Bullying No Way: National Week of Action
Theme for 2025: “Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up.”
This year’s theme underscores how taking action requires courage and community support. As the official description reads:
“It takes courage to spark change. Bullying is everyone’s responsibility. It takes a community to be brave and address bullying behaviours, within and beyond the school gate…”
Students are encouraged to be bold and report bullying, be kind by offering support, and speak up by standing up on behalf of others. Every student, teacher, parent, and community member play a role in creating environments where everyone belongs.
What is bullying and what are the impacts?
Bullying is repeated behaviour by an individual or group exploiting power imbalances to harm, humiliate or exclude another person. It can be physical, verbal, social (relational), and includes online or cyberbullying.
Rates of bullying remain alarmingly high: a 2025 survey found that nearly 47% of Australian children experienced bullying, with 16% encountering cyberbullying—and 7% of those affected considered suicide.
Bullying can cause serious effects, such as increased anxiety, depression, low self-esteem; feelings of isolation, and social withdrawal; and in some cases, self-harm and suicidal ideation.
Signs of Bullying & Its Forms
So, what are some of the signs to look out for? Some signs which may indicate bullying is taking place may be sudden avoidance of school or class, physical symptoms (e.g. headaches, stomach aches), emotional changes: increased sadness, anxiety, or mood swings, decline in academic performance or withdrawal, and reluctance to use devices or unexplained absences from screens.
There are also different forms of bullying which include physical: hitting, pushing, damaging belongings, verbal: name‑calling, teasing, threats, social/relational: exclusion, spreading rumours, ostracising someone, and cyberbullying: hurtful messages via social media, texts, or group chats.
Why Speaking Up & Having Tough Conversations Matters
Silence protects bullies—not victims. Speaking up can break cycles and build safer spaces.
Courageous bystanders who intervene can shift the balance of power.
Tough conversations—although uncomfortable—help unpack beliefs, behaviours, and training on empathy.
Adults leading dialogues set a tone: schools and families that talk openly about conflict, respect, and kindness are more effective at preventing bullying.
Encouraging students to say: “That’s not okay,” offering support, or seeking help from trusted adults are simple but powerful ways to act. Surrounding youth with strong relationships and open communication lays the groundwork for meaningful change.
Wrapping Up
Bullying No Way Week 2025 isn’t just about awareness—it’s a call to collective action:
Boldly name and confront bullying when you see it.
Kindly support those affected.
Speak up to shift culture whenever possible.
When every member of the community—students, teachers, families, organisations—takes responsibility, we move closer to schools where everyone belongs, and bullying has no way.
Let’s join together this year from 11 to 15 August and every day, to ensure that “Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up.” becomes the action, not just the slogan.
If you or someone you know is struggling, contact our team at Minding Family Townsville to find out how we can provide further support.
Please contact us on 47238221 to discuss pathways for referral.