Australian school guidance
What schools are responsible for when bullying is reported
Schools should respond to reported or observed bullying through safety action, investigation, support and review. The precise legal and policy pathway depends on the state or territory, school sector and facts of the situation.
Reviewed against official Australian sources - 14 August 2026
What matters most
- Schools have a duty to take reasonable care for student safety.
- Australian schools are required to have and follow a bullying policy.
- The National Framework expects reasonable efforts to initiate a response within two school days.
- Disability, race, sex and other protected attributes may engage discrimination law.
A response should begin with safety
- Check immediate physical and psychological risk.
- Provide a trusted contact and practical protections.
- Record and assess the report without making the young person repeatedly retell it.
- Investigate fairly while keeping protections in place.
- Support all students involved and review whether the behaviour has stopped.
The two-school-day expectation
The 2026 national implementation material expects school systems and schools to make reasonable efforts to initiate a response within two school days of becoming aware of bullying. This means beginning appropriate action; it does not mean every investigation must be completed within two days.
When other laws may apply
Bullying connected to disability, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, intersex status or another protected attribute may also raise discrimination issues. Sexual harassment, assault, stalking, threats, intimate-image abuse or extortion may require a separate safeguarding, police or eSafety response.
Use the correct complaint pathway
Public, Catholic and independent schools have different governing and complaint pathways. Start with the school's policy unless the concern involves the principal, staff misconduct, possible abuse or contacting the school first would be unsafe. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Take the next safe step
Use the tools, not just the information.
The main guide includes private questionnaires, an incident log, state pathways and complete copyable emails.
Official references
Sources used for this guide
- Australian Government anti-bullying rapid review
- Bullying No Way - Australian policy and legislation
- Disability Standards for Education 2005
- Australian Human Rights Commission complaints
General educational information only - not legal, medical or counselling advice. Requirements and available pathways can differ by school sector, state or territory and the facts of the situation.