RECOMMENDATIONS from the Catholic education sector on how to deal with the rise of cyberbullying in schools will be considered by a new Queensland Government task force.
Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director Dr Lee-Anne Perry was announced as one of the 14 members of the Queensland Anti-Bullying Task Force, which will make recommendations for community and government action to reduce the incidence of cyberbullying.
Increasing reports about cyberbullying among teenagers, in particular the suicide of teenager Amy “Dolly” Everett, prompted Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to address the issue across the state.
Dr Perry was previously invited to a roundtable discussion on bullying and cyberbullying hosted by Ms Palaszczuk on January 29.
Following the roundtable, Dr Perry told The Catholic Leader she supported the Premier’s decision to set up the task force.
She said Catholic schools were already mindful of the rise of bullying among students and could offer the task force a range of strategies to assist parents, staff and students.
Dr Perry said her concern about cyberbullying was its omnipresent nature that could “go with a young person everywhere”.
“It’s that 24-hour exposure to destructive comments that is really harmful,” she said.
The task force is due to deliver its report to the Queensland Government by August 31.
Other members of the task force include Tracy Adams, who is chief executive officer of YourTown, an agency of the De La Salle Brothers; 2017 Queenslander Young Australian of the Year Taj Pabari, and Queensland Teachers’ Union president Kevin Bates.
Author and journalist Madonna King will chair the task force.
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