Growing connections
Growing connections can help prevent bullying and helps students to feel safe and supported.
For the 2023 National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence, Australian school students discuss what connection means to them, why having connections matters and how to make connections with others.
Primary students
For the 2023 National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence, Australian primary school students discuss what connection means to them, why having connections matters and how to make connections with others. Growing connections can help prevent bullying and helps students to feel safe and supported.
Growing connections: primary students
[Uplifting music plays as clips of students in classrooms play and speakers are shown talking to the camera]
Teacher 1: Australian schools come together on the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence to raise awareness of bullying prevention.
Teacher 2: This year, it’s all about growing connections, where students and teachers help to support each other so that everyone feels safe and welcome at school.
Teacher 3: By growing connections, we’re helping to prevent bullying.
Student 1: Making connections, to me, is about knowing people and checking in on them, just building relationships as a whole.
Student 2: To me, connection means feeling safe with someone and learning to understand them.
My teachers, whenever I come into class, they always ask if I’m okay, and they always welcome me into the classroom.
Student 3:I have many connections outside of school.
A big one is my circus group, which keeps me going even when I feel like I can’t do anything at circus.
Student 2: I play for a football club, and I’ve made a lot of friends there.
Student 1: Making connections with people you don’t know can seem really hard, but if you just start talking to them bit by bit, and just say hello each day, it leads to bigger conversations.
Student 4: Look into their interests, see what they like to do, be kind to them, and have fun.
Student 5: If you grow connections with someone, it could help stop bullying, by maybe explaining why bullying is bad and what we could do to help stop them from bullying others.
Student 6: Well, if someone was being bullied, first of all, I would tell them that it’s okay to speak up about bullying.
Then I’d tell a trusted adult that this person is being bullied, and I’d talk to the bully and tell them it’s not right.
Student 7: It’s okay to stand up to bullies, because bullying is never okay, and you should always try to prevent bullying in any way you can.
Teacher 1: Growing connections makes us better together. What can you do to grow connections in your school and community today?
Secondary students
For the 2023 National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence, Australian secondary school students discuss what connection that matter to them, why having connections matters, how to make connections with others and to share connections that matter them them. Growing connections can help prevent bullying and help support students who may be experiencing bullying.
Growing connections: secondary students
[Uplifting music plays. Clips of students in classrooms working together are shown. Teachers are working with the students offering support]
Teacher 1: Australian schools come together on the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence to raise awareness of bullying prevention.
Teacher 2: This year, it’s all about growing connections, where students and teachers help to support each other so that everyone feels safe and welcome at school.
Teacher 3: By growing connections, we’re helping to prevent bullying.
Student 1: Making connections, to me, is about knowing the people in your community and knowing someone to trust.
Student 2: To me, connection means finding interests, opinions and sharing yopur diversity between one another.
Student 3: My teachers, connect with me and other students by understanding that not every student is the same and we all have different support needs.
Student 4: My teachers connect with me by always asking if I'm okay in class. And if I'm ever upset, they'll come and talk to me privately if I'm comfortable with it.
Student 5: It is always right to be part of your community and feels really good when you have your community peoples talking in your own language.
Student 6: I have many connections with people on my soccer training. They show respect to each other. they help when you're stuck on something.
Student 1: For connecting with people I don't know, I would have an open mindset and accept them for who they are.
Student 7: We can make the life better if we stop bullying and make people feel safe and happy as well.
Student 2: By growing out connections with people, they'll be able to support you through tough times.
Student 8: If someone was being bullied, I would tell them to find someone they connect with and talk to them about it.
Student 1: I would make sure they're doing okay and they're seeking help from a trusted adult or parent.
Teacher 1: Growing connections makes us better together. What can you do to grow connections in your school and community today?