Reducing victimisation and delivering social value: a behavioural evaluation of the stand up for respect program

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and social value of the Stand Up for Respect pilot program. Stand Up for Respect was delivered as a whole-of-school bullying prevention initiative delivered in Queensland, Australia. The program aims to reduce bullying victimisation, foster respectful relationships and contribute to the long-term prevention of domestic and family violence. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods approach was used, combining pre- and post-surveys with students to assess changes in bullying behaviours and victimisation. A Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis was conducted to estimate the value of reduced victimisation, focusing on the links between victimisation and domestic violence. Findings The pilot program achieved a statistically significant reduction in student-reported victimisation and an increase in student confidence to intervene in bullying. However, no statistically significant change was self-reported for bullying perpetration according to the Olweus (2006) scale. The SROI analysis estimated a social value of $36,241, demonstrating cost savings for the Queensland community through reduced domestic violence risk. Research limitations/implications Limitations include reliance on self-reported data, short program duration and a narrow SROI scope. Future research should incorporate co-design, longer program duration, longitudinal tracking and expanded SROI calculations. Practical implications Findings support scaling the program and integrating Stand Up for Respect into broader wellbeing curricula and violence prevention strategies. Social implications Reducing bullying victimisation can contribute to safer school environments and long-term reductions in domestic violence. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by linking bullying victimisation to broader societal costs and applying an SROI framework to estimate program value. This study highlights the importance of early intervention and the potential of bullying prevention programs to drive behaviour change in school settings.