13/08/2026
What is the definition of Bullying? 🤔
“Repetitive behaviour with the intent to cause harm & isolate a person when there is an imbalance of power.”
But why are so many MP’s, Queensland Department of Education representatives & school hierarchy sharing posts recently “explaining” this to the community?
Because of liability & to pigeon hole bullying so that when victims attempt to report a “bullying” incident, if the incident doesn’t tick specific boxes of what defines bullying, then it will be dismissed and the schools/QDOE Anti-Bullying policies and procedures won’t apply; therefore shifting the responsibility away from them and not affecting the Bullying Incident analytics.
I myself had the Principal of YSHS try to use this very definition against me and to try and discredit my daughter, but I countered his counter.
Don’t be mistaken, this is designed to work against victims and their families not for them, so be prepared to have this used to discredit the incident if it doesn’t tick the specific boxes of the definition.
1️⃣ REPETITIVE behaviour: A one off incident is not considered bullying, even if that incident leads to a child being assaulted. The victim will be referred to the police and the school will wipe their hands of it.
2️⃣ INTENT to cause harm or isolate: A bully can actually claim that they “Didn’t mean (intend) to hurt” another student and therefore the incident may not be recorded as a Bullying incident if at all.
3️⃣ IMBALANCE OF POWER: If the Bully is younger, smaller, has a learning disability, they are not considered a Bully as there is no “imbalance of power”.
All of these points need to be proven by the bully, but when you have a principal and DOE policies working in your favour, it makes this fairly easy.
Has anyone else had this statement said to them when reporting Bullying incidents? If so, did that make you feel supported in having your concerns for your child addressed, or like you were fighting an uphill battle.