NORTH-WEST parents are being urged to question the policies that their children's schools have in place to combat schoolyard bullying and cyberbullying.
A forum at Sydenham's Catholic Regional College last Thursday outlined the dangers of cyberbullying and what people could do to put a stop to it.
The forum was organised by Keilor MP Natalie Hutchins following the death of Brimbank's Sheniz Erkan, 14, who took her own life on January 9 after being the victim of online bullying.
About 40 residents listened to representatives of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) on the issue.
A number of parents said they did not feel their children's schools were coping with bullying issues.
One mother said her son was bullied online by a fellow student but claimed that when she approached the school's principal he said he could do nothing about it. She said the principal later approached her after her son had bullied another student online.
ACMA senior education adviser Cara Webber said cyberbullying was an increasing problem for all schools.
"If their learning is affected when they come into the school gates and the teacher notices the child is not acting as they normally do, it is the teacher's duty of care to do something," she said.
"But it is your responsibility as parents at that stage to be testing the policies your school has in place. Unless you can agree with those polices it is your responsibility to say you should take your child to another school."
Ms Webber said parents needed to monitor what their children did outside school hours.
One Hillside mother said she wasn't aware her son was being bullied on Facebook. "I really don't like Facebook ... but let I let my son use it because all his friends were doing it," she said.
She had had to move her son to a new school and regretted not checking his Facebook page regularly.
Taylors Lakes resident Tenealle Hawke, who was herself a victim of bullying, told the forum students needed to make a conscious decision not to take part in bullying.
Last year she set up an anti-bullying pledge day at Overnewton Anglican Community College when senior and middle school students vowed to show their opposition to all forms of bullying.
CRC Sydenham principal Brendan Watson said his school had a zero-tolerance policy to all types of bullying.
"We have people in place to support students, like a full-time psychologist on site and an anti-bullying and discrimination officer who works with students to support them and empower them," he said.
Schools can register to be an e-smart school by visiting the Alannah and Madeline Foundation website at amf.org.au
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