When students dream of higher education, they dream of opportunity and discovery; of finding themselves, their passion, and most importantly, their people. Yet for many students across Australian campuses, the reality is far less idyllic—marked instead by a growing bullying epidemic that threatens their wellbeing, academic success, and entire futures.
In just five years, research shows that bullying complaints have surged dramatically—with reports of school-aged cyberbullying alone soaring by 456 percent between 2019 and 2024. Overall, studies suggest that at least one in three young people—from as young as 16 up to 24—experience bullying during their school years. This, despite decades of extensive anti-bullying policies in place and countless initiatives aimed at “raising awareness” and “putting an end to bullying.”
The issue lies in how bullying is so often treated—as a disciplinary problem, left entirely to those who discipline or are disciplined to resolve. But everyone has a part to play in standing up and saying no to bullying, and only by acknowledging this can universities begin to mount a meaningful fight against it.
Bullying Prevention 101: What Universities Need to Know
As in the workplace, bullying is less a matter of policy and more a matter of culture. Policies alone—no matter how clear or well-crafted—do little to prevent bullying in practice. What does make a difference is a culture of informed, supportive, and active bystanders.
When a community can hold itself accountable—when everyone sees themselves as an active participant with a shared responsibility to protect one another, and consequently themselves—abusive, hostile behaviours begin to lose ground. The social conditions that enable such behaviour—like isolation and insecurity, for instance—start to fade, and the consequences of acting harmfully become clearer and loom larger in the mind of would-be perpetrators.
Achieving this level of accountability requires collective engagement in anti-bullying efforts. That includes not just campus wellbeing teams or disciplinary offices, but academic staff, student leaders, administrative personnel, and—most importantly—the students themselves.
Research supports this whole-campus approach. By equipping all members of the campus community with the tools to “Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up,” as this year’s Bullying No Way Week theme encourages, institutions can reduce bullying behaviours by up to 30 percent, and victimisation by as much as 20 percent.
It’s all a matter of creating a safe, connected, and inclusive campus culture. There is no excuse for bullying, but there are logical explanations. When students feel threatened, insecure in their identity or social standing, isolated, or emotionally unsupported, the risk of bullying behaviour increases.
In contrast, when students feel that they belong—when they have trusted relationships, access to support, and a sense of emotional security—they’re more likely to manage stress and emotions in healthy ways. A community rooted in kindness and compassion ensures this—empowering students to proactively maintain their wellbeing, build self-esteem, and treat others with respect.
Creating such a culture is no easy feat and demands comprehensive tools and informed strategies to bring it to life. Fortunately, Workplace Options (WPO) offers a range of solutions designed to help institutional leaders foster safe supportive environments for students, where everyone can thrive.
4 Resources to Help Campuses Put an End to Bullying
The first and paramount step toward creating a safe and supportive campus community is educating the community on how to be just that. Research shows that students and academic staff too often fail to receive any real guidance or training on how to recognise, respond to, or prevent bullying—and often lack the emotional intelligence or self-regulatory skills needed to protect themselves from hostile behaviours and avoid engaging in those behaviours themselves.
With WPO’s extensive catalogue of global learning solutions—featuring training sessions on topics related to personal wellbeing (e.g., stress management, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence) and community wellbeing (e.g., “Discovering Unconscious Bias,” “Responding to Bullying and Harassment,” and “Creating a Culture of Support”)—institutional leaders can equip their campus community with the information and skills they need to:
- Understand the root causes and contributing factors of bullying
- Recognise harmful behaviours and intervene safely and effectively
- Manage their own stress and wellbeing in healthy, constructive ways
- Contribute to a more inclusive and respectful campus culture
Studies show that when students and academic staff receive proper training on how to recognise subtle forms of bullying, navigate and de-escalate conflict, and offer appropriate support, they are more likely to intervene in bullying situations—and do so more effectively.
As the managers of the classroom—and, in a way, of the broader campus body—teachers, professors, and all academic staff play a vital role in fostering a safe and respectful campus environment. But like any first responders to sensitive or high-stakes situations, they require ongoing support to ensure they feel confident and prepared to step in when needed, while also safeguarding their own mental wellbeing.
With Advisor Assist, WPO’s institutional equivalent of Manager Assist, academic personnel receive in-the-moment, expert guidance on how to navigate the more challenging, interpersonal aspects of managing students—from recognising signs of distress to addressing conflict, bullying, and other behavioural concerns with competence and care.
Bullying can take many forms—and it’s not always easy for educators to determine what constitutes bullying or how and when to intervene. With ongoing support to help them navigate each situation thoughtfully and effectively, teachers are better equipped to create a campus environment where bullying is clearly and consistently addressed, where students feel seen, safe, and supported—and where harmful behaviours are far less likely to take root.
If bullying is often a product of insecurity and isolation, the antidote is connection and a strengthened sense of belonging. With peer networks or affinity groups, campus leaders can cultivate just that.
New research shows that supportive peer relationships play a central role in mitigating bullying and psychological distress—for many reasons:
- They foster belonging and inclusion – helping students feel seen, supported, and less alone, thereby making them far less likely to engage in bullying behaviour.
- They strengthen protective social ties – reducing a student’s risk of being targeted, increasing the likelihood they’ll be defended if they are, and weakening the social and psychological power of aggressors.
- They empower students to speak up – building students’ confidence, sharpening their advocacy skills, and fostering a collective voice strong enough to challenge harmful behaviours and shift campus culture.
- They promote empathy and kindness – encouraging open dialogue, reinforcing shared responsibility, and normalising inclusive, compassionate behaviour.
- They increase visibility and accountability – empowering students to report concerns, prevent bullying from going unnoticed or unchecked, and thereby create a culture where harmful behaviours are never tolerated.
The Center for Organizational Effectiveness, powered by Workplace Options, offers evidence-based, step-by-step guidance to help institutions build and sustain strong, effective peer support networks. By prioritising peer connection and leveraging peer-to-peer support, institutional leaders can foster a close-knit campus community ready to take swift, collective action against bullying—and reduce the very conditions that so often give rise to it in the first place.
Whether the goal is to address the causes of bullying or its impact, no anti-bullying imitative is complete without comprehensive psychological support.
Especially in a campus setting, bullying is often less the result of profound moral failing and more a reflection of poor emotional intelligence and self-regulation. When students struggle to maintain their own mental wellbeing, that inner distress can quickly turn outward—manifesting as hostility or control-seeking, driven by the unconscious mindset of, “If I can’t feel good, no one can.”
Addressing bullying at its source means equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to recognise and respond to their own mental health needs. That includes distinguishing between feeling and fact, letting go of harmful perceptions or projections, identifying and avoiding emotional triggers, and cultivating healthy coping strategies to manage stress and maintain wellbeing.
Similarly, when victims are able to process the incident, unpack and address resulting emotions, and take positive steps to rebuild confidence, regain composure, and restore their wellbeing, the potential long-term effects of bullying—such as chronic mental health issues, social or academic difficulties, and lowered self-esteem—can be largely avoided.
With Student Assist, WPO’s dedicated student support program, students receive the comprehensive care they need to maximise their wellbeing. This includes round-the-clock access to certified coaches, licensed counselors, and experienced work-life specialists who provide personalised guidance to help students confidently address their emotional, social, academic, and practical needs.
Whether it’s help with simply managing stress or navigating interpersonal conflicts, Student Assist cultivates the skills, awareness, and resilience students need to overcome obstacles and maintain strong wellbeing.
It Takes a Village
Bullying is a complex challenge, rooted in individual struggles and community dynamics alike. But while complicated, it is not inevitable. By embracing a whole-campus approach—one that moves beyond policies to foster a culture of connection and empathy—universities can create environments where every student feels safe, valued, and supported.
The resources highlighted here—comprehensive education, expert support for academic staff, strong peer networks, and accessible psychological care—offer practical pathways to turn that vision into reality. When campuses commit to these strategies, they not only help prevent bullying, but also equip students with the resilience, sense of connection, and skills they need to thrive.
Saying “No Way” to bullying means saying “Yes” to a future where every student can explore their passions and pursue their dreams—free from adversity, fear, or doubt. And that future starts with creating a campus culture that empowers and protects.
Take the next step toward a kinder, safer campus. Connect with us today.
