How you can help end bullying this Do It For Dolly Day

Aussie kids are taking a positive stand against bullying.

Friday 8 May marks Do It For Dolly Day, the day on which schools, workplaces and community groups go blue to raise money for Dolly’s Dream – a foundation set up in memory of Dolly Everett, whose life was sadly cut short at the age of 14 following relentless bullying.

Now in its eighth year, the money raised through Do It For Dolly Day has funded several important programs in the fight against bullying, such as anti-bullying workshops, youth mental health, first aid training and a bullying support line: 13 DOLLY.

Head of Dolly’s Dream Sally Sweeney said the success of Do It For Dolly Day in recent years has enabled the foundation to extend 13 DOLLY to a 24/7 phone and web chat service.

“It’s now available for children and young people, around the clock, 365 days a year, delivered by trained counsellors through our partnership with Kids Helpline and Parentline,” Ms Sweeney said.

The vital service enables impacted kids, teens and parents to either call or chat with a trained counsellor via the Dolly’s Dream website.

“You don’t need to see a doctor first, you don’t even need to give your name if you don’t want to,” she said. “For kids and teens, 13 DOLLY is available 24/7. For parents and carers it’s open 6am to midnight.”

Dolly’s mother and co-founder of Dolly’s Dream, Kate Everett said the expansion of 13 DOLLY was the thing she was most proud of achieving through Do It For Dolly Day.

“Knowing that 13 DOLLY is now available 24/7, that any kid, anywhere in Australia, can pick up the phone in the middle of the night, or jump onto the 13 DOLLY web chat on the Dolly’s Dream website and talk to someone – that means everything to me,” Ms Everett said. “It’s incredible to see Dolly’s legacy* so genuinely helping other kids right across Australia right now, and that’s what keeps us going.”

Ms Everett said Do It For Dolly Day grows every year, “which fills us with so much gratitude.”

“This year we’re hoping to raise over $2 million for the very first time, so we can keep expanding the support we provide to kids and families right across Australia, including in the bush, where support can be harder to find,” she said.

The Kids Research Institute bullying expert Professor Donna Cross said bullying was a common and harmful problem in Australia.

“We know that just under 50 per cent of Year 4 to Year 9 students in Australia report being face-to-face bullied every few weeks or more often,” Prof Cross said. “While it is common, it is also very harmful – affecting students’ mental, social and physical health development as well as their engagement* and sense of belonging at school, and therefore their academic achievement.”

She said it was important for the community to come together and take a stand against bullying in order to prevent the damage it causes.

“Dolly’s Dream is an important driver* of change,” Prof Cross said. “Do It For Dolly Day sends a powerful message that bullying is not okay and that Australia is standing together against it.”

Ms Everett called on all Australians to wear blue (Dolly’s favourite colour) on May 8 and get involved at doitfordollyday.org.au.

“I hope that one day, no kid or teen ever feels so alone that they can’t see a way through, and that Do It For Dolly Day and Dolly’s Dream plays a real part in making that happen,” Ms Everett said. “I want every kid and teen in Australia to know that Dolly’s Dream exists and that help is always there.”

IF YOU ARE BEING BULLIED
Getting bullied is a terrible thing to go through, but it’s important to remember that you are never alone.

Prof Cross said reaching out for help was an important first step and that 13 DOLLY was especially helpful if you found it hard to speak with your parents or other trusted adults.

“Reach out to a friend, a parent or other trusted family member or adult, a teacher, or call 13 DOLLY (13 36 55) anytime, day or night,” she said. “You don’t need to give your name and you don’t need to plan what to say. Just making that first call or having a web chat with 13 DOLLY is a really brave and important step.”

HOW TO HELP END BULLYING
Prof Cross offered the following tips to help bring an end to bullying if you see it taking place in your playground or online:

* “Provide support to people you observe being bullied – you don’t need to be their best friend, just show kindness.

* “Don’t join in with bullying – even quietly.

* “Tell an adult if you are being bullied or you see someone else being bullied.

* “Use simple, calm words and walk away/go offline if someone is bullying you and ask an adult or friend for help.

* “If someone is mean online, don’t reply, screenshot the messages (and give them to the adult you tell) and block the person.”

HOW TO GET INVOLVED THIS FRIDAY 8 MAY:
Go BLUE: wear blue to show you stand against bullying

For teachers and parents: for more information, fundraising ideas and resources, please visitdoitfordollyday.org.au

GET SUPPORT: call 13 DOLLY (13 36 55) or use the web chat at dollysdream.org.au

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES:
Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800

Lifeline: 13 1114

TIACS: 0488 846 988

Mental Health Access Line: 1300 642255

Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467

13 YARN: 13 9276

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

ReachOut: au.reachout.com

POLL

GLOSSARY

• legacy: the lasting influence that a person has had
• engagement: being present and aware, taking in information and socialising with others in a healthy and reasonably happy state of mind
• driver: influence

EXTRA READING
Let’s make a start to stop bullying
60,000 Aussie kids for health push
Ash Magic proves bullies wrong

QUICK QUIZ
1. What date is Do It For Dolly Day?
2. How can people help to raise money for Dolly’s Dream?
3. How can people access the 13 DOLLY support line?
4. In what ways does being bullied cause harm?
5. What are some things we can do to help bring an end to bullying?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Do It For Dolly Day!
Were you and your friends aware of this 13 DOLLY hotline? What an amazing resource for kids to know they can chat to anybody at any time, without even giving their name if they don’t want to.

Create a poster to put around your school advertising this 13 DOLLY support line or web chat and all its features.

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education, Digital Technologies, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Do you believe Do It For Dolly Day is a worthwhile fundraising activity?

What could you do to support this cause?

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
To sum it up
After reading the article, use your comprehension skills to summarise in a maximum of three sentences what the article is about.

Think about:

• What is the main topic or idea?
• What is an important or interesting fact?
• Who was involved (people or places)?

Use your VCOP skills to re-read your summary to make sure it is clear, specific and well punctuated.