Media Centre for Education Research Australia says that kids in school aren’t telling their parents about their experiences around bullying. Recent data as part of News Corp’s 2025 Great Australian Parent Survey says that 50% of parents report that their child has suffered due to bullying before and 25% think that schools aren’t putting effort into the safety of their children, turning a blind eye towards bullying. Many parents are unaware of the extend of their children’s bullying as the children are reluctant to share their stories.
Instances of bullying are underreported, ultimately, making the chances of bullying greater within schools and social media. Here’s what the experts have to say:
Associate Professor Kelly-Ann Allen (Monash University) – “When students feel unsafe at school, it damages their sense of belonging.” Kelly-Ann Allen is an Associate Professor (Research), Educational and Developmental Psychologist, and DECRA Fellow at Monash University. Her research looks into adolescent school belonging, loneliness, wellbeing and social isolation.
“Parents’ concerns about school responses to bullying reflect real communication challenges.”
“Schools will need to protect the privacy of students while also giving parents confidence their concerns receive proper attention.
“The research shows that bullying affects both students who experience it and those who engage in it – each situation needs careful handling that considers the multiple people involved including students, parents, and peers.
“When students feel unsafe at school, it damages their sense of belonging. Our research shows that feeling safe and comfortable forms the foundation of school belonging, even for children as young as three years old.
“Bullying directly threatens this safety, affecting not just those directly involved but the whole school community. Making sure that the environment is rich with different opportunities to belong is really important as a preventative measure.
“There is a real need to consider how parents’ trust in school processes can be strengthened as well as helping them to support their children through bullying situations, whether their child experiences bullying or engages in it.
“Schools should consider whether parent confidence could be improved by them being across anti-bullying processes before incidents occur, equipping them with ways of responding.
“This data suggests that students and parents will perceive bullying differently. Schools can address this proactively by building strong parent-teacher relationships to create collaboration and trust.”
Professor Barbara Spears AM (University of South Australia) – “Bullying is about power and how it is used or misused. How we model power over others; toward others; or share power with others matters.” Barbara Spears is an adjunct professor in education and social development at the University of South Australia. She has led major national projects into bullying and cyberbullying research. In 2023, she was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) honour for her significant contributons and service to tertiary education, to research, and to youth.
“We need to be cautious in how we interpret these results.”
“Australia has remained consistent with international figures when nationally representative data have been employed. Approximately, one in three children and youth will self-report being victimised by bullying every few weeks or more often.
“The most important thing for parents to remember is that schools are safe places for most students, and the programs and interventions put in place are there to support most of them.
“Whilst the figure for cyberbullying is lower; we need to remember that it overlaps with traditional bullying – children who are being bullied offline are also likely to be bullied online.
“Parents may not be aware, but if there is traditional bullying occurring then it is likely to flow on to cyberbullying, so they need to pay attention to what is happening in the peer social dynamic.
“Bullying is about power and how it is used or misused. How we model power over others; toward others; or share power with others matters.”
“It is time for Australia to have a nationally consistent approach to addressing bullying, so everyone knows what the expectations are and the process for addressing it if and when it occurs.
Dr Deborah Green (University of South Australia)- “If not stopped, persistent bullies can follow negative trajectories of bullying into dating violence, domestic violence, elder abuse, workplace bullying.” Dr Deborah Green is Program Director: Bachelor of Education and Senior Lecturer in Humanities and Social Science in Education Futures at the University of South Australia. Her research focusses on students who persistently bully in spite of interventions and sanctions employed by schools to reduce this behaviour.
“We need to pay attention to those who continue to engage in bullying, and create specific individual approaches to deal with bullying behaviours that have been learned.”
“There are however, approximately 5 per cent of students who bully despite everything that schools are doing.
“We know these young people as persistent bullies, and while there are not many of them, they are highly problematic.
“If not stopped these young people can follow negative trajectories of bullying into dating violence, domestic violence, elder abuse, workplace bullying etc.
“Most schools have universal programs aimed at all children to support them in their socio-emotional development, but they do need specific approaches to target continuing bullying. Schools must work in partnership with parents to work through these complex social behaviours.
“However, none of this can be done solely by schools – it is a community issue that requires all to step up and find ways to change these behaviours.
“It is important that we develop a nationally consistent definition of bullying.”
Professor Phillip Slee (Flinders University) – “Research has clearly shown that most parents believe their schools should have a policy dealing with bullying.” Phillip Slee is a Professor in Human Development in the Flinders University School of Education. A trained teacher and registered psychologist, he has published extensively in the field of child development, bullying, school violence and stress, and has produced educational resources in the form of videos and resource packages.
“Unfortunately while 80 per cent of parents believe their child would tell them if they were being bullied, only 30 per cent of secondary students would actually tell their parents.”
“Reasons for this given by students is either they are too embarrassed, their parents would get angry, or their parents would make it worse by contacting the school.
“Research has clearly shown that most parents (78 per cent) believe their schools should have a policy dealing with bullying and most parents want to be involved/consulted in the development of such policy, as has been developed in South Australia.
“Australian and Italian research has found that adults present in the child’s social environment often have a limited understanding of digital technology use by their children and may not be proactive in understanding cyberbullying and its negative ill-health effects on children.”