North Mandurah Primary School students learned how to defend themselves from bullies and stick up for their friends and classmates during a special anti-bullying workshop on Thursday.
The workshop was facilitated by Bully Zero Australia Foundation (BZAF) team member Michelle Murray, who used videos and role playing exercises to explain different types of bullying and their consequences.
During the sessions, Ms Murray tapped on topics such as cyber bullying, protection of personal information online, talking to strangers on the net, and how to safely step in when someone is getting bullied.
She also spoke about bullying as a crime and what penalties apply to adults who bully others.
She said the main focus of the program was on promoting an active anti-bullying attitude among the students and a generational mindset change.
Following the student workshops, Ms Murray also spoke to staff members about how to address bullying at the school and the need to put time aside to deal with students who might have been victims of bullying.
BZAF, which was created in Victoria four years ago, has grown to be one of Australia’s biggest providers of anti-bullying and anti-radicalisation programs.
Their programs are delivered by qualified teachers, like Ms Murray herself, and focus on empowering both children and adults to live a bully-free life.
Ms Murray also visited Dudley Park Primary School and Mandurah Primary this week.
For more information about Bully Zero Australia Foundation go to bzaf.org.au.