The role of schools in addressing cyberbullying
All members of the school community should agree on a clear definition of cyberbullying and hostile online behaviour. This definition needs to be understood, accepted and shared within the whole school community, including identifying unacceptable online behaviours and the consequences of these behaviours. It should reflect the school’s ethos that cyberbullying is unacceptable, harmful and will be acted upon.
The key components required to establish a school-wide system to minimise and address cyberbullying include:
-
establishing a cybersafety team
-
establishing a cybersafety contact person
-
developing appropriate policies and procedures
-
educating students
-
educating parents
-
Establishing a cybersafety team
Establishing a cybersafety team can greatly assist in implementing a holistic and consistent approach to cybersafety practices within the school. It can also assist students in understanding and managing appropriate use of personal information online.
The cybersafety team leads the management of cybersafety issues in the school, auditing schools policies and procedures and establishing and embedding new policies and procedures to enhance school-wide cybersafety behaviours. This is explored further in Policies and procedures.
Establishing a cybersafety contact person
It may be useful for schools to establish a cybersafety contact person to whom students can report online concerns. This role should be promoted to staff, students and parents and ideally would provide non-judgemental guidance to students and liaise between students and parents on issues concerning student safety and wellbeing. The student welfare officer may fulfil this role. The contact person may be a member of the cybersafety team.
Developing appropriate policies and procedures
Schools are encouraged to develop practical policies with simple rules for the prevention of cyberbullying. These should include:
-
appropriate online behaviour
-
clear consequences of hostile online behaviour
-
methods for redressing inappropriate behaviour
-
‘bystander’ reporting rules
-
the provision of clear reporting and support mechanisms for those involved in cyberbullying.
Links to cyberbullying policy templates from the states and territories are available from Policies and procedures.
Educating staff
Cyberbullying poses unique challenges because, while it is more likely to occur outside the school environment, staff may be more likely to observe the impact than parents or carers. this is because staff see children and young people with their peers and may be able to identify changes in behaviour.
Staff are likely to benefit from being provided with awareness of the key signs to look for that may indicate a child is a victim of cyberbullying. To ensure a consistent and holistic approach to cybersafety, staff may benefit from having cyberbullying policies promoted to them, and providing them with clear and practical guidelines for dealing with cyberbullying.
Staff are also at risk of cyberbullying and may be encouraged to participate in the development of teacher-specific anti-cyberbullying policies.
Professional Development (PD) for Educators
In consultation with key stakeholders and education bodies, the ACMA has developed a free and accredited Cybersafety Outreach—Professional Development (PD) for Educators program. The program is available as a full-day workshop or as 3 x 2 hour sessions and provides teachers with a comprehensive understanding of a modern student’s technology profile, digital literacy, positive online behaviour, personal and peer safety and the school’s and teachers’ legal obligations to minimise and address risks.
Schools can book teacher professional development.
Educating students
The Teacher resources section provides links to comprehensive resources to educate children and young people about responsible and safe online behaviour and managing negative behaviours to minimise cyberbullying.
Educating parents
To deal holistically and effectively with problems involving cyberbullying, the partnership between parents and the school is vital to support all students involved, whether they are victims, bystanders or offenders.
Schools can direct parents to cybersafety information for parents. Schools can develop a brief newsletter article outlining the school’s education and policy commitment to cyberbullying, which includes a list of possible warning signs and a link to the supporting parent information. This is a simple way to promote school–home communication about cyberbullying prevention. Providing a single point of contact for parents and carers to discuss concerns with the school provides an effective way to identify and deal with cyberbullying concerns quickly.
Internet Safety Awareness Presentations
As part of its Cybersafety Outreach program, the ACMA offers free general internet safety awareness presentations for parents, students and teachers. Each presentation is approximately 60 minutes, excluding question time.
These presentations are easy to understand, thorough, non-technical and informative. They cover a range of issues including:
-
the ways children use the internet and emerging technologies
-
potential risks faced by children when online such as cyberbullying, identity theft, inappropriate contact and exposure to inappropriate content
-
tips and strategies to help children stay safe online.
Book an internet safety awareness presentation.