If you or someone you know need someone to talk to, for any reason, about anything, you can visit Headspace, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, 24 hours a day.

If you're being bullied it's important to remember there's nothing wrong with you, and there are things that you can do to stop it happening.

What is bullying?

Bullying can be physical, verbal and/or emotional, and is really about someone intimidating or exercising control over someone else in a way that makes them feel afraid or embarrassed.

It can happen anywhere: in schools, at home, at work, or in online social spaces, such as text messages, emails, or on social media and gaming.

What are some types of bullying?

Bullying can mean a range of harmful and aggressive behaviours that can include:

  • people calling you names
  • threats and intimidation
  • being teased
  • being hit or attacked
  • having rumours spread about you
  • being ignored or left out
  • having your belongings damaged or stolen
  • cyber bullying
  • workplace bullying.

Bullies might make personal or offensive comments about your appearance, your family, your religion, your race or your culture. Bullying can be motivated by fear, jealousy, ignorance or misunderstanding.

Being the target of a bully can make you feel scared or upset. In some cases it can make you so worried you can't focus on school or homework.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is bullying using digital technology, like the internet or a phone. It can include:

  • abusive texts, emails or posts
  • constant harassing messages
  • sharing inappropriate images
  • posting unkind message or images
  • imitating or impersonating others online
  • excluding others online
  • inappropriate image tagging
  • inappropriate discussions.

All bullying is bad, but cyberbullying can reach a larger audience much faster. It can be harder to escape, and messages posted publicly are hard to remove.

To find out more about cyberbullying and online safety online, visit our cyberbullying page.

Bullying at work

Workplace bullying can include things like:

  • practical jokes
  • being criticised or insulted
  • rumours being spread about you
  • being threatened with losing your job
  • being overloaded with work. 

Everyone has the right to feel safe at work without the risk of getting injured. You shouldn't be threatened, harassed or bullied at work.

If you’re the victim of workplace violence or bullying, our bullying and violence at work page has advice about what you can do and who you can contact.

How to deal with bullying

You don't have to put up with bullying - either online or in person.

It can be difficult to tackle a bully on your own. Sometimes it's hard even if you do have the support of your friends. There are things that you can do, though, and people who can help.

ReachOut spoke to some young people who had all experienced bullying and asked them what advice they would give to someone being bullied.

They all agreed that talking to someone was the thing that helped them most.

Talk to someone

Sometimes the best way to stop bullying is to tell an adult or someone in charge. You could tell:

  • a parent or guardian
  • a grandparent
  • your year level co-ordinator
  • a teacher
  • a manager or colleague
  • a school counsellor
  • another adult you trust.

Often people don't tell anyone they're being bullied because they're afraid the bully will find out. This is a natural fear, but asking for help and letting someone else know what's going on can help break the cycle.

The Bully Stoppers website has some advice on what to do and who you can talk to if you're being bullied.

Try some things yourself

  • Tell the other person 'I don't like that.'
  • Use a strong and confident voice. Even if you don't feel strong and confident, fake it!
  • Talk with the person who is bullying you (if you think it's a safe thing to do). Ask them if there is a problem that you might be able to sort out together. If you feel too scared to do it alone, ask a friend to come with you.
  • If possible, ignore the 'person' who is bullying you. When a person is ignored they often lose interest in continuing the bullying. If that doesn't work, tell someone and ask for their help.
  • Don't try to get back at the person who bullies you. It usually doesn't work, and you can end up in trouble too.
  • Hang around people who help you feel good about yourself. Friends don't bully you. They care about you and are fun to be around. You might also make new friends by caring about others.

Stand up for a friend

Some people worry that getting involved when someone else is being bullied will mean that they could end up being bullied or hassled too. However, bullying has been shown to stop within 10 seconds when bystanders take positive action. Speaking out about bullying could help other victims as well.

The kind of positive action you might take could include:

  • stepping in and saying something
  • supporting a friend
  • reporting bullying to a teacher.

These can all be powerful ways to change behaviour and show that bullying is not acceptable. The more the message gets around that bullying will not be tolerated, the more open, just and equitable your school, work or  community will be.

The Bully Stoppers website has some advice on what you can do if you know someone who's being bullied.

What else can I do?

If you are being bullied it's important to stay positive, be confident, and think about positive things, such as:

  • what do you like doing at school and away from school
  • what you are good at
  • the people who like you and care about you
  • friends away from school (eg. sport or drama).

Where to get help

There are a lot of good resources online where you can hear about other people's experiences, find people to talk to and get advice about ways to stop or reduce bullying against you or someone you know.

  • Bully Stoppers - tips for students, parents, teachers and schools about beating bullying.
  • Better Health Channel - I'm being bullied page has advice on what you can do if you're being bullied.
  • Reach Out! - resources, information and stories about bullying and what you can do to stop it.
  • Headspace - a confidential, free and secure space providing access to qualified mental health professionals.
  • Kids Helpline - call 1800 55 1800 for a free, 24-hour counselling service for people aged 5-25.
  • Lifeline - call 13 11 14 at any time of day if you or someone you know need someone to talk to, for any reason, about anything.
  • National Centre Against Bullying - bullying advice for students, parents and schools.