It’s often said that children are the future. Unfortunately, this future is now under threat: around one in five children globally are struggling with a mental health issue like depression or anxiety.
At the centre of this burgeoning crisis is bullying. According to the Australian Department of Education, nearly a third of students experience bullying regularly. Whether this takes the form of face-to-face intimidation or online harassment, the behavior can be insidious and difficult for schools to combat. Educators often lack the time and resources to provide sustained support, while parents and caregivers struggle to know where to turn.
Addressing bullying therefore requires a coordinated approach that supports not only students, but the communities that guide their growth. By equipping every member of the school community with the tools, guidance, and resources they need, schools can intervene earlier, strengthen resilience, and create safer learning environments where every student can thrive.
At Workplace Options (WPO), we recognize the profound impact bullying can have on children and families. To that end, we developed Child and Family Wellbeing to provide comprehensive, integrated support for families navigating complex challenges such as bullying.
As Sarah Wood, Vice President and General Manager of Emerging Solutions at WPO, explains, “Parents don’t have to navigate bullying alone. With access to specialized support and practical guidance, we can help our children develop the confidence and connections they need to handle conflict and build healthy relationships.”
The program’s impact comes from helping students cultivate skills needed to cope with and confront bullying, including stronger self-esteem, emotional intelligence, self-advocacy, and social confidence. Parents, meanwhile, receive personalized coaching, evidence-based strategies for supporting their child, and referrals to trusted local resources when additional support is needed. Together, these interventions strengthen the entire family’s ability to navigate adversity and foster lasting resilience.
As Wood explains, “Every child deserves to feel safe, heard, and supported. When we address bullying early and equip families with the tools to navigate these challenges, we’re not just preventing harm—we’re building resilience that lasts a lifetime.”
To see how this approach can make a meaningful difference, consider the following example.
Michelle’s Story
For Michelle, an elementary school teacher and mother of two, the Child and Family Wellbeing program proved especially valuable during a particularly difficult period. She had been navigating two parallel challenges: helping her students respond to bullying at school, while also supporting her own child through a similar experience.
The dual pressure left Michelle feeling stretched and emotionally depleted. In response, a dedicated clinician provided immediate, compassionate support—first creating space to acknowledge and validate her concerns before helping her prioritise next steps for both her daughter and her own wellbeing. A flexible care plan was then developed, combining in-person and virtual counselling to ensure consistent access despite the family’s busy schedule.
Michelle’s daughter engaged well in the sessions, which focused on building resilience, emotional regulation, and confidence within peer interactions. Over time, she began applying practical coping strategies in real situations at school, showing gradual but meaningful improvements in how she navigated challenging dynamics.
At the same time, Michelle was supported in her dual role as parent and educator, receiving guidance on how to reinforce her daughter’s skills-building at home while managing her own stress and emotional load. Access to 24/7 EAP services further ensured she had ongoing support available whenever needed.
In the end, what began as a situation marked by overwhelm gradually shifted into one of structured support and renewed confidence, as both mother and daughter built the skills and stability needed to move forward.
This case illustrates the value of a holistic, family-centred approach to addressing bullying. By supporting both Michelle and her daughter through coordinated clinical care and practical guidance, the program helped strengthen resilience across both home and school environments. Rather than treating the child’s experience in isolation, the intervention recognised the interconnected nature of family wellbeing, equipping both parent and child with tools to navigate ongoing challenges with confidence.
Family Resilience: A Buffer Against Bullying
Ultimately, this integrated model reinforces a simple but powerful principle: when families are supported as a whole, children are better positioned to feel safe, develop healthy coping strategies, and build the skills needed for positive, lasting relationships at school and beyond.
Leaders can learn more about how they can help build safer school communities by visiting our wellbeing solutions page or contacting us today for more information.
