Help Near You

There are many services available in your community that can help you deal with a bullying problem. Here is a list of community support agencies, and a list of programmes and resources for teachers, parents and caregivers (below).

Community Support Agencies

There are counselling and support agencies in your area who may be able to give you additional advice or information to help solve bullying problems.

• Citizen's Advice Bureaux - listed in your telephone directory
  
  
• Lifeline -

  Whangarei - 09 437 5055
  Auckland - 09 522 2999
  Waikato - 07 838 0719
  Hawkes Bay - 06 835 3300
  New Plymouth - 06 758 6333
  Wairarapa - 06 379 8442
  Nelson - 03 546 8899
  Marlborough - 03 578 2333
  Timaru - 03 684 4666
  Christchurch - 03 366 643
  Dunedin - 03 474 9111
  Invercargill - 03 214 4889
  
  

• Kidsline - trained 6th & 7th form Buddies provide telephone support for 9 - 13 year olds, weekdays 4pm - 6pm, ph 0800 Kidsline, 0800 543 754, Auckland 09 522 4223, Christchurch 03 366 3661.
  
  
• Office of the Commissioner for Children - Ph (04) 471 1410
  
  
• Ministry of Youth Development- Ph (04) 471 2158
  
  
• Safer Community Councils - listed in your telephone directory under your City Council
  
  
• Victim Support - listed in your telephone directory or phone your local Citizens Advice Bureaux or local Police.
  
  
• Samaritans - Listed in the white pages under "S"
  
  
• Youthline - telephone counselling for young people (10 - 25) by young people, daily 4pm - 11pm, ph 0800 37 66 33 (Wellington call free)
  
  
• What'sUp - counselling service for 5 - 18 year olds, daily noon to midnight, ph 0800 What'sUp, 0800 942 8787

Programmes and resources for schools and care-givers
A range of programmes are available for schools and care-givers through government and private agencies.

Police Youth programmes include:

• Kia Kaha (Stand Strong) - an anti-bullying programme taught by police education officers, in partnership with teachers, to students in Years 0-13. Contact your police station for details.
  
  
• Keeping Ourselves Safe - a positive personal safety programme for primary and secondary schools, introduced by your local police education officer. Contact your police station for details.
  
  
• DARE Skills for Life - a series of resources for young people and parents. Contact your local police station or the DARE Foundation for details.

Other programmes and information:

• Eliminating Violence - Managing Anger - a Group Special Education programme. The programme uses a whole school approach to develop effective non-violent strategies for teachers, students and the surrounding community. Contact your local Group Special Education Area Manager for details. www.ses.org.nz
  
  
• Cool Schools - Peer Mediation in Primary and Secondary Schools. Aotearoa/New Zealand Foundation for Peace Studies. Contact: Yvonne Duncan Ph (09) 373 2379.
  
  
• Students Rights at Schools - an information kit available from the Office of the Commissioner for Children.
  
  
• Skills for Growing, and Skills for Adolescents: Lions-Quest Life Skills NZ Incorporated, Phone 0800 800 353.
  
  
• Contact your nearest Rotary club to see what youth orientated programmes they are running.
  
  
• Reaching Out, and Reaching Forward: social skills programmes for primary school pupils.
  Child Development Foundation Ph: (09) 520 6512 or 0800 438 233. Ask for Gaye, the Director.
  
  
• School counsellors - most secondary schools have trained counsellors available to help.
  
  
• Visiting teachers - trained counsellors who work in primary schools - contact the Ministry of Education for details.
  
  
  
  
• Australia Kids Help Line - the Kids Help site has information for kids, parents and schools about a range of subjects including bullying. www.kidshelp.com.au