Report distresses Jones

‘More needs to be done’ for young victims

THE Education Minister has conceded “more work needs to be done” to curb bullying at schools, but maintains additional government support is making a difference.

The Bulletin yesterday revealed the extent of bullying at a northern Gold Coast school where children were allegedly hit, verbally abused and told to kill themselves.

In an address to the media yesterday, MP Kate Jones said the school in question, Pimpama State Secondary College, had put in place a number of measures to help children since the start of the year.

“As a mother and minister for education it’s always deeply distressing for me to hear any stories of young people that are that distressed (they would commit suicide),” she said. “I can assure all Gold Coasters that additional support now is at Pimpama State College.

“This includes putting on an additional deputy principal whose sole focus is on student wellbeing and providing that additional support.

“They’ve also made a decision at a school level to increase the number of school counsellors available at the school. There is also additional school counselling hours.”

Ms Jones said she was aware of the school’s growth and that $20 million was being invested there over the next two years, $6 million of which would go towards new classrooms. She said every school had a responsible behaviour plan in place.

“We have more support in schools than we have ever had before, but clearly more work has to be done.”

Lesley Podesta, the CEO of anti-bullying group Alannah and Madeline Foundation, said one in five children experienced bullying at school, but it was possible to change that statistic through a whole-of-community approach.

“The school in question sounds under stress,” she said.

“It’s about a school community (and) modelling the sort of behaviours you expect.”

She said she hoped more Queensland schools would take up the anti-bullying programs the foundation provided.