OLLIE: Hi, how are you? I'm Ollie. We're here to talk to you about bullying. Heavy, I know. For many young people, bullying is a real worry.

ODESSA: Even just the thought of bullying can cause a huge amount of anxiety for us as we move to a new school. Hi, I'm Odessa.

OLLIE: We hope this video helps you and your young people to discuss hopes, fears, and worries during this time. We always find talking helps.

ODESSA: A lot of the anxiety about starting at a new school is all about making friends.

OLLIE: Lots of children and teenagers worry about other students at their new school not liking them.

ODESSA: Many young people worry about being bullied. And unfortunately, it can be common in some Australian schools. But the good thing is this means that schools are experienced in dealing with bullying.

OLLIE: Most young people report being bullied at some stage. There are lots of different types of bullying, and lots of different ways young people can be bullied. Direct bullying means negative things are done or said specifically to your child.

ODESSA: Indirect bullying can be things like your child being excluded or left out, or having other children talk about them behind their back. Bullying can be verbal and/or physical.

OLLIE: It can be emotional, or sexual. It can even happen online, that is using phones, computers, and other devices connected to the internet. We call online bullying, cyberbullying.

ODESSA: Bullying is very serious. Children who are being bullied may be physically sick. Or they may start refusing to go to school. Sometimes, they may sleep too much or too little, eat too much or not enough, or hurt themselves.

OLLIE: If your child has ever been bullied, you know how awful it is. Sometimes, it can be really hard to know when your child has been bullied, unless they tell you themselves. A lot of young people worry, who should we talk to when things go wrong?

ODESSA: Sometimes, young people don't feel comfortable asking for help. And we might try to deal with it on our own. But young people should never have to face it alone. We should be able to go to school and be safe from bullying.

OLLIE: It can be hard to talk with your young people about bullying. But it is important we know we can talk about bullying with you.

ODESSA: Having conversations can help you and your young people understand what bullying is, the harm it can cause, and how it can impact how we feel about school.

OLLIE: Have these conversations with your young people early. You can ask questions like: Who are your friends? How do your friends treat you, and how do they treat other people?

ODESSA: What do you like about your friends? What do you need, want from friends?

OLLIE: Do you know who to talk to if you have problems with either friends or other children at school?

ODESSA: It's really important to let them know you will be there to help them if they ever have problems with friends. Ask your child questions, but encourage them to ask you questions, too. This means that if they are ever bullied, they will know they can talk to you.

OLLIE: We love to hear your stories and experiences. It breaks down barriers, and lets us know there is someone to reach out to when we need help.

ODESSA: If your child ever tells you they're being bullied, thank them for being brave enough to tell you. Also, ask them if they feel comfortable telling their teacher, school. Letting them be involved can give them a sense of power, of control.

OLLIE: But remember, if you are ever worried about your child's safety you must report it, even if your child does not want you to. Schools can help deal with bullying if they know what is going on. You might need to talk to the school, and even the police depending on the severity of the bullying.

ODESSA: Teachers are there to support you and your child. But they don't always know exactly what is going on. Make sure to keep teachers informed and share the load. Your school will have a bullying response policy they can share with you.

OLLIE: Talk to your school about how to respond to bullying. If bullying happens outside of school - like cyberbullying, or online bullying, often does - teachers sometimes cannot do anything. However, you can still talk to each other to find ways forward.

ODESSA: There are plenty of resources, websites, and services in case this happens. Sometimes, it can be hard to know where to look. We hope these links help you. And you can take time to explore. Not everything may be helpful right now, but it may be just what you need in the future.

OLLIE: Finally, look after yourselves. Share your worries with other people. And talk to your young people as much as you can.

ODESSA: None of us have to do this on our own. Teachers and family are there to help us all thrive.

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