VIC Government + Facebook launch phase two of the Bully Stoppers campaign via The Fuel Agency
Cyberbullying is relentless. Where once children could leave the school ground and find sanctuary in their home, they can now be pursued wherever and whenever they are connected. Often with devastating consequences.
It’s such a serious issue that the Victorian Government has launched phase two of its $4 million Bully Stoppers program via The Fuel Agency, focusing on cyberbullying.
Said premier Denis Napthine at Thursday’s launch of Fuel’s Speak Up Against Cyberbullying campaign: “The Bully Stoppers: Speak Up Against Cyberbullying campaign is about empowering young people to speak up if they’re being bullied online and helping parents and teachers to identify the signs of those at risk.”
One of the challenges faced when tackling cyberbullying is the relative youth of the issue; parents know and understand schoolyard bullying; it’s a familiar concept. Cyberbullying however, is an entirely new concept, on an entirely unfamiliar platform for most.
And when you marry that problem with the fact that a majority of kids try and tackle cyberbullying on their own, we’re left with a 
problem of horrifying gravitas.
Fuel’s Speak Up Against Cyberbullying campaign takes the symbol and intuitive act of online sharing, to take the power back from bullies, and let kids know that a problem shared is a problem halved. If they speak up, their parents, friends and teachers can help.
In a first, Facebook is a campaign partner, helping to share information on dealing with cyberbullying with young people, and to connect parents with advice and support.
Says Mia Garlick, Facebook’s head of policy Australia and New Zealand: “Facebook takes a proactive approach to tackling bullying online and is pleased to be partnering with the Bully Stoppers program to increase understanding and awareness of the issue.”