Dr Ken Rigby OAM National Centre Against Bullying

National Centre Against Bullying

Dr Ken Rigby is “Australia’s foremost expert in effective prevention and intervention on bullying in the world”. He was born in Lancashire, England, and emigrated with his wife, Jean, in 1959 to Australia where he became naturalised. Since then he has helped to populate Australia to the tune of four children, 14 grandchildren and (to date) three great-grandchildren. Ken is an Adjunct Professor (Research) in the School of Education and the Hawke Research Institute at the University of South Australia. He is a long term member of the National (Australian) Centre Against Bullying (NCAB – See www.ncab. org.au). After completing an Honours degree in Economics and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at the University of Leicester, England, he taught in high schools for 10 years, first in Essex, England; then in Tasmania and South Australia. He gained a PhD in Psychology at the University of Adelaide and was registered as a psychologist in South Australia. From 1969 to 1996, he was employed as a lecturer in psychology and research methods at the University of South Australia. His work has focused mainly on bullying in schools. He undertakes research, provides workshops for teachers and parents, speaks at conferences, periodically acts as a consultant for government bodies and produces books, questionnaires, DVDs and podcasts on bullying designed to assist teachers and parents. Since 1990 he has contributed more than 100 publications addressing different aspects of the study. Ken was presented with an award in June 2012 by the Australian National Centre Against Bullying (NCAB) “in recognition of a lifetime’s work dedicated to reducing bullying and enhancing the wellbeing of young people”. In June 2020, Ken was awarded the Medal (OAM) in the General Division of The Order of Australia of the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours List “for services to Education and to the wellbeing of young people”. Ken spoke with us recently via an email interview.

Vital Stats: Full name/Qualifications/ Accreditations

Ken Rigby, BSc (Econ) Hons (London); Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Leicester University); PhD (Psychology (Adelaide University).

What did you study at university?

Economics, Education, Psychology.

What did you learn during your tertiary education – not just academically, but what ideas did you form and what perceptions? Did any of your views change significantly when you went to university?

I learned to be more analytical and concerned with evidence – and less prone to believe what I wanted to believe. My basic views did not change much.

What is your earliest memory of having an interest in your field?

I observed and experienced some bullying in primary school. In 1990 I became aware of research being conducted into school bullying and heard the claim being made by the foremost researcher in the field, Professor Dan Olweus from Norway, that the prevalence of school bullying could be greatly reduced and a great deal of human misery thereby eliminated.

What has been your pathway since graduating? What was your first job after graduation and how did that job prepare you for your later positions? Any lessons learnt?

My work before going to university was significant – two years of National Service in the

Royal Navy resulted in greater recognition of my own personal inadequacy in the face of bullying and an increased dislike of institutional authority. My PhD focused on attitudes to institutional authority. After graduating, I was a teacher for 10 years in schools in England and Australia. This helped me understand better how schools operate and motivated me to examine, through research somewhat later, how children can be helped when they are being victimised by peers.

What are your goals and what are you ultimately trying to achieve?

I hope to improve the understanding of people regarding bullying, the serious harm it can do and how it can be best addressed in schools.

Who has been the biggest influence on your life and what lessons did that person teach you?

Being married for over 60 years to a caring wife and having four remarkably good children. The most important lessons have probably been to count my blessings and to make me more aware of my numerous faults.

What were some of your major milestones?

Getting married; having kids; graduating; and getting published in my field – and being recognised through the award of an OAM for the contributions I have made.

What have you been most proud of in your career?

I don’t think I am particularly proud of anything, just glad that most things have turned out pretty well.

What are some of the greatest challenges in your work and how did you overcome them?

Teaching effectively and writing for publication. As a teacher, I was fortunate in actually enjoying helping people to understand things. As a writer, I have had to work hard.

What did you develop during this time – professionally and personally – in terms of your ideas, and did they change?

I don’t think I consciously sought to develop professional or personally – but simply followed my interests and got better at some things – and probably less good (through neglect) at others. It is hard to know what brings about change – getting older perhaps? I am probably more conservative now in some ways – on religious and moral matters, but even more radical as far as social and economic equality is concerned.

What is the most important thing that can make you successful at your job?

Keeping at it – but being ready to change how you do things when you see a better way.

What are you working on for the future?

I’m working on a commissioned book on multiperspectivity and bullying. The aim is to help us – including me – to understand how and why different groups see things differently in this field. I hope to finish it this year.

What advice would you give graduates?

Follow your interests as far as this is possible, even if the outcome is less lucrative.

What do you like doing when you are not working?

I like reading newspapers and books, doing crosswords, watching television, especially Test cricket [a cricket tragic who never rose above grade level, however, in 1961, playing cricket for Circular Head in Tasmania, took 9 wickets for 9 runs; in 1962, scoring 49 not out for a Salisbury XI in South Australia.] * * * A description of Ken’s work can be found at www.kenrigby.net.