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Bullying in an Aboriginal Context

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2015

Juli Coffin ,
Ann Larson  and
Donna Cross
Juli Coffin
Affiliation:
Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health, The University of Western Australia, PO Box 109, Geraldton, Western Australia, 3561, Australia
Ann Larson
Affiliation:
Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health, The University of Western Australia, PO Box 109, Geraldton, Western Australia, 3561, Australia
Donna Cross
Affiliation:
Child Health Promotion Research Centre, Edith Cowan University, 2 Bradford Street, Mt Lawley, Western Australia, 6050, Australia
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Abstract

Aboriginal children appear to be more likely to be involved in bullying than non-Aboriginal children. This paper describes part of the “Solid Kids Solid Schools” research process and discusses some of the results from this three year study involving over 260 Aboriginal children, youth, elders, teachers and Aboriginal Indigenous Education Officers (AIEO's), and an Aboriginal led and developed Steering Committee. It is the first study that contextualises Aboriginal bullying, using a socio-ecological model where the individual, family, community and society are all interrelated and influence the characteristics and outcomes of bullying.

This paper demonstrates that for Aboriginal children and youth in one region of Western Australia, bullying occurs frequently and is perpetuated by family and community violence, parental responses to bullying and institutional racism. Addressing bullying requires actions to reduce violence, foster positive cultural identity and reduce socio-economic disadvantage.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education , Volume 39 , Issue 1 , 2010 , pp. 77 - 87
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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