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Our mission is to create a culture at every school in Australia, where all teachers and students feel safe, respected, appreciated, liked and happy – which is an ideal learning environment.
Bullying, mental health, youth crime and domestic violence are massive social problems that affect all our lives to varying degrees. These problems usually begin early in life, primarily due to a range of family risk factors, and the longer these behaviours are allowed to continue without intervention, the more difficult it is to alter them - and the more damage is done to other children. Further, bullied children often suffer from anxiety and lower school attendance, which affects academic performance.
Bullying and other behavioural problems are also having a damaging impact on teachers. A Senate inquiry into "Increasing disruption in Australian school classrooms" heard that, on average, Australian teachers spent 15 per cent of class time managing student behaviour instead of teaching.
The Alannah and Madeline Foundation commissioned Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) to compile a report, The economic cost of bullying in Australian schools (March 2018). PwC concluded that the costs associated with bullying total an estimated $2.3 billion, incurred while the children are in school and for 20 years after school completion, for each individual school year group.
The cost of mental health issues is also spiralling out of control. According to the Australian Government Productivity Commission Inquiry Report Volume 1, in total, mental illness, on a conservative basis, is costing Australia about $200-220 billion per year.
According to the 2015 Australian Government report, The Mental Health of Children and Adolescents, one third (34.3%) of 11–17-year-olds had been bullied in the previous 12 months.
The Australian institute of Health and Welfare estimated, using 2016 data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC), that 70% of children aged 12–13 had experienced at least 1 bullying-like behaviour in the 12 months before the survey, and 43% had experienced this behaviour about once a week or more.
Bullying also has a major impact on mental health. A study, "The contribution of bullying victimisation to the burden of anxiety and depressive disorders in Australia", reported by the National Library of Medicine, found that 10.8% of the burden of depressive disorders are attributable to bullying victimisation in Australia.
One thing is very clear - bullying, mental health, youth crime and domestic violence are rampant in Australia – and if nothing changes, nothing changes!
Research confirms that the most cost-effective solution to these issues is evidence-based, research-driven, early intervention programs involving all stakeholders – the students, parents, teachers, and the school.
Bullyproof Australia takes a very holistic, cost-effective, and sustainable approach to addressing bullying, mental health, youth crime and domestic violence, based on over a century of experience by its founders, extensive research, and a compelling amount of evidence. The solution presented by Bullyproof Australia is the AMAYDA Resilience Program (ARP), which has been achieving exceptional results since first introduced to schools in late 2018.
* Figures based on the PriceWaterhouseCoopers report,
The economic cost of bullying in Australian schools (March 2018).
I became the National Ambassador for Bullyproof Australia because bullying and mental health are issues very close to my heart. Most people know me as an Olympian and former world boxing champion – but I was repeatedly bullied at school and eventually became a schoolteacher. This is a fight we’re all in together and one we simply must win – the future of our kids depend on us. Please support Bullyproof Australia in every way you can.
As a registered charity, we focus on three key pillars: preventing and managing bullying, enhancing mental health, and boosting academic performance—fundamental to our mission. Our dynamic resilience program in schools, powered by the Mentor app, uplifts mental well-being and provides practical solutions to diverse bullying scenarios. Beyond programs, we’re dedicated to reshaping school cultures, creating an environment where students learn and thrive—safe, valued, respected, liked, and authentically happy. Join us on this impactful journey!
A striking one in seven Australian youth grapples with mental disorders, profoundly impacting education, relationships, and the economy, with an estimated annual cost of up to $60 billion. The imperative for urgent action becomes clear as we recognize the profound ripple effect on both individual lives and the broader societal fabric. Investing in comprehensive mental health support systems is not just essential for personal well-being but is a vital commitment to fostering resilience and ensuring the flourishing of our nation in the years to come.
