Whole School Approach: Best Way Forward for Positive Impact

Dolly’s Dream is committed to changing the culture of bullying by addressing the impact of bullying through education and direct support to young people and families.

We know that bullying, whether it’s face-to-face or online, can cause deep and lasting harm, affecting a young person’s confidence, mental health, and even their future.

Dolly’s Dream was founded in the wake of tragedy, and we have a deep understanding of the impacts of bullying.

Changing the culture of bullying is central to our mission and the work that we do, however it requires a united, consistent effort. Schools, parents and carers, governments, and communities must work together to drive lasting change.

Schools, as vital hubs of learning and social development, hold a significant responsibility in tackling bullying. However, they face a range of unique challenges, as each school is an ecosystem shaped by its local community, culture, and the specific needs of its students.

Complicating this is the fact that every state and territory in Australia operates under its own set of legislation, which can make implementing uniform solutions difficult.

We know it can be incredibly difficult, but we encourage open, honest conversations between children, parents, and teachers. By providing safe spaces to talk about bullying, we can better support those impacted and address issues before they escalate.

Recent studies reveal that a whole school approach to combatting cyberbullying is most effective when it is embedded into all school policies, practices, and culture—ensuring it is not treated as an isolated issue.

Dolly’s Dream works with primary and secondary schools nationally in metro and rural areas to deliver anti-bullying workshops to help support schools and students in building safe, supportive environments for everyone.

Children and young people have the right to feel safe, respected and included. Dolly’s Dream school workshops aim to reduce the incidence of bullying, cyber bullying and other cyber risks; and educate and advocate for the safety and wellbeing of children. 
We help children and young people understand the effects of bullying, teach empathy, kindness and promote positive communication in an age-appropriate way. We want to empower individuals to seek support and teach safe strategies for bystanders to take action.

Recent research estimates that one case of cyberbullying is prevented for every 167 students exposed to cyberbullying intervention programs, such as the workshops Dolly’s Dream delivers nationally in schools.

Since the beginning of this year a total of 450 workshops have been delivered nationally by Dolly’s Dream in both primary and secondary schools, reaching over 19,500 students - this means a possible 116 potential incidents of cyberbullying prevented this year from the work we are doing in schools.

We have worked tirelessly for six years delivering support and education to communities and will continue to fight to put an end to bullying – in memory of Dolly and the other precious lives that have since been lost.

Our Impact in Schools

Dolly’s Dream School Workshops

The Dolly’s Dream school workshops deliver age-appropriate content to students covering topics such as bullying, kindness, self-worth and digital footprint (focusing on the impacts of online behaviours).

We have three dedicated full-time School Engagement Coordinators who deliver these workshops throughout the year. We currently have a waitlist of schools wanting to book a workshop and we are working tirelessly to meet this much needed demand, especially for those in regional, rural and remote areas that have limited access to support services.

 

School workshops delivered in just one week (Nov 11-15, 2024)

• Northern Territory – Delivered 8 workshops in secondary schools to 510 students
• Western Australia – Delivered 12 workshops to 1200 students across primary and secondary schools
• Victoria – Delivered 10 workshops in primary and secondary schools across the regional town of Rainbow.
  
   

School workshops delivered in 2024 (to-date)

A total of 450 workshops have been delivered nationally by Dolly’s Dream in both primary and secondary schools, reaching 19,500+ students.

Dolly’s Dream Mental Health First Aid training

We also deliver Youth Mental Health First Aid Training in schools. We know that there is a lack of availability to mental health services, particularly in regional, rural and remote areas across Australia. As a result, we are working with businesses, schools and sports clubs to deliver Mental Health First Aid training to help build their skills and capacity to recognise and respond to someone experiencing mental health issues.  

Bullying Statistics & Key Findings

• A recent study from the NSW Government found that cyberbullying prevention programs are effective in reducing cyberbullying in school-age students and that cyberbullying prevention programs can have positive impacts on face-to-face bullying and other outcomes associated with cyberbullying. Additionally, a whole school approach to combatting cyberbullying is most effective when it is embedded into all school policies, practices, and culture—ensuring it is not treated as an isolated issue.
• A report released earlier this year from The Australian Council for Educational Research (Acer) found that Australian school students were most bullied among comparable English-speaking countries with around one in six students saying they have been made fun of by peers.
• A report from the eSafety commission revealed a 40% increase in cyberbullying reports. In 2023, it received 2,383 reports of cyberbullying compared with 1,700 in 2022. Two-thirds (67%) of reports concerned children aged 12-15 years.
• Parents second biggest concerns for children’s health in Australia is bullying and cyber bullying (along with screentime and online safety) according to the Royal Children’s Hospital Child Health Poll.
• The Mind the Gap report from the eSafety Commissioner released in 2022 revealed that just under half (45%) of surveyed children reported that they have been treated in a hurtful or nasty way online in the past year only half of these cases did the parents know about it. About a quarter of Australian children admitted to treating someone else in a hurtful way online in the past year.
• Bullying continues to affect large numbers of children and young people in Australia. The eSafety Commissioner’s 2020 surveyof young people aged 12-17 found that 44 per cent reported having a recent negative online experience including 15 per cent who received threats or abuse online.

 
Background

Dolly’s Dream was established in 2018 by Kate and Tick Everett in memory of their 14-year-old daughter Dolly, 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 by addressing the impact of bullying, anxiety, depression and youth suicide through education and offering direct support to young people and families.  

Now in its sixth year, Dolly’s Dream has grown to see its support services, education programs and workshops help thousands of children and young people, and their families right across Australia. 

Dolly’s Dream Support Services, Programs & Resources

Dolly’s Dream Support Line
Australia wide telephone and webchat service with qualified counsellors available to help by calling 13 DOLLY.

Beacon Cyber Safety app
Free app that provides families with trustworthy, practical resources to help them confidently navigate their children’s technology use and reduce associated harms.

Dolly’s Dream School Workshops
Online safety and anti-bullying workshops for students of all ages, as well as parents, teachers and the general community.

Mental Health and First Aid Training
Dolly’s Dream works with communities to deliver Youth Mental Health First Aid training to help build their capacity in coping with mental health issues.

Dolly’s Dream Bullying Support Hub
Trusted information about online safety and bullying in one place.