By Kate Bonsack
TWO Hobsons Bay schools will be taking a pro-active approach to prevent bullying in their schools over the next two weeks.
Prahran sisters and youth workers Lucy and Rosie Thomas, who have initiated an anti-bullying program called Project Rockit, will visit Altona College and Williamstown North Primary School to teach the students strategies they can use to combat bullying.
Lucy said the program had started to be used more in Melbourne’s West.
“I don’t know if there have been problems of bullying in the schools, but more schools in the West are wanting to tackle the problem before it occurs,” she said.
The three-year-old program uses role play and various creative activities to help students reflect on their own behaviour, and understand how bullying occurs.
“We don’t just look at bullying but the issues surrounding bullying, such as communication skills, how to stand up for yourself and expressing anger in a healthy way," Lucy said.
“A lot of the time people bully because they don’t know how to express their anger.”
Lucy said the program was drawn out through the sisters’ own experience of bullying.
“We weren’t a victim or bully at school, but it’s a reality at school that bullying happens and we want to show students that they can do something about it,” she said.
“Even for a bystander, they usually don’t know what to do, but there are ways they can handle the situation.”
She also said that an issue in bullying was the use of unfair power, where the bully would pick someone who had no support network of friends.
“Creating a support network is important,” she said.
“Communication skills are then important to help create those networks.
“Learning communication skills is a big part of growing up, it helps us express who we are and to stand up for ourselves.”
Lucy said she would be taking Project Rockit to Altona College tomorrow, and Williamstown North Primary School next Wednesday.
