Australian Program Cuts School Bullying by 25%

Kids in after-school care programs were getting bullied at double the rate of other students, but a simple mental health program just changed that equation.

Researchers at Flinders University in South Australia found that children attending Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) reported being victimized twice as often as the average primary school student. These same kids also reported having fewer friends and feeling less happy at school.

The discovery led Dr. Yu Takizawa and her team to bring "Big Talks for Little People" into after-school programs. The mental health education program teaches young children how to recognize their emotions, communicate better, and support each other when problems arise.

Staff members received training to spot the warning signs of bullying and mental health struggles. Armed with these new skills, they could step in earlier and help kids work through conflicts before they escalated.

The program first launched in regular classrooms in 2021 under Professor Phillip Slee. That trial showed a 25% drop in students reporting they had been bullied after completing the program.

Now the same approach is reaching the kids who need it most. After-school programs attract students whose parents work longer hours, and these environments can sometimes lack the structured support systems present during regular school days.

The Ripple Effect

The success of Big Talks for Little People shows how mental health education creates safer spaces for everyone. When children learn to understand their own feelings, they become better at understanding others.

Staff training proved just as important as student education. Teachers and care workers who can identify early signs of distress help prevent small problems from becoming major crises.

The program's expansion into after-school care fills a critical gap. These hours between the final bell and parent pickup have long been overlooked in anti-bullying efforts, even though kids spend significant time there.

Other schools and care programs can now follow the same model. The research provides a proven blueprint for protecting vulnerable students during all hours of their day.

Young people spending their afternoons feeling safer and more supported will carry that confidence into every part of their lives.