National Week of Action Against Bullying

This week marks the National Week of Action Against Bullying, a time when Australian communities unite to acknowledge and promote efforts to reduce bullying in our schools and broader society. The theme for this year, "Everyone Belongs," underscores the vital importance of human connection and kindness towards all, regardless of background. Our school is a reflection of this diversity, offering us a unique culture that we have the opportunity to celebrate every day.

The recent Olympic Games gave us numerous moments of joy and showcased the best of humanity. However, they also reminded us that there is still much work to be done as a society. Many of us witnessed the performance of Rachael Gunn, known as ‘B-Girl Raygun,’ and saw the harsh criticism she faced on social media.

Raygun has been at the centre of worldwide ridicule over the past week, with countless memes, media commentary, and a general public sentiment that they could have done better. This wave of bullying could have had serious consequences for her and may yet still have an impact on her mental health when the dust settles.

Amid all this negativity, I was impressed with the response of the Australian Olympic Team. They did what many of us failed to do—they supported her and stood by her.

Our most successful Olympic team in history showed their solidarity before the closing ceremony. Raygun received a champion's reception, carried on the shoulders of some of our Olympic rowers and honoured with a guard of honour made by her fellow athletes.

Let's reflect on the actions of our athletes—a teammate of theirs showcased breakdancing moves and embraced her individuality on the world's biggest stage, only to become the target of widespread mockery. Instead of leaving her to face it alone, they rallied around her, making her feel like a winner, a teammate, and a valued member of the family.

This is the kind of humanity we should all aspire to—lifting up a friend when they fall, helping others not because it benefits us, but because it's the right thing to do, standing up for what is right, and calling out what is wrong.

As a school community, I urge all students to stand up against bullying and refuse to be bystanders. We need our young people to be strong enough to call out bullying, harassment, and exclusion. We can learn a lot from our Olympic athletes.

Mr Chris Shelton

Assistant Principal