The Federal Government will undertake an intensive education program with schools to ensure they all have detailed plans to tackle cyberbullying, the Deputy PM and Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, said today.

In address to the National Centre Against Bullying Conference in Melbourne, she said few things endangered the learning experience of children more than bullying, which was linked to aggression, depression and suicide.

Ms Gillard said one in four students regularly faced overt and covert forms of bullying, including one in ten victims of cyberbullying.

“Our research suggests that, so far, as a community we have not got our responses right. Too often the children feel let down and in some instances believe that the bullying they experience is condoned and that they are to blame,” she said.

“Sometimes the bullying is not acted upon and, as this conference will be hearing, in around 50% of cases, schools’ responses to bullying have no effect.”

Ms Gillard said early findings of research suggested one of the ways forward was to empower students about how to become part of the solution to bullying by teaching them how to respond to bullying behaviour, how to intervene when they witness bullying rather than just be a bystander and how to report it.

She said in 2003the Australian Government and the States and Territories had produced the National Safe Schools Framework, however, it needed updating to take account of new developments.

The results of a review of the framework would be released after consideration by the Ministerial Council for Education Ministers.

“I am determined that the new framework have a more visible profile and stronger impact than its predecessor. I want school leaders, students and parents to be strongly aware of it and to adhere to its principles. I was shocked that in a survey of schools, as part of the review process, around 70% of schools were unaware of the current National Safe Schools Framework,” Ms Gillard said.

“I am announcing today that the revised framework will be linked to an intensive education campaign with schools to ensure they all have safe schools plans.

“It will also build on the publication on My School of a parent satisfaction survey data which will cover issues like approaches to bullying and safety.”