Case Study 1 — Alex Wildman
Alex Wildman was a 14-year-old NSW student who died by suicide after years of bullying at school and online. In 2010, a NSW coroner found that the school system had failed him and called for the NSW Department of Education to revise its bullying policy.
Source: ABC News – NSW school system failed bullied teen: coroner
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-06-17/nsw-school-system-failed-bullied-teen-coroner/870740
Case Study 2 — Charlotte O’Brien
Charlotte O’Brien was a 12-year-old Year 7 student at Santa Sabina College who died by suicide in 2024. Public reporting states that her family raised concerns about bullying and its impact on Charlotte’s wellbeing.
Source: ABC News – Charlotte O’Brien report
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-27/funeral-12-year-old-charlotte-o-brien-parents-bullying-suicide/104403762
Case Study 3 — Harmony
Harmony died by self-inflicted hanging in 2020. The NSW Coroner examined her death in the context of trauma, neglect, homelessness and disconnection from education, and recommended that the Department of Education consider her case for staff training regarding school connectedness and the impact of suspension.
Source: NSW Coroners Court – Inquest into the death of Harmony
https://coroners.nsw.gov.au/documents/findings/2025/Inquest_into_the_death_of_Harmony.pdf
Case Study 4 — Chifley College Dunheved Campus / Dunheved High School
Public reporting regarding Casey Heynes at Chifley College Dunheved Campus shows the serious psychological toll that repeated bullying can take on a child. Reporting states that Casey later spoke publicly about suicidal thoughts and also referred to the suicide of a cousin after bullying.
Sources:
9News – Casey Heynes bullying report
https://www.nine.com.au/australia-news/bullying-victim-casey-haynes-says-viral-video-changed-his-life-20140630-p5sat9.html
Adelaide Now – Chifley College Dunheved incident report
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/bullied-boy-at-chifley-college-dunheved-campus-suspended-after-fighting-back/news-story/04034c89af4acc63e471b641845896fe