FAQs
You’re not alone. Here you’ll find answers to the most common questions about Dolly’s Dream, our programs, and how you can get involved. If you can’t find what you need, we’re always here to help.
Bullying Support Line
Our busiest times are after school and evening.
We know that it can be frustrating when you can't connect with a counsellor right away. Please keep trying, stay on the phone or web and we'll do our best to get to you as soon as possible.
Alternatively, you can request a call back at a time that suits you, via a form on our Bullying Support Line page.
For kids and young people, the service is open 24/7, 365 days a year.
For parents and carers, it's open from 6am - midnight.
Sometimes there can be a wait to speak with a counsellor.
Calls and webchats are answered in order – so the person who’s been waiting the longest will be the next to be answered.
Our busiest times are after school and in the evening.
We get it – we know that it can be frustrating when you can’t connect with a counsellor right away. Please keep trying, stay on the phone/web and we'll do our best to get to you as soon as we can.
That's okay! You don't need to label it before reaching out. We can talk it through together.
That's okay. We can help you think about gentle ways to support them and keep communication open.
Yes. Parents and carers are welcome to contact us for support and guidance.
No. You can choose how much information you share.
We know counselling can be expensive, but it is free to talk to our qualified counsellors. Calling our Bullying Support Line is charged at a standard network rate, like any other call.
Our webchat service is free.
School Workshops
For metropolitan schools:
- Workshop (single-class format): $350 per session
- Lecture-style presentation (50+ students): $500 per session
Thanks to available funding, workshops are free for Regional, Rural and Remote schools.
If you’re unsure which category your school falls into or would like to discuss funding support, please get in touch with our team for more information.
5 workshops per day.
Our workshops are held in person.
A room for the day with access to a smartboard or TV screen with sound. Our presenters bring their own laptop.
Each workshop and lecture style presentation runs for roughly 50 minutes.
Except for workshops for Transition/Prep/Reception/Foundation students - due to their age these sessions run for 30 minutes.
To ensure maximum impact, we deliver our workshops to single-class groups (max of 30 students), allowing for deeper engagement and more meaningful interaction.
Our lecture style workshops work for larger groups (50+).
Questions about Dolly’s Dream
You can stay up to date by signing up to our newsletter, following us on social media, and visiting our website for the latest news, campaigns and resources.
We regularly share updates about our programs, events, impact and ways you can get involved in creating a kinder world.
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You can get in touch with us through our contact us page.
After tragically losing their daughter Dolly to bullying, Tick and Kate’s goal is to prevent other families walking this road. Their goal is to change cultures and behaviours to prevent bullying, by increasing understanding of the impact of bullying, anxiety, depression, and youth suicide and by providing support to families.
The Alannah & Madeline Foundation shares this goal and has a long and successful track record of creating a safer online and offline world for children.
United by this common purpose, they formed a partnership to educate parents on the problems of bullying, its effects and how to deal with it; and then to empower children and adults to recognise bullying when it occurs and have the confidence and skills to stand up and talk about it.
Dolly’s Dream (ABN 96 514 115 810) sits within the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, which is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission (ACNC) and is endorsed as an Item 1 Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR).
Named after Dolly Everett, Dolly's Law is an important signal to everyone using technology that there are consequences to cyberbullying. The laws cover sending abusive emails, posting threatening or hurtful messages, photos or videos online or repeatedly sending unwanted messages. It also provides a basis for victims of cyberbullying to seek apprehended violence orders.
Attorney General Mark Speakman thanked Kate and Tick Everett for allowing the NSW Government to give their daughter’s name to the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 amendments.
“No parent should have to go through this devastating experience. This is why we are committed to protecting everyone in our community from online abuse – whether that be school children, victims of domestic violence or anyone else whose safety is put at risk by cyberbullies and online trolls,” Mr Speakman said.
“Dolly’s Law is now putting online abusers on notice that if their actions cause people to fear physical or mental harm, they face a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.”
Please contact community@dollysdream.org.au to find out if there are any current volunteer activities.
Dolly’s Dream recognises that bullying can have a long-lasting and devastating effect on children and young people. We know that bullying is something that young people, their parents and carers, friends and educators are increasingly concerned about. Most adults who contact Dolly’s Dream are reaching out about their child being bullied.
Our aim at Dolly’s Dream is for children and young people to have a greater awareness, increased coping skills and more support to help prevent or deal with bullying, no matter where they live in Australia. We want them to have a better understanding of the consequences bullying can have, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and self-harm, and what to do if these issues affect them or their peers.
We want everyone to know they are not alone, Dolly’s Dream is here to support you.
Dolly's Dream is committed to supporting young people, their families and the wider community, particularly those more isolated in rural, remote and regional areas of Australia.
Dolly’s Dream was established in 2018 by Kate and Tick Everett in memory of their 14-year-old daughter Dolly Everett, who took her own life following sustained and ongoing bullying and cyber bullying.
Kate, Tick, and Dolly’s older sister, Meg, have since been committed to changing the culture of bullying through education and offering direct support to young people and families.
About Funding
Dolly's Dream is funded through the generosity of Australian communities, donors, businesses, corporate partners and fundraising efforts from our supporters.
Do It For Dolly Day, held on the first Friday in May each year, is a National Day of Action calling on Australians to Go Blue to End Bullying.
By taking part in Do It For Dolly Day- whether fundraising, donating, or hosting an event - you’re joining a movement that funds Dolly’s Dream programs and supports young people and families across Australia so no one has to face bullying alone.
Your support helps us continue Dolly Everett's legacy of kindness and hope, empowering young people, families, and communities to build a world free from bullying.
Every dollar directly supports Dolly’s Dream’s essential programs, including:
school and community anti-bullying workshops
our Beacon Cyber Safety App
our Bullying Support Hub
Bullying Support Line
Youth Mental Health First-Aid Training