Afraa Kori
Bundoora’s Moetu Tawhai is fighting to stop knife crime, a painful reality she experienced as a mother and a teacher.
As a former teacher at a northern suburbs school, Ms Tawhai noticed a change in school culture and students’ behaviour.
“The shift towards incidents involving knives has been stark. Previously, issues were more about fistfights, but now there’s a worrying trend of students bringing knives for protection, often due to bullying issues that aren’t adequately addressed,“ Ms Tawhai said.
“Students today seem more direct in their interactions, and the presence of knives is a shocking new reality. It’s concerning to witness students resorting to such extreme measures.
“Social media plays a significant role in escalating conflicts among students. Moreover, systemic failures in addressing bullying contribute to a culture where students feel compelled to protect themselves and their peers.”
The breaking point came when her 13-year-old daughter recently had a knife pulled on her by another student.
“My daughter witnessed a year 10 student picking on year 7 students. After an altercation with this year 10 student, my daughter was threatened. The student told her to wait and that they would return in 10 minutes to harm her. The year 10 student then came back to school with a small machete, intending to attack my daughter. The student even recorded herself with the knife and pointed it at her, clearly intending to use it.
“She felt worried rather than scared. After the incident, she had to make reports because the student continued to threaten her by calling her friends and involving her own family. She has become very anxious and disruptive at school, constantly feeling the need to watch her back. She is now seeing a psychologist and the school’s wellbeing team and has been connected with the local police liaison working with the school.”
Ms Tawhai said more proactive measures should have been implemented to address threats before they lead to such a dangerous situation.
“While the school took appropriate action once the incident occurred, the situation should have been prevented earlier,“ she said.
She is not only frightened for her daughter’s safety but is concerned that knife crime will have long-term consequences on school environments if no one breaks the silence.
“These incidents have driven many families to reconsider their school choices, particularly impacting the sense of safety and community trust within local schools,” she said.
“The fear and uncertainty created by such incidents can lead to increased absenteeism among both teachers and students. Incidents like these can significantly impact morale and safety perceptions, potentially discouraging teachers from staying in the profession or even working at certain schools.”
Ms Tawhai has called for the state government to better support teachers, students and families affected by knife crime.
“The northern suburbs need more youth support groups and increased discussion about violence. Schools should address these behaviours more proactively, as they are not discussed enough,” Ms Tawhai said.
“We haven’t been informed of any specific support services in our area that address knife crime. It would be helpful to have resources and support services tailored to these types of incidents to assist affected students and their families.
“Schools can better support teachers by providing regular training focused on handling violent incidents and their aftermath. Creating spaces where teachers can openly discuss their feelings and concerns after such events is also crucial. Access to mental health professionals for both teachers and students would ensure that the emotional and psychological impacts are addressed properly. Additionally, schools should foster a more proactive approach to conflict resolution and prevention strategies to reduce the likelihood of these incidents occurring in the first place.”
Victoria Police said it responds to incidents and proactively visit schools to provide information to students, teachers and parents on topics relating to the law, safety, and wellbeing.
“The specific information provided varies according to local school needs. Police in the northern suburbs also run and participate in a range of proactive initiatives to support and engage with youth, including a current Whittlesea police trial targeting local young people who carry knives,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
“As part of the Safe Edges initiative, police work alongside social services to engage with these children and find out why they are carrying edged weapons. These young people are then linked in with relevant support services to keep them on the right track and out of the youth justice system.”
The Education Department was approached for comment.
