Anti-Bullying Forum Heading to Toowoomba to Build Safer Local Classrooms

Toowoomba school leaders, teachers, and community members will soon gather for a dedicated anti-bullying roundtable aimed at tackling classroom behaviour and developing local solutions for Darling Downs schools.

Following similar sessions across Queensland, including a recent roundtable in Cairns, local principals, teachers, and community leaders will gather to formulate tailored strategies for Darling Downs classrooms.

The?Crisafulli?Government?is delivering safer classrooms, with the next phase of anti-bullying plans bringing together Cairns principals, teachers and community leaders to formulate local solutions to improve behaviour in schools. 

It’s just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government tackling bullying in schools, after behaviour incidents and bullying in Queensland classrooms soared and teacher occupational violence skyrocketed more than 200 per cent from 2021 to 2024 under Labor during their decade of decline. 

The roundtable will be led by Chair of the Queensland Anti-Bullying Expert Advisory Panel Professor Donna Pendergast AM.  

Professor Pendergast AM is a highly regarded leader in education and student engagement, with extensive experience in shaping school policy and fostering positive school cultures. 
 
As part of the record $23.1 billion Education Budget, the Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start with more teachers, less red tape, safer classrooms and relief you can rely on, with the Back to School Boost increasing 50% to $150 for every primary school student next year. 

The forum in Cairns follows a successful anti-bullying roundtable in Rockhampton in May, and is part of a broader suite of measures being delivered by the Crisafulli Government, as part of the plan to deliver for the State’s education sector, which includes: 

• Establishing Rapid Support Teams, to provide expert support to schools.
• Establishing a new Anti-Bullying Expert Advisory Panel.
• Providing additional funding for chaplains and student wellbeing staff.
• Developing new and updated professional development resources for teachers and school support staff.
• Expanding access to a dedicated crisis support?hotline?Parentline, including a new Parent Navigator service.
• A statewide campaign for parents and carers of school aged children to create awareness of the new anti-bullying initiatives. 

Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek said the Crisafulli Government was tackling bullying and making Queensland safer.
 
“Bullying is a complex issue that requires a united response from schools, families, and the broader community, and it was encouraging to listen to Cairns school leaders who share my passion to stamp out bullying,” Minister Langbroek said.? 

“Today’s?roundtable was about bringing together the voices of our community to develop practical, local solutions to tackle bullying and create safer, more inclusive environments for our children.? 

“Our?approach?is?in?line with the?findings of the Australian Government’s 2025 Anti-Bullying Rapid Review, which highlighted the need for a collaborative, community-wide effort to address bullying. 
 
“The Crisafulli Government has a?zero-tolerance?approach to bullying and we are throwing everything at this, because all children deserve to feel safe and valued. 
 
“Labor’s decade of chaos and crisis left us many challenges, but already?we’ve?delivered plans to tackle bullying with rapid support teams and 169 additional workplace health and safety coordinators, including 30 for special schools.  

“We’re already seeing positive change, including an average of 8 percent fewer behaviour incidents reported by teachers since we introduced the $45 million Behaviour Boost.”

More forums will be held in Townsville, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba this year.