concerns about cyberbullying incidents occurring during school holidays should immediately seek assistance through the Office of the e-Safety Commissioner or the Queensland Police Service.

Students enrolled at Woree State High School may face in-school disciplinary action, such as detention or removing of privileges, or more serious consequences such as suspension or exclusion from school for engaging in behaviour that adversely affects, or is likely to adversely affect, other students or the good order and management of the school. This includes behaviour such as cyberbullying which occurs outside of school hours or settings, for example on the weekend or during school holidays. It also applies to inappropriate online behaviour of enrolled students that is directed towards other community members or students from other school sites.

Parents/carers or other stakeholders who engage in inappropriate online behaviour towards students, staff or other parents/carers may be referred to the Office of the e-Safety Commissioner and/or the Queensland Police Service. State school staff will be referred for investigation to the Integrity and Employee Relations team in the Department of Education.

Cybersafety and R​​eputation Management

The Department of Education employs a dedicated team of experts to assist in maintaining the integrity of the Department's reputation with regards to cybersafety and reputation management issues, effectively leading the development and implementation of departmental cybersafety processes.

This team provides direct support for schools to respond to concerns of inappropriate online behaviour and misuse of information and communication technology.

The team provides a guide for parents with important information about cybersafety and cyberbullying, and suggestions about what parents/carers can do if their child is a target or responsible for inappropriate online behaviour.

Further Information​​

​The documents below contain further information regarding Woree State High School's 'zero tolerance' approach to bullying: 

• Is My Child Being Bullied? Leaflet
• Is My Child A Bully? Leaflet
• Bullying Fact Sheet for Parents
• 'IDEAL' Decision Making Instruction Sheet
• 'IDEAL' Decision Making Form
  

For more information regarding mental health/wellbeing/bullying please visit the following websites: 

Office of the ESafety Commission  https://esafety.gov.au/