Bullying

Bullying at school causes enormous stress for many children and their families, and has long-term effects. School bullying has been identified as a risk factor associated with antisocial and criminal behaviour. Bullies are more likely to drop out of school and to engage in delinquent and criminal behaviour. The victims are more likely to have higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression and illness, and an increased tendency to suicide. This paper reports on a restorative justice program that was run in a primary school in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), but whose lessons have wider application. Early intervention has been advocated as the most appropriate way to prevent bullying. This paper outlines a framework based on restorative justice principles aimed at bringing about behavioural change for the individual while keeping schools and communities safe. The aim of restorative programs is to reintegrate those affected by wrongdoing back into the community as resilient and responsible members. Restorative justice is a form of conflict resolution and seeks to make it clear to the offender that the behaviour is not condoned, at the same time as being supportive and respectful of the individual. The paper highlights the importance of schools as institutions that can foster care and respect and provide opportunities to participate in processes that allow for differences to be worked through constructively. It recommends that schools be resourced and supported to address bullying because of the debilitating effect of this problem. I n the last decade or so there has been increasing awareness that bullying is a serious, and insidious, form of violence that plagues the school system (Rigby 1996). Internationally, there are countless tragic stories to be told. There is also building empirical evidence of the consequences of bullying’s ill effects. Those who bully are more likely to drop out of school, use drugs and alcohol, as well as engage in subsequent delinquent and criminal behaviour (Farrington 1993). Children who are bullied have higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression, illness and suicidal ideation (Rigby 1998). For both, this cycle becomes an obstacle to learning, selfdevelopment and effective citizenship. The consequences affect not only the individuals themselves, and their families, but also society at large, for it is society that supports those in the justice and health care systems. In Australia, research has identified school bullying as a risk factor associated with antisocial and criminal behaviour (National Crime Prevention 1999). Early intervention has been advocated as the most appropriate way to break this cycle (Tremblay & Craig 1995). Schools may be the most appropriate institutions to focus on reducing antisocial and criminal behaviour patterns in children, while promoting health, resilience and social responsibility. Schools bring together many people who influence and support children, Australian Institute