Testimonials
Ian Sweeney, Pastoral Leader and Teacher – Mt. Maria College
I am writing on behalf of the staff at Mt Maria College (Mitchelton) in support of the “Jeff Horn” Amayda Program. We started out journey with the program at the end of 2022 and have recently completed educating our first cohort of students with the skills of respect, courage, integrity and resilience.
22 teachers nominated to be a part of the program this year and the team at Bullyproof Australia provided great support to us during the set-up phase of the program, stepping us through the training in both the digital platform and physical workshop. The online training provided us with solid grounding in the philosophy and purpose of the course whilst the face-to-face training modelled best practice for us when taking the program into our classrooms. In addition, Bullyproof Australia also provided a mentor from their team to attend our Year 7 camp which took place at the end of the program. This was a highlight for the cohort and consolidated learning for the students that had been provided by our teachers during the term whilst extending their engagement overall.
Our college behaviour framework centres around the qualities of aspiration, respect and engagement. We were drawn to the Amayda Program as it aligned with our values and, on paper, looked like it could provide us with a way to teach and reteach our expected behaviours. The theoretical and practical strategies provided in the course material met and exceeded our expectations, and both students and teachers were using common language when reflecting on and managing conflict in a range of contexts. Through experiencing the program, students also engaged in authentic and timely education around behaviour and mental health, areas that the adults in their lives are mindful of but may not always be confident addressing.
The Amayda Program is one that all students in Australia should have the opportunity to experience as it provides the school community with tangible skills that can be applied to a range of conflict situations. Managing responses to unproductive behaviour is a community obligation however a lot of the time, the children are left out of the conversation. Through this program our students now have a greater sense of their responsibility in the mission to prevent bullying but also to look out for one another as they navigate some of the trickiest years of their lives.
The teacher-mentor staff at Mt Maria College (Mitchelton) stand behind the Amayda Program and encourage further support for it to be rolled out across Australian schools. It is an investment that will pay off in the long run by helping to create a more positive and productive learning environment for all students.
Grant Stephensen, Principal – Beaudesert State High School
Bullyproof asked Grant 7 key questions about the implementation of the Amayda Program.
1. What is your experience as an educator and position within the school?
I have been in Education Qld for 23 years working predominantly in low socio-economic schools.
2. Why did you look at the program in the first place?
Anything that is research backed and able to teach young people how to behave appropriately is worth it in my opinion. Bullying has many meanings and perceptions – this program brings reality to what it is, how to deal with it appropriately and how to assist others. I love the language being aligned in my community via this program.
3. What was your impressions of the face-to-face training?
Excellent – engaging and real life.
4. Is the training valuable for teachers? E.g., should all teachers have this knowledge?
Yes – it gives a consistent language and process for dealing with bullying and similar related incidents that occur in classrooms every day.
5. What are the strengths of the program – how does it differ from other programs?
It is real – it doesn’t dance around theory too much or philosophies – it gives real, straight forward direct actions to enact for students to use.
6. How did your students feel about the Program?
Great – improved confidence particularly in supporting others who are getting bullied.
7. Where do you see it having the most impact?
With parents feeling more educated about bullying and understanding how the school supports students to deal with situations themselves as well as with the school support staff.
North Qld Pilot Program – Thuringowa State High School
We had a very good result overall at Thuringowa. The program structure and quality feedback received from the school coordinator, and the students, was very favourable. Classes regularly attained a high level of participation and students took a lot of positives away from the experience. As can be seen from the survey data below, there were some very encouraging results. For example, the Very Highs for the “Rate your ability to calm down an argument” went from 9.8% to 21% (over a 100% improvement) and the Very Highs for the “How would you rate your level of self-confidence?” went from 9.7% to 21.5% – also over a 100% improvement.
| Thuringowa Before Program Data | Nil | Very Low | Average | High | Very High | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rate your ability to cope with stressful situations. |
6 |
11 |
29 |
7 |
8 |
61 |
|
How would you rate your level of self-confidence? |
11 |
18 |
14 |
13 |
6 |
62 |
|
How do you think your friends and peers see you in a social pecking order? |
3 |
10 |
31 |
9 |
4 |
57 |
|
Rate your ability to successfully calm down an argument. |
11 |
11 |
19 |
14 |
6 |
61 |
| Thuringowa After Program Data | Nil | Very Low | Average | High | Very High | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rate your ability to cope with stressful situations. |
8 |
7 |
33 |
5 |
12 |
65 |
|
How would you rate your level of self-confidence? |
8 |
14 |
18 |
11 |
14 |
65 |
|
How do you think your friends and peers see you in a social pecking order? |
3 |
8 |
34 |
11 |
8 |
64 |
|
Rate your ability to successfully calm down an argument. |
3 |
4 |
15 |
23 |
12 |
57 |
As well as our own survey data, the feedback we receive from school principals, teachers and parents is very impressive. Some of these are as follows:
Parent of student – Sarah Wright
In 2021 our son who was 11 at the time had already been through so much in his short little life and was struggling to see through a dark tunnel of depression. After suffering through some traumatic events at home, moving to a school that didn’t handle bullying at all and then being moved to another school that tried to help but was failing in so many ways he thought his only way out was to end his life! Luckily for us we caught onto the attempts in time and proceeded to get help how we could, but nothing seemed to be helping!
Through a work contact we were put in touch with the amazing team at Amayda and James was fortunate enough to have multiple one on one sessions with the amazing Jez! Jez helped open doors I don’t think anyone else could have! James felt like he could tell him anything and they both shared so many stories that he really felt heard and seen. Jez taught James how to cope in stressful situations without needing to lash out, he taught him how to open up and he taught him how to defend himself if the need ever arises. The sessions James had with Jez changed his whole course of life and taught him things that will stick with him for life.
Nearly two years on we wanted to share with not only Jez but the entire Amayda team that James is doing incredibly. He has since started high school where he is thriving still using techniques learnt from his sessions. He has also recently joined Army Cadets which again is something we never thought possible! James is now much more open and honest about how he is coping both at home with us and with his teachers at school which helps to keep the dark thoughts at bay when he is going through a tough time. We just cannot thank you all enough! You changed all of our lives and we cannot wait to continue to see all that James achieves in the years to come!
