Lacie, 15, was excited about starting a new school. Three weeks later she was dead. This is her heartbroken dad's message to all parents
The grieving father of a 15-year-old girl who took her own life has spoken out, claiming the school she attended for three weeks before she passed away failed to protect her from bullying.
Lacie May Murphy died on March 18 after a struggle with mental illness and bullying at her new school on the Gold Coast after moving from New South Wales in search of a fresh start.
Her father, Todd Murphy, 39, said that the school dismissed Lacie's pleas for help and made her feel as though her concerns were 'not important'.
Originally from Muswellbrook, Lacie had recently moved to the Gold Coast to live with her father.
At first, things seemed to be going well - she even texted her dad to say she loved the school. But by the end of her first week, things changed.
Lacie began questioning her dad about the way she was being treated by other students.
'Why are they bullying me - why are they saying this?' she asked him at the time.
Lacie reported the bullying to the school, but Mr Murphy said she felt ignored.
Mr Murphy said staff asked Lacie whether she wished to change schools but she decided to fight on.
'To Lacie's credit, she came back to me after a week and said, "Dad, I want to... battle through and and finish Year 10 at least. And that was her decision.
'And I said, "That's good, that's what I want." I said," I'll look after the bullying. I'll do what I can. I just ask you go to school and try your hardest".'
Mr Murphy also hoped Lacie, who identified as Aboriginal, would connect with the school's First Nations liaison officer - but he said it took weeks for anyone to reach out.
Tragically, the phone call finally came on March 18 - the same day he came home to find Lacie had died.
'The liason officer was three weeks too late,' her dad said.
'It is the worst possible fear that any parent could have - that you have to bury your child like that.'
Lacie had a history of mental health struggles, including ADHD. Her father said the school made an effort to assist her including by giving her a card she could flash to leave the class when she felt 'overwhelmed or anxious'.
But Mr Murphy believes the school should have done more to protect his his daughter in the three weeks she spent there before she died.
Now, he's urging schools to take bullying more seriously and for parents to better understand warning signs in their children.
'We did know Lacie was struggling, but ultimately, Lacie didn't have the tools in her toolbox to be able to explain well enough to us what she needed, or all the feelings she had,' Mr Murphy told Daily Mail Australia.
'And, you know, [she] bottled them up, and put on a brave face and a smile and didn't want to confront her own demons that she had.
'This mental health stigma and this bullying... it needs to stop. We need to do something.'
Lacie has been remembered as a kind and loving soul with a passion for rugby league.
'She was the epitome of selflessness - she cared about others far more than she cared about herself,' Mr Murphy said.
'In the football team it's the same... she would run the ball to get as far as she could for her teammates, she would always stand up for them and always stand up for her friends but she carried so much of that weight herself.
'You know, she cared too much, she loved too much, she didn't know how to let go... she thought she had to do it all and carry it all.'
A spokesperson for the Queensland Department of Education admitted it had do more to ensure safe and inclusive environments were created for all students.
'Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with the student's family, friends and loved ones during this devastating time. It is a tragedy when a young person's life is cut short,' the spokesperson said.
The Queensland Government recently announced a $33million investment to help tackle bullying in schools.
The new program includes the establishment of 'Rapid Support Squads' designed to fly into schools in need of extra support, funding for wellbeing staff and the expansion of a hotline to provide guidance to carers.
'The Anti-bullying Stakeholder Reference Group, consisting of experts in the field will inform the department's anti-bullying actions and measures and guide future initiatives to prevent and respond to bullying,' they said.
'Furthermore, all students have access to wellbeing professionals at school, and access to a team of experts providing specialist assistance in student protection, mental health and wellbeing.'
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