Bully, No Way!...
Bullying can have a lasting impact on everyone involved, including those who witness it. It is important we all work together to create safe and supportive communities, especially for our young people.
Karate Community is committed to helping young people and parents understand how bullying can negatively affect individuals, families and friends, and supporting positive change through education and communication.
We conduct a preventative action program that focuses on:
defining bullying
appropriate responses to bullying
preventing future bullying
providing support resources.
Our interactive workshops balance education, social inclusion, communication, controlled confrontation and scenario-based activities.
Annually, we support the The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence, which encourages Australian schools, students and communities to stand together and say “Bullying. No Way!”
Preventing bullying involves everyone talking together openly and respectfully.
Frequently asked questions…
What is Bullying?
National definition for Australian schools:
Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.
Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). Bullying behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records).
Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.
What it is not?
Behaviours that do not constitute bullying include:
mutual arguments and disagreements (where there is no power imbalance)
not liking someone or a single act of social rejection
one-off acts of meanness or spite
isolated incidents of aggression, intimidation or violence.
How can you respond to being bullied?
At Karate Community, we teach a hierarchy of escalation that includes:
breath and centering exercises
calm communication
physical withdrawal
escalation to a mature guardian (teacher, parent, friend)
mediation
where confrontation becomes physical - personal protection tactics
Where can I get help of more information?
If you are being bullied at school, the first step is to report to the relevant teacher, and then the Principal if necessary.
If you think the bullying involves behaviour that may be a crime, you should report it to relevant authorities such as local police or the eSafety Commissioner.
You can find support on many websites, including:
If you need to talk, there are always people here to listen.
