The Australian Human Rights Commission has urged Australians to get behind today’s National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence.

The brainchild of Bullying! No Way, this year’s theme focuses on parents and families playing a role in preventing bullying and violence.

Read more: Take a stand to stop bullying on national day of action

Eradicating notorious school yard bullying needs to begin at national level, says International expert Christina Salmivalli.

The Professor of Psychology from Finland’s University of Turku explained the key to elimination lies with bystander responsibility.

Christina, along with Professor Donna Cross, Director of the Child Health Promotion Research Centre at Edith Cowan University, addressed 100 educators about bringing an end to bullying using Finland’s KiVa program.

Considered to be one of the world’s most successful bullying initiatives, the KiVa program uses classes, group work and online games to cut bullying by half at Finnish schools.

Read more: The Key To End Bullying

You can help!

Hardly a day goes by where one or more of the media outlets have a story on a bullying incident by students to students, out of school, in school.
It seems to be getting more common and more violent and that is because, based on statistics, it is.

According to popular website Bully Blocking ( www.bullying.com.au ) bullying is anything “...psychological, emotional, cyber, social or physical harassment of one student by another at school or within the school community. This includes at school and within its grounds, in transit between school and home, local shopping and sporting centres, at parties or local parks and in cyberspace. The playground is the most common place for bullying to occur.”

Read more: Bullying Against Teachers has to stop!

WA Police will work with the Department of Education and Training as part of a two-pronged strategy to address antisocial behaviour, reduce truancy and improve behaviour at schools.

Police Minister Rob Johnson and Education Minister Liz Constable today announced a six-month trial at Gilmore College where a police officer from the Rockingham Police and Community Youth Centres will spend two afternoons a week with a select group of students known to have behavioural issues.

“The intention of this trial is to work with students to prevent truancy and improve general behaviour,” Mr Johnson said.

“This will give students the chance to get their lives headed in the right direction.

“If successful, it is possible the program could be extended to other locations in 2010, subject to a full review and consultation with Government.”

Mr Johnson said the program would also provide support for students who had experienced contact with the criminal justice system.

Read more: Police, education to work together toreduce antisocial behaviour

Parents of unruly pupils could be taken to court by teachers under plans to be announced by ministers.

The initiative will be used to support existing home-school agreements which set out what is expected of parents and their children in the education system.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls says the move is aimed at a small number of parents who disregard the agreements. The proposal will be included in the wide-ranging schools white paper to be unveiled on Tuesday. 

Jail sentence: Schools will have more power to get parenting orders which can include making parents go to classes on how to control their children. Further sanctions include a £1,000 fine and prison if they fail to pay.

\BBC education correspondent Kim Catcheside says head teachers complain that some families are able to break the rules with impunity.

Mr Balls told the Sunday Mirror: "Every parent has a responsibility to back our teachers and make sure the rules are enforced.

Read more: Court threat for pupils' parents