IEU says anti-bullying review must include staff

The IEU has called for the federal anti-bullying review to strengthen protections for school staff as well as for students.

The union’s federal branch describes the 2025 Anti-Bullying Rapid Review as “a vital step toward developing a comprehensive, community-wide approach to tackling bullying in schools”.

In its submission, the IEU stressed that “bullying, violence, sexual harassment and emotional abuse are serious health and safety issues for school staff as well as students. Employers, policy makers and school communities must set the tone that such behaviour is not acceptable in any context”.

The Review, which received nearly 1,700 submissions from students, parents, educators and advocates, aims to create a consistent national standard for addressing bullying and its underlying causes. The IEU emphasised that staff wellbeing must be treated with the same urgency as student welfare. Aggression and harassment directed at educators are not only workplace health and safety issues, but also key drivers of the national teacher shortage.

Alongside other education organisations, the IEU is advocating for a consistent national framework that tackles both the symptoms and root causes of bullying. The union’s submission outlined four critical priorities:

• Adequate school resourcing, specialist staffing, and sustainable workloads

• Genuine employee consultation and participatory planning processes

• Targeted responses to technology-facilitated abuse and deepfake harassment

• A stronger legal obligation for school employers to model inclusion and respect.

IEU Federal Secretary Brad Hayes said: “Teachers, school leaders and support staff have a vital role to play in addressing bullying. However, real progress also requires a shared commitment from the entire community to foster a culture of safety and respect, both within our schools and across broader society”.

Evidence from a recent survey of Victorian Catholic school staff highlighted the issue’s urgency. Twenty-two percent of respondents reported serious psychological injury in the past year, and more than half said their health had been affected by aggressive student behaviour. Many cited a lack of meaningful consequences and limited support, with parental aggression emerging as another significant concern.

Respondents called for clear behavioural expectations, enforceable protections, and mandated codes of conduct for students and parents. As one member put it: “We need a rigid set of rules around support for employees experiencing workplace stress… a signed code of conduct for all students and parents must be a rock-solid process.”

The union also reiterated the need for stronger employer accountability and cultural change at all levels of school governance.

The Review also draws on research calling for a “whole-school approach” to bullying prevention — one that engages students, staff, families, and the broader community. The IEU supports this holistic view, underlining the importance of shared responsibility and systemic reform.

In parallel, the union is collaborating with Monash University and the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre on a project tackling the spread of misogynistic content from the “manosphere” in schools. Funded by ANROWS, this research initiative includes a professional learning program launching in late 2025 to help educators respond to online gender-based harm and promote respectful relationships.

The final report of the Anti-Bullying Rapid Review is due by the end of 2025.

If you’re experiencing distress, contact:

• Lifeline – 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au

• beyondblue – 1300 224 636 | beyondblue.org.au.

Support for young people:

• Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800 | kidshelpline.com.au

• headspace – 1800 650 890 | headspace.org.au.