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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has urged parents to take matters into their own hands if they are unsatisfied with the way their child's school handles a case of bullying.

"Parents have to exercise their responsibilities as the carer of their kids," Mr Rudd said speaking on ABC radio this morning.

Mr Rudd said ideally bullying should be sorted out between the children, and then if that did not work by the teacher or principal.

"If it comes to it then you’ve got to actually pick up the phone and talk to the parent of another kid, I would see that there’s nothing wrong with that at all."

There is lots of bullying in Queensland schools. Research suggests that about one in five students have been bullied or harassed at some stage of their time at school. This article has information about bullying at school and advice about what you can do if your child are or have experienced this kind of violence. 

Bullying has direct links to domestic and family violence. Not only does it occur within the school community, it can also occur in the home environment between siblings and by young person’s bullying a parent, especially their mother. If their mother is being subjected to abuse and violence by the other parent or partner, the likelihood of bullying by the young person may increase.

Bullying at school is when another student, or group of students, uses behaviour that is cruel or hurtful to your child. This includes someone being physically violent, making intimidation or harassing you. Harassment means ongoing verbal or physical attacks against you.

Bullying includes things like:

·         teasing

·         calling you names

·         saying things to put you down or make fun of or humiliate you

·         excluding you from groups or activities

·         making nasty comments because of your race or your sex or your sexuality

·         pushing or hitting you or being violent in some other way

·         making threats or saying things that make you or others scared

·         forcing you to do silly or dangerous things

·         damaging, hiding or breaking your things

·         demanding money or food or other items

·         belittling your abilities and achievements

·         writing mean or spiteful notes or graffiti about you or others

·         making fun of how you look

Bullying can happen in the playground, in the toilets, going to and from school or in the classroom. Bullying must be treated very seriously. It can amount to a criminal offence, when there is physical violence, intimidation or even threats made to harm you.