Charlotte O'Brien, a 12-year-old Year 7 student at Santa Sabina College in Sydney, died by suicide on 9 September 2024 after her family says she was bullied at school; her death prompted national debate over how schools handle bullying complaints.
Charlotte Frances O'Brien was born on 2 January 2012 and died on 9 September 2024, at age 12, by suicide. At the time of her death, she was a Year 7 student at Santa Sabina College, a school in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Strathfield. According to her family, O'Brien was bullied by other students during her time at the school.
O'Brien's family has alleged that despite repeatedly raising concerns with the school about the bullying, the school failed to adequately address the issue. The school has publicly disputed the number of times the family says they approached staff with concerns before her death. O'Brien's mother has said she attempted to raise the issue with the school at least 20 times, with the first of many emails sent in August 2022. O'Brien's stepfather, Mat O'Brien, stated in a letter read on air by broadcaster Ben Fordham that when the most recent bullying complaint was raised, the school said it had investigated and the other girls involved had denied the allegations, and considered the matter closed. He has also called for schools to intervene the first time bullying is reported, rather than after repeated complaints, and criticised the use of the term "friendship issues" to describe bullying complaints.
Despite their criticism of the school, O'Brien's family has said they do not blame the other students involved, with her mother, Kelly O'Brien, noting that "they are also just little girls" and her stepfather stating he was not seeking "retribution" given the ages of those involved.
Santa Sabina College principal Paulina Skerman responded to the family's public allegations by stating the school was unaware of some of the specific claims aired in media coverage, describing them as "new to the college" and "not consistent" with the school's records. In response, the O'Brien family said this meant either there was an issue with the school's record-keeping or the school was accusing them of lying. Skerman also cautioned media outlets to take care in their reporting to avoid causing further harm to vulnerable young people, and said the mental health service Headspace would provide counselling at the school.
Following O'Brien's death, a nearby school, Presbyterian Ladies' College, was criticised for saying it did not intend to discuss the suicide with students and for advising parents not to raise the subject with their daughters unless the daughters raised it first, citing a need for students to remain focused ahead of exams.
According to her family, O'Brien left a note referencing the bullying she experienced and stating that life had become too difficult to continue. Her death received wide media coverage and prompted a broader national conversation about how schools respond to bullying complaints. Her funeral, a Christian burial mass, was held at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Bossley Park, Sydney, on 27 September 2024, followed by a private cremation. In lieu of flowers, the family asked mourners to donate to Kids Helpline, and they established an online fundraiser called "Charlotte's legacy" to support the charity.
Charlotte O'Brien, a 12-year-old Year 7 student at Santa Sabina College in Sydney, died by suicide on 9 September 2024 after her family says she was bullied at school; her death prompted national debate over how schools handle bullying complaints.
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