Friday, July 2025
Gaven, QLD – Life Ed Queensland today launches Phase 2 of its innovative Stand Up for Respect program – a bold, evidenced-based initiative designed to tackle bullying and violence head on.
The launch at Gaven State School – one of five Queensland schools selected to pilot the next stage – comes amid growing national concern over the mental toll of bullying, with children as young as 10 tragically taking their own lives.
“Bullying in Australian schools has reached crisis point,” said Taryn Black, CEO of Life Ed Queensland. “We’re seeing a sharp rise in distress among young people – linked to both online and in-person bullying. It’s not enough to tell kids to be resilient. We need an urgent whole-of-community response that includes schools, families and society at large.”
Developed in partnership with Social Marketing @ Griffith University, the Stand Up for Respect program draws on global best practice to deliver a multi-layered, whole-school program that goes beyond classroom lessons and includes:
One in three Qld children experience bullying, 52 per cent of kids aged 10 to 15 are cyberbullied and 85% of bullying is witnessed by peers. * By equipping students with the tools to act, the program helps foster a culture of upstander behaviour, confidence, empathy and stronger mental wellbeing.
Following impressive results from the 2024 pilot – including a 56% reduction in physical harm, 53% decrease in cyberbullying, and significant improvements in student confidence and peer relationships – Phase 2 aims to deepen impact and reach more Queensland communities.
“This isn’t just about stopping bullying,” Ms Black said. “It’s about helping children understand what bullying looks like, build respect and gain the courage to stand up for themselves and others. Prevention starts with education and connection.”
Life Ed Queensland also welcomed the Queensland Government’s recent $33 million anti-bullying strategy, which includes Rapid Support Squads, more chaplains in schools and a 24/7 crisis line for parents.
“It’s vital to have these supports when things go wrong,” Ms Black said. “But we’re proud to complement these efforts with a prevention-first approach – one that tackles bullying from the grassroots up.”
“It takes the whole community to foster a culture of respect so that we can give our young people the best chance to thrive.”
Member for Theodore Mark Boothman MP praised Gaven State School’s leadership in tackling bullying through proactive, evidenced-based strategies.
“Bullying no longer happens only in the classroom or playground,” Mr Boothman said.
“Technology has enabled it to follow children home – into their bedrooms, onto their devices and into their private lives.
“Creating safe and respectful learning environments is one of the most important things
we can do for our children to give them a strong foundation for positive peer relationships,” Mr Boothman said.
“It’s fantastic to see Gaven State School leading the way.”
Following the initial pilot last year, students reported feeling more confident in standing up for others, seeking help and resolving conflict. Nearly twice as many students felt they could make a difference in preventing bullying.
Teachers observed students becoming more inclusive, using respectful language, and showing a greater awareness of how their behaviour affects others. Parents also reported positive changes at home, including children setting boundaries with peers, understanding and applying consent in social settings and speaking up for themselves and others.
“We’re not just teaching kids to cope – we’re changing community conversations,” Ms Black said.
“Every child deserves to be safe, happy and supported and that’s why our approach includes students, teachers and parents working together.”
Evaluation findings from Phase 2 will be released in Term 4, with scope for a broader rollout of the program across Queensland schools.
Source:
*The State of Queensland, (Queensland Family and Child Commission), Growing up in Queensland, 2023
*eSafety Commissioner’s Research Report (Dec 2024 – Feb 2025)
*Bullying No Way
ENDS
Life Ed Queensland is the largest non-government provider of preventative health education to school children.
With the help of iconic mascot Healthy Harold, the giraffe, and a team of specialist educators, Life Ed has been empowering children and young people to make safer and healthier choices for 45 years (nationally), and 38 years in Queensland.
We work with more than 800 schools and preschools across Queensland. On average, 180,000 school children participate in our program each year.
Life Ed’s core program covers nutrition and exercise, drugs, smoking, vaping and alcohol, bullying, respectful relationships and positive mental health.
Life Ed Queensland also delivers the largest puberty, relationships and sexual health education program in Queensland primary schools, Talk About It, which reached 50,975 Queensland students last year alone.
For more information please contact:
Tracey Challenor
Media, Public Relations and Content Manager
Phone: 0417 753 971
