Safe Schools Hub for Parents

What you can do

Talk with your child

Discuss issues and instances of harassment and discrimination with your child from an early age to develop in them a sense of fairness and social justice. When you see examples in the media, explore them in detail and encourage your child to think of better ways in which the situation could have been handled, or how the person affected could have been more positively treated. Explain that you expect them not to be the sort of person who will discriminate against or harass others.

Stress the importance of not using disrespectful language about others. Discuss with your child the importance of avoiding the use of disrespectful terms that insult others (sometimes unintentionally) on the basis of race, colour, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, personal circumstances and so on. Gently remind them to use respectful language when you hear them speak otherwise.

Talk about the law

Discrimination and harassment are not only wrong – they are illegal. The following laws operate at a federal level:

• Age Discrimination Act 2004
• Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986
• Disability Discrimination Act 1992
• Racial Discrimination Act 1975
• Sex Discrimination Act 1984

States and territories also have laws against discrimination. For more information, go to the Australian Human Rights Commission website.

Model positive social values and behaviours

Your children look up to you. How you behave towards others and the levels of tolerance you show affect how your children later behave. If you are tolerant of others and rail against discrimination, your child will take these cues and begin to behave in the same way. If you tell racist or homophobic jokes, you are giving them the message that it is acceptable to put someone down in this way.

Encourage your child to report the behaviour

If your child is being harassed or discriminated against, it is very important that they report the behaviour to someone who could help. They could choose someone whom they feel they can trust and who can either help them resolve the problem themselves or follow up the issue on their behalf.

Work positively with your child’s school

By working with your child’s school, you can help make it more supportive and respectful for all young people and adults. By considering the bigger picture of how the school operates, such as having input into policy making, playground design or other committees, you become part of creating and maintaining a safe and supportive environment.

Find more ideas to help you in the section Connecting with your child’s school.

Other contacts

If the problem occurs outside school hours or if your child would prefer to talk to someone who is not linked to the school, they can phone:

• The Kids Help Line 1800 551 800
• Lifeline 13 11 14

Find out more

You will find more information on rights and resources at the following websites:

• ACON^
• Anti-Hate
• Australian Human Rights Commission
  • Information for students
  • A guide to Australia’s anti-discrimination laws
• Bullying. No way!
• Something In Common
• youth beyondblue

Also, visit the Equal Opportunity Commission or Human Rights Commission websites for your state.

• New South Wales

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