- Sarah Young, from Victoria, has a nine-year-old girl who was bullied
- She said Willow had been physically and verbally attacked
- Ms Young took to Facebook to share why she thinks bullying must stop
- Willow now has self-esteem issues and is counselled
- ‘It has made her feel like less of a person,’ Ms Young said
Sophie Haslett For Daily Mail Australia
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It took a long time for Sarah Young to realise or admit to herself that there was anything wrong with her eldest child.
While Willow, nine, was often saying she had ‘tummy pains’ and regularly in the sick bay at school, little did Ms Young know that her daughter was in fact being verbally and physically bullied.
According to the mum of three, from Victoria, it wasn’t until Willow came home with bruises on her body that Ms Young and her partner knew something was seriously wrong.
Unhappy: Sarah Young, mother of Willow, nine (pictured), found out her daughter was being bullied when her husband discovered bruises on the girl’s body
Hidden: While the little girl was always saying she had ‘tummy pains’ and was often in the sick bay at school, little did Ms Young know that her daughter was in fact trying to avoid school
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‘We only found out the extent of the bullying when my husband discovered bruises on Willow’s body while she was getting changed for dance,’ Ms Young told Daily Mail Australia.
‘We knew that there was a student being mean to her, but Willow didn’t say much about it and the school didn’t notify us of it.’
But what with the bruises, and the fact that Willow was sleeping badly, acting irritably and constantly complaining she was sick, the parents knew that they needed to get to the bottom of whatever was going on.
Change: Nine-year-old Willow was sleeping badly, acting irritably and constantly complaining she was sick, but she never spoke of being bullied
Intense: But Willow was being verbally and physically bullied – she was called everything from fat, to ugly and toothless, was kicked, scratched and slapped
‘Before long, we found out she was being called everything from fat, to ugly and toothless,’ Ms Young said.
‘She had also had rocks thrown at her, had been kicked, scratched and slapped – and she also had her hair cut, leaving Willow totally fearful of school.’
As soon as they became aware of the bullying, which had been going on since prep (Willow is now in grade three), Ms Young and her partner went straight to Willow’s school and demanded that action be taken:
‘They claimed that the issue had been “dealt” with,’ Ms Young told Daily Mail Australia.
‘So we threatened to take the matter to the Department of Education. That’s when they implemented a “play plan” where Willow and the bully were segregated.
Help: As soon as they became aware of the bullying, which had been going on since prep, Ms Young (pictured) and her partner went straight to Willow’s school
Steps taken: The school implemented a “play plan” where Willow and the bully were segregated
Recovery: Since then, the mum of three says that Willow is doing a little better – she sees a psychologist and is involved with a self-esteem programme to help her to recover
Since then, the mum of three says that Willow is doing a little better. She sees a psychologist and is involved with a self-esteem programme to help her to recover:
‘She still has her days, though and I really worry about the long term effects,’ Ms Young said.
‘She has taken the bullying to heart and has many self-esteem issues stemming from it. She doesn’t sleep well at night. She takes her anger out on her brother. It has made her feel like less of a person.’
Long term: Her mother, however, worries about the long-term effects the bullying will have on Willow, as she says she still struggles some days
While the worried mother has looked into moving Willow to another school, there are currently no free spaces at the other local options.
Meanwhile Ms Young said she will go to the police if the physical abuse continues, and has recently shared a passionate post on Facebook entitled: ‘BULLYING NEEDS TO END!’.
‘My advice for any mothers struggling with children who are being bullied is to do whatever it takes to demand the school takes appropriate action.
Also, get your child some help to deal with the issues arising from bullying,’ Ms Young said.
‘It’s a tough situation to be in.’
Daily Mail Australia approached the school for comment. The school said it has taken the appropriate steps.
For help with bullying in Australia, visit Kids Helpline here.
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