Supportive Schools
A bullying reduction program focused on the transition from primary to secondary school
In Australia bullying tends to peak twice in a school student's life - firstly between the ages of 10 to 12, then during the two years following a student's transition to secondary school. The effects of bullying can be severe; mentally, socially, physically and academically, and often persist into adulthood. While interventions to counter bullying in schools are currently considered a high priority in Australia, there is a distinct lack of successful interventions targeting the 2,600 secondary schools.
The Supportive Schools program targets four levels: the whole-school, the classroom, the individual and the home and comprises specific material for students in the transition period from primary school as well as a Whole School Manual for combating bullying in the secondary school setting.
A three year randomised trial between 2005 and 2007 found significant positive effects on bullying and school connectedness among students who received the program. The program materials are currently being prepared for market. A 2009 launch for the Supportive Schools Program is envisaged.