The role of schools
How schools can create safe and respectful environments, and how to respond to bullying.
On this page
A school that engages their whole school community to address the problem of bullying is much more likely to succeed in preventing bullying.
School leaders and leadership teams have a vital role in shaping the culture of a school and ensuring that effective policies, procedures and strategies are in place for responding to bullying and unacceptable behaviour.
Empowering students to help prevent bullying is essential and opportunities should be provided to ensure students have both a voice and meaningful involvement in school based activities that address and respond to bullying.
Research suggests that the use of evidence-based bullying prevention programs reduces experiences of all forms of bullying perpetration (cyber, traditional, and relational aggression) and schools that address family conflict and provide student academic support also report reduced incidents of bullying.
Characteristics of safe and respectful schools
Safe and respectful environments
Safe and respectful schools:
- have a whole school approach to student safety and wellbeing
- develop and promote bullying prevention policies and programs
- have a leadership team that understands duty of care requirements
- have staff that model pro-social behaviour and intervene when they see bullying or anti-social behaviour
- value the expertise of student wellbeing staff
- have clearly defined roles for responding to bullying
- ensure all staff have access to regular professional learning
- address bullying incidents swiftly and consistently.
Bullying prevention policy
Schools are required to have a specific policy that addresses student engagement, and more specifically bullying prevention.
Responding and intervention
Responding and intervention methods are clearly understood and consistently applied by all staff and are modified depending on type, severity and extent of the bullying behaviour. The whole school community is aware of these methods.
Monitoring and evaluation
Monitoring and evaluation of school policies and approaches are conducted on a regular basis, supported by detailed record-keeping and information gathering about the effectiveness of school approaches to address bullying and enable reflective practice and improvement.
Professional learning
Professional learning is valued and staff have access to a range of professional learning opportunities including online training, formal courses, mentoring, supervision and access to the leadership team.
Updated 26 March 2026
Related links
About the VIC Government
- The Premier and ministers
- Find a Vic Gov department, agency or service
- Strategies and policies
- Inquiries and royal commissions
Grants and programs
Jobs and careers
Arts, culture and heritage
Business and the workplace
- Mentally Healthy Workplaces Framework
- Portable Long Service Authority
- Victoria’s racing industry
- Workforce Inspectorate Victoria
- Liquor licensing, sale and supply
Communities
- Children
- First Peoples - State Relations
- Finding records
- Gender equality & women’s leadership
- LGBTIQA+ equality
- Multicultural communities
- Seniors Online
- Veterans support and commemoration
- Volunteering in Victoria
- Youth Central
Education and training
- Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority
- Early childhood education – information for professionals
- Kinder: Best Start, Best Life
- Education – information for parents
- Schools.Vic - information for schools
- Education grants, programs, awards and events
- PROTECT
- TAFE, training and universities sector
- TAFE Victoria
- Victorian Skills Authority
- Apprenticeships Victoria
- Learn Local
Environment, water and energy
Finance and economy
Health and social support
- Family violence reform
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- NDIS and disability services and support in Victoria
- Patient Review Panel
- Transforming Trauma Victoria
Housing and property
Law and justice
- Adoption
- Births, deaths and marriages
- Honorary justices
- Machete ban
- Safeguarding Victorians against terrorism
- Stolen Generations Reparations Package
- Victims of Crime
- Victorian Racing Tribunal
Safety and emergencies
- Emergency Recovery Victoria
- Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation
- Emergency Recovery Resource Portal
- How well do you know fire
- Fire Services Reform
- Water safety
- Marine Search and Rescue
Science and technology
- Data sharing and open data
- Data.vic - discover and access Vic Gov open data
- Developer.Vic - portal for API developers
- Go.vic URL shortener
- Vic Gov IT project dashboard
- Victoria’s free public wi-fi network
- Cyber security in the Victorian Government
Sport and recreation
Traffic and transport
- Cameras Save Lives
- Transport Fines
- Getting Around
- Transport Planning
- Transport Future
- Climate Change and transport
- Future Directions For Transport
- Transport projects
- Ports and Freight
Working in the Victorian Government
- Single Digital Presence home
- Accommodation and Library Services
- Executive employment in the Victorian public sector
- Budget, procurement and funding
- Careers in the Victorian Government
- Council and Regulator Toolkit
- Guidelines for working in government
- Join a government network
- Standards and guidelines
- VicFleet CarPool
- Victorian Government style guide