By Victoria Stone-Meadows
YARRA Hills Secondary College played host to leaders form local primary schools for an anti-bulling forum last week.
The Bully Stoppers project forum included student leaders from Mount Evelyn Primary School, St Mary’s Primary School, Birmingham Primary School and Wandin North Primary School as well as students from Yarra Hills Secondary.
The students engaged in leadership skills training as well as discussions on how to deal with the problem of bullying in their schools and in wider social networks.
Through activities like random acts of kindness, notes of appreciation, brainstorming sessions and guest presentations students had a chance to gain valuable skills and techniques to tech others how to combat bullying. The bully stoppers forum was the product of a Mount Evelyn Township Planning Night held in 2013.
Representatives from local primary schools put forward a proposal for a youth summit to focus on issues affecting young people in the area.
With support from Lilydale Rotary Club and Yarra Ranges Council, the Bully Stoppers Project is also funded through a grant from the Victorian Government to stamp out bullying in schools. The forum was opened by Mayor Maria McCarthy who gave a speech about the importance of tackling bullying and the importance of these types of discussions.
Margi Sank from Lilydale Rotary Club said the forum was a great initiative and is pleased the Rotary Club has a chance to be involved in it.
“It’s about peace and conflict resolution and we’re happy our focus in Rotary fits in with the forum,” she said.
“We’re all really impressed with the work the schools do.”
Students also had a chance to discuss their own experiences with bullying during a presentation from author and local teacher Sharon Witt.
During the presentation, students were encouraged to take the skills they had learnt back to their school and make a difference to bullying working together as a team.
Acting Principal of Yarra Hills Secondary College Robyn Dew said it’s important for primary school children to gain these skills now as bullying is an issue that goes beyond the school gates.
“Every school will experience bulling but it’s also a society wide issue.”
“We want to raise awareness and empower students to make a difference and change attitudes to make a change to bullying,” she said.
One of the activities during the forum was a discussion on how to launch the anti-bullying boat.
The boat will was constructed by a local artist in partnership with St Mary’s Primary School and is made from materials that represent students feelings associated with Bullying.
The boat will travel from school to school as a reminder of the work and commitment students have put towards combating bullying.
