"It's Just Teasing": Responding to conflict in remote Australian schools

Schools classified as very remote – and where either Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students make up most of the school population – face several challenges. The Remote Education Systems project brief was focused on schools in places classified as 'Very Remote Australia' by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Bullying and anti-social behaviours at school are national and international issues with between one-sixth to half of all students in Australia experiencing bullying at school. In central Australian Aboriginal English, the term 'teasing' is used to cover the senses of both 'teasing' and 'bullying' in Standard Australian English. Strong families are the foundation on which educational advantage can be achieved for remote students. 'MindMatters' is an example of a resilience building programme introduced to remote schools in South Australia and the Northern Territory. Parents, community members, and school staff generally want school to be a safe place for children to learn and socialise together.