Friendly Schools Bullying Intervention Project (2000-2002)
Investigators
- Dr Donna Cross
- Dr Margaret Hall
- Dr Clare Roberts
- Dr Deidra Young
- Dr Greg Hamilton
Project Coordinators
- Erin Erceg
Outline and Rationale
The Friendly Schools Bullying Intervention Project aimed to assess the effectiveness of a whole-school intervention aimed at preventing, reducing and managing bullying in the primary school setting. This project was evaluated by following approximately 2000 students, their teachers and parents across school Years 4 and 5 during 2000 and 2001.
The Western Australian Child Health Survey found that parents and teachers identified 11% of students in Western Australian primary and secondary schools as being bullied in the previous six months (one in nine students). Given bullying often occurs out of sight of adults, the actual number of students who are bullied is likely to be higher.
International and national research has found that bullying can be reduced and managed in the school setting. However, while many schools in WA are engaged in efforts to address bullying, communication with schools during the WACHPR 1999 formative study, suggested that many are unsure of what action to take or whether strategies being used are effective. A need existed to evaluate the effectiveness of bullying prevention strategies so that schools could take action with confidence.
Key Outcomes
The major research outcome of the Friendly Schools Project was self-reported bullying behaviour. The project also assessed changes in knowledge and attitudes toward bullying and the impact of the Friendly Schools program on the mental and physical health factors associated with bullying, including symptoms of depression and anxiety, somatic symptoms and self-perception.
The Friendly Schools Project was based on the results of a year-long formative study conducted by the Western Australian Centre for Health Promotion Research in 1999 called Successful Practice in Bullying Prevention Pilot Project. This study involved the development of a set of successful practice principles for the prevention, reduction and management of bullying in schools. The principles were drawn from current evidence-based research and validated by an expert panel of international, national and local researchers and school-based practitioners in the area of bullying and behaviour management.
The major outcome of the formative study was a resource that outlined successful practice in whole school bullying prevention and illustrated ways in which WA schools have achieved successful practice, including detailed case studies of government and non-government schools from around the state.
Funding
- Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation (Healthway)
Publications and Presentations
Cross, D., Pintabona, Y, Hamilton, G., & Hall, M. (2000). A Delphi study of successful practice in the prevention, reduction and management of bullying in schools. Bentley, Western Australia: Curtin University, Western Australian Centre for Health Promotion Research.
Cross, D., & Hamilton, G. Pintabona, Y., (2000). Successful practice in the prevention, reduction and management of bullying in schools: A Delphi and interview study, Final report presented to The Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation. Bentley, Western Australia: Curtin University, Western Australian Centre for Health Promotion Research.
Erceg E., Cross D, Hall M. Friendly Schools - Year 4 Teacher Manual. Perth: WACHPR Curtin University, 2000.
Erceg E., Cross D, Hall M. Friendly Schools - Year 5 Teacher Manual. Perth: WACHPR Curtin University, 2001.
Pintabona Y, Cross D, Caputi M, Erceg E. Hall M. Friendly Schools - Health Promoting Schools Manual. Perth: WACHPR Curtin University, 2000.
Pintabona Y, Erceg E, Cross D, Hall M. Friendly Schools - Health Promoting Schools Manual. Perth: WACHPR Curtin University, 2001.
