Practitioners
Tracy Zilm
“We need to create a culture where it is not ’cool’ to use bullying behaviours and people stand up for others’ rights as well as their own...”
Background
Tracy Zilm is the MindMatters National Coordinator School Community Development. She has been involved in MindMatters since March 2001 and has developed and presented MindMatters workshops and materials to teachers, health professionals, parents and students all over Australia. Prior to this position, Tracy was Middle Schooling Coordinator, Manager of a whole school 'Learning to Learn' project and in charge of Year 9 student behaviour management at a metropolitan high school in the western suburbs of Adelaide.
Tracy, what is MindMatters about?
MindMatters is about building positive relationships at all levels. We are promoting a whole school approach to social and emotional wellbeing - creating a school community environment where everyone feels safe and valued. The resource provides tools for schools including classroom materials that deal with resilience, loss and grief, bullying & harassment and understanding mental illness.
Could you tell us more about the whole school approach in relation to dealing with bullying and harassment?
We have based our approach on the Health Promoting Schools Framework in which action needs to occur at all levels - as part of curriculum, through policy, and work in partnerships which involve all members of the school community.
Who/what influenced the direction taken in this approach?
The original MindMatters resource booklets were based on international resiliency research as well as more specifically the work of individuals such as Rigby, Olweus, Cahill and Griffiths on bullying and harassment.
What issues do you think are underlying causes for bullying, harassment and violent behaviour?
There are many. Many people use bullying behaviours to inappropriately gain and exert power. It appears to be a learnt behaviour - from sources like significant adults, other children and TV. Fear is often at the heart of bullying; fear of anything or anyone who is ‘different’ in some way and a fear of not being at the top of the pecking order. Bullying is reinforced by the boost to self-esteem and needs to be replaced with other ways to provide a feeling of importance and power.
Engaging students in this very question is a valuable activity in classrooms.
What would you suggest to young people and adults wishing to initiate positive change in their school community?
Find out what is really going on - there’s an activity for students in MindMatters that can be used. Involve everyone - gather the facts and get everyone’s perceptions. Then talk together about possible ways to make a difference, and plan their implementation. Regularly check how things are going so that you know if things are improving. Know that it will take time because it involves people changing their attitudes and the way they behave towards others.
I would also encourage people to look at ways that young people can connect with each other and their school and find positive ways to exert their power or gain recognition. Look at ways to engage students (and staff) so that they don’t feel the need to use bullying behaviour. Activate teachers’ and students’ ability and belief in the power of intervening in bullying situations.
What other initiatives are you working on to improve the health and wellbeing of young people?
We are looking at ways to engage parents in supporting the work in schools through an initiative called FamiliesMatter. Some schools across Australia are also looking at working more closely with GPs and other community health professionals. South Australia is using a MindMatters approach to empowering students to take the lead in promoting health and wellbeing in their school communities. Getting people to understand diversity is another area that is important. A CommunityMatters DVD has been produced that shows how some schools are supporting students who have diverse needs.
To find out more about MindMatters go to http://cms.curriculum.edu.au/mindmatters/
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