Education is crucial to help children combat cyber-bullying.
Young victims of cyber bullying and tormenting classmates will be given legal protection under new anti-harassment laws to be introduced by the federal government.
The changes will mean victims under the age of 16 will be able to use sexual harassment laws to pursue their tormentors.
''These are sensible changes but they reflect the fact that young people are, unfortunately, the victims of sexual harassment,'' Minister for Women Tanya Plibersek said.
''It's a terrible thing for parents and adults to realise how vulnerable children are and that they can be harassed at home in their bedrooms through Facebook or chat rooms.''
Now, a 15-year-old girl whose former boyfriend sends naked cyber images of her to their classmates has no protection under federal sexual harassment legislation. But a 16-year-old girl is protected under the existing act.
''Younger children are often the most at risk from online bullying or harassment,'' Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick said.
Ms Plibersek said the changes would mean tormentors would no longer be able to get away with harassment.
''The anonymity of [the internet] gives people a licence to behave very, very badly but the effect of it on the victim is very, very public,'' she said.
Students will also be able to take action against teachers from other schools. As the law stands now they are only able to pursue sexual harassment claims against teachers if they are from the same school.
The changes are part of the government's attempt to modernise the 25-year-old Sex Discrimination Act. Legislation will protect breastfeeding women and also give men the same protection as women against workplace discrimination due to family responsibilities.
For the first time, fathers will be able to take action against employers who try to downgrade their duties while they are on paternity leave. ''At the moment if you're put on the 'daddy track' you can't do anything about it,'' Ms Broderick said.
The amendments to the act will remove a discrepancy that prevents men from taking action against an employer unless they are fired or directly discriminated against.
The changes stem from the government's belief that women's equality in the workplace has stalled because anti-discrimination laws and equal opportunity laws have prevented men from taking on greater responsibilities at home.
