The Albanian government will launch an “expert review” to eliminate bullying in schools following the tragic suicide of a child

Education Minister Jason Clare has asked state and territory leaders to help set national standards for dealing with bullying, with the Commonwealth pledging to fund a review of how best to tackle the problem.

The initiative comes after recent tragedies, including a heartbreaking one the death of 12-year-old Charlotte O’Brien.

Charlotte tragically committed suicide after suffering ruthless bullying at school in Sydney.

She wrote a letter to her parents giving the names of the children she wanted at the funeral, the names of her abusers, and urging her mom and dad to take advantage of her tragedy to prevent it from happening again.

Her final wish, which she shared with The Sunday Telegraph, was for a national system to ensure no child had to suffer as she did.

Employment Minister Murray Watt told reporters on Sunday that the Albanian government “wants to take this matter seriously.”

“Education Minister Jason Clare has written to his state and territory counterparts calling for national efforts to tackle bullying in schools,” Watt said.

“We are funding… an expert-led review of what we can do to improve procedures in schools and try to stamp out bullying.

“The simple fact is that bullying is not present anywhere, anytime, in any form, and our government is responding the same way we respond to online bullying.”

The review will assess current anti-bullying procedures in each state and territory and make recommendations for the creation of a consistent, national standard.

The aim is to ensure that wherever children attend school, they are consistently and effectively protected against bullying.

“Each state and territory does things slightly differently and we respect that there will be some differences across state borders,” Watt said.

“But I think the Australian public has made it very clear that they want greater government action and cooperation to stamp out bullying in schools and online.”

The government’s actions to implement the national framework will build on existing reforms, including new laws banning the use of social media by children under 16.

Nationals leader David Littleproud has stressed the need for reforms to tackle cyberbullying, in addition to bullying at school.

“We need to work with the states and I think all the state premiers have shown they are willing to come on board and get it right,” he said on Nine’s Today programme.

“It’s happening in schools in a physical sense, but also in a digital environment… because that’s the platform that’s the most weaponized.”

If you or someone you know is feeling depressed, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 for support.