Education Minister Grace Grace and Miller MP Mark Bailey have visited Yeronga State High School to highlight today’s ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence.
“On today’s ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence, we’re sending a strong message to Queensland school students to ‘Report it. Block it. No more bullying’,” Ms Grace said.
“This is a battle we can win.
“With the rise in social media use, cyberbullying doesn’t stop at the school gate and can haunt young people day and night.
“I urge all students to take action and call out cyberbullying.”
Ms Grace said 100 percent of Queensland state schools registered to participate in the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Day of Action (NDA) today.
“Over 753,000 students across the state, including 541,184 state school students, will partake in activities today which sends a strong message that cyberbullying is not tolerated,” Ms Grace said.
“In 2019, 92 percent of Queensland schools are involved in the NDA, an increase of 3 percent from 2018.”
Ms Grace and Mr Bailey today officially launched a youth-led social media campaign called #endcyberbullying which features a 30-second video starring 14 Yeronga students.
“This campaign is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to ending cyberbullying and was one of the ideas of the Student Advisory Council,” Ms Grace said.
“The social media video has a thought-provoking message designed by students for students, including language and emoji icons commonly used by teenagers.
“It will be shared across all Department of Education social media platforms.”
Miller MP Mark Bailey said he was proud of Yeronga State High’s strong anti-bullying stance.
“Today is a day of positive action and an acknowledgement that students, as the leaders of tomorrow, can help drive change and end bullying in all forms,” Mr Bailey said.
“Some 70 countries are represented at Yeronga State High School, leading the way in developing a zero-tolerance policy for bullying of any kind.
“It makes Yeronga State High School the natural choice to help develop and launch the campaign.”
Yeronga State High School principal Terry Heath said the school was thrilled to be involved in the #endcyberbullying campaign.
“Our students believe passionately in social justice and promote harmony as a core ingredient to living in safe environments where bullying has no place,” he said.
All 29 recommendations of the Palaszczuk Government’s Anti-Cyberbullying Taskforce have been accepted.
The $3.5 million commitment to address cyberbullying includes:
– $2 million over two years to develop and roll out awareness and education campaigns to assist the community, parents, carers and young people to understand what cyberbullying is, the harm it can cause and how we need to address it.
– $1 million for schools including $450,000 in funding to the Dolly’s Dream Foundation in partnership with the Alannah and Madeline Foundation to implement the eSmart Schools Program in Queensland schools. Dolly’s Dream Foundation will match this funding with a further $300,000.
– $500,000 to provide grants to young people and to youth and community organisations that want to undertake their own initiatives to address cyberbullying.
