15 March 2012
Take a Stand Together’ — ACMA supports the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence
Tomorrow (16 March) is the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA). Its theme is to encourage parents and families to take a stand together with school communities and recognise the important role that everyone plays to stop bullying, wherever it occurs.
Cyberbullying is a serious concern for young Australians. Many say they have experienced it, or witnessed it happening to others. It can happen 24/7 anywhere there is access to online technology, and it can be extremely difficult to know how to make it stop.
Cybersmart’s key messages for the day are:
- Don’t just stand by if you witness cyberbullying
- Everyone has a role to play in stopping the cyberbullying cycle
- Counselling is free and readily available via the Cybersmart Online Helpline
To mark NDA, Cybersmart will be visiting year 9 students at Copperfield College in Melbourne for a special presentation of Tagged a short drama about the potential consequences of cyberbulling.
The screening will be followed by an online counselling session via Skype with a Kids Helpline counsellor. Cybersmart is encouraging secondary schools across Australia to screen Tagged on the day and use the supporting lesson plans and videos to encourage young people to reflect on the real life consequences caused by cyberbullying, sexting and a negative digital reputation.
Cybersmart Heroactivities and online Internet Safety Awareness presentations will be run for primary school students to highlight the importance of respectful online activity, friendships, how to be a positive bystander and the importance of digital reputation.
Cybersmart Outreach Trainer, Greg Gebhart, will also present a workshop at the "Kids in Cyberspace" seminar at the NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre. The ACMA will have a stand there to promote Cybersmart resources and the NDA.
The Cybersmart Blog will feature various perspectives on bullying including a school principal, and parents.
This annual event is coordinated by Bullying No Way! and supported by the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s Cybersmart education program as well as other organisations including Kids Helpline.
The ACMA’s activities for NDA are part of its comprehensive Cybersmart program, which includes the very successful Cybersmart Detectives activity, targeting internet safety and unwanted contact, and Wise Up to IT, Let’s Fight It Together and Hector’s World, containing age appropriate messages and material to help combat cyberbullying.
For more information about Cybersmart, visit www.cybersmart.gov.au.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Emma Rossi, Media Manager, (02) 9334 7719 and 0434 652 063 or media@acma.gov.au.
