School Bullying Council

By Alison Caldwell

Updated May 30, 2011 22:08:00

Victorian teenager Allem Halkic killed himself after being cyber bullied. (Four Corners)

The parents of a teenage boy who killed himself after being bullied on the internet say a ruling on compensation restores dignity to their son’s memory.

Seventeen-year-old Allem Halkic received threatening text messages for several months before committing suicide.

Last month a Victorian magistrate ruled that his suicide was the result of bullying.

The perpetrator pleaded guilty to stalking charges and has been ordered to do community service.

And the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal has now ruled that Allem Halkic’s death was the result of an act of violence.

Allem’s father Ali Halkic says the most important thing is removing the stigma attached to suicides like his son’s.

“We have to understand that there are so many people out there – you’ve got children who are raped and abused, spouses who are abused by their partners,” he said.

“Unfortunately when these people take their lives, these cowards who do these things to these people walk away, because in people’s minds, they had a choice and they didn’t have to do it.”

Allem’s mother Dina Halkic says she had no idea what was happening to her son on the internet.

“I thought the internet was your friend. And you go on there and I’m sure it is. We’re not condemning the internet. But we had no idea. Nor did Allem show us any signs whatsoever,” she said.

“But what I did notice, and if I play it back, the last 24 hours is, we were downstairs and I could hear his typing. He was like typing so loud, like really like anger typing.

“And I thought, I wonder what he’s doing up there. I thought he was playing a game, like a game on the computer. And it all came to me that he was trying to – poor thing – defend himself.”

Lawyer Julia Schembri says the victim of crime application was not about compensation but acknowledgment that Allem Halkic was victimised.

“This line of compensation is available for people that have been directly involved in an act of violence,” she said.

“A related victim application is normally made by the family members left behind after a death associated with an act of violence.

“It’s not at all about the money. It’s about a recognition of Allem passing as a direct result of an act of violence rather than death by his own hand, which I think his parents would agree that was the sole reason for making this application.”

Threatening messages

Allem Halkic received over 300 text messages, one of which read: “I’m going to hit you. And trust me, the boys at your school who you think you’re so cool with … hate you. Don’t be surprised if you get hit sometime soon.”

The bully, Shane Gerada, pleaded guilty to stalking charges last year and was sentenced to an 18-month community-based order.

After Allem’s death, Gerada was interviewed in a Four Corners program about cyber-bullying.

He admitted that he wanted revenge but disagreed that he was a bully.

“No. Allem is the type, like, I always kept him out of trouble,” Gerada said.

He agreed that sending threatening messages was bullying behaviour, but defended his actions.

“Well doesn’t everybody? I’m sure when you were young you argued too. I’m sure you sent abusive messages,” he said.

The parents of Brodie Panlock have welcomed the Halkic finding.

Nineteen-year-old Brodie killed herself in 2006 after suffering relentless bullying in the cafe where she worked.

“I think it’s great they’ve got some sort of feeling that something’s being done in recognition of their son,” Brodie’s father Damien Panlock said.

“I speak to them quite often and I know they’re in pain. It’s more recent for them and being their only son it’s probably a lot harder too.”

Tougher penalties for workplace and cyber bullies are likely to be passed in Victoria’s State Parliament on Tuesday. They will be known as Brodie’s Law.

If you are experiencing difficulties with bullying contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Tags:
family-and-children, suicide, information-and-communication, internet, crime, courts-and-trials, social-media, australia, vic

First posted May 30, 2011 21:20:00

• Print

• 
  Email this
• 
  Share

• Permalink

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/30/3231123.htm?site=melbourne

Bullying is rife among teens in some areas, the survey shows.
Source: Supplied

MORE than half of all teenagers in some suburbs and country areas have reported being bullied, according to a major survey of youth wellbeing.

High numbers of young people have also admitted trying alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana.

Released yesterday, the 2010 Adolescent Community Profiles gives a snapshot of youth health and social issues for each Victorian municipality.

Bullying was a big problem in Melton, with 54 per cent saying they had experienced recent incidents.

In southeastern suburbs such as Clayton and Oakleigh the figure was around 51 per cent. The City of Bayside, which includes Brighton and Sandringham, had the lowest incidence, with less than one in three reporting recent bullying.

Smoking was popular in Whittlesea, with 53 per cent of 15-17 year olds saying they had tried it.

Teenagers in Moonee Valley, Richmond and Collingwood also had high rates of having tried smoking.

Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.

End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.

Quit Victoria executive director Fiona Sharkie said smoking rates in lower socio-economic areas were likely to be higher and children of parents who smoked were more likely to try smoking or be a smoker.

A big proportion of inner-suburban youth had tried marijuana, reaching 43 per cent in the City of Yarra.

Almost one in three 15-17-year-olds in Wodonga had also experienced the drug. More than half of 12-14-year-olds in Frankston and regional areas such as Geelong and the Central Goldfields said they had tried alcohol.

The percentage of 15-17-year-olds who had had sexual intercourse varied considerably, from around 10 per cent in Greater Dandenong to almost 40 per cent in the Geelong region.

In Latrobe City Council’s region, which includes Moe and Morwell, there was the highest rate of teenagers having babies – 28.3 babies for every 1000 people.

State Higher Education and Skills Minister Peter Hall said the profiles identified areas of strengths and weaknesses.

“They are designed to guide decision-making across government so we can more effectively set priorities and allocate resources,” he said.

The Adolescent Community Profiles include data from the Victorian Adolescent Health and Wellbeing survey of more than 10,000 students.

Netlink: education.vic.gov.au

For more on the half of Australian youth who are being bullied go to the Herald Sun.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/most-teens-bullied-study-shows/story-e6frf7l6-1226055700790