The Federal Government has allocated $10 million to combat school bullying, with new national standards set to require schools to address bullying complaints within 48 hours of being reported.

Education Minister Jason Clare unveiled the Anti-Bullying Rapid Review in February. The initiative aims to assess the effectiveness of current responses and prevention strategies in tackling school bullying, while identifying areas that need improvement.

This review was prompted by findings from the eSafety Commissioner, which revealed that 53% of young Australians have experienced cyberbullying.

“Early intervention can prevent further harm and stop the behavior from persisting,” Clare emphasized.

The review gathered input from over 1,700 submissions, including feedback from parents, students, teachers, and staff. It recommended that schools should address bullying incidents within two school days.

“Many parents expressed concerns that some schools were too slow in responding to bullying complaints,” Clare noted.

The Federal Government’s under-16 social media ban is set to come into effect on December 10, which the review expects will also drastically help in reducing cyberbullying.