By: Surinder Jain.
The Anti-Bullying Rapid Review was announced on 16 February 2025. Expert co-chairs, Dr Charlotte Keating and Dr Jo Robinson AM lead the rapid review to look at what is working and what needs strengthening before reporting to Education Ministers with options for the development of a consistent national standard for responding to bullying and its underlying causes in schools.
A discussion was held between Dr Charlotte Keating of the Australian Government’s Anti-Bullying Rapid Review and Hindu Council representing through Better Balanced Futures. Christian and Muslim leaders were also a part of the discussion.
Hindu Council raised concerns about religious bullying happening in Government run schools in the form of coercion, religious icons and food etc. Concrete examples were given and a request was made that Religious bullying happening at schools should be in a separate category and communities be involved in dealing with them.
Examples :
A Hindu student was asked to remove their Janeyu during a swimming lesson.
A Hindu girl was asked to remove her nose piercing (a religious icon) during school hours.
A Hindu boy was coerced into joining prayers of another faith and was bullied into it.
We advised that communities should be involved in cases of a religious bullying. We also recommended that donations made by the community to place Chaplains in schools be made tax deductible.
If you have experienced other forms of religious bullying at school or have additional suggestions on how to tackle them, please send them via email to us at info@hinducouncil.com.au
