#ImAnUpstander

Standing Together
Against Bullying

Join the Movement For the National Week of Action Against Bullying and Violence

#ImAnUpstander

Standing Together
Against Bullying

Join the Movement For the National Week of Action Against Bullying and Violence

#ImAnUpstander

Standing Together
Against Bullying

Join the Movement For the National Week of Action Against Bullying and Violence

National Week of Action Against Bullying and Violence

12th-16th August 2024

Every year, young people, educators, parents, and community members come together to take action against bullying and violence. 

To support this important message, 2Connect’s #ImAnUpstander initiative encourages a proactive stance against bullying.

By embracing a world free from bullying, we can create a safer, more inclusive environment for everyone. 

This week and always, let’s proudly show our support for anti-bullying by sharing the message: #ImAnUpstander.

What Does It Mean to Be an Upstander?

An upstander is someone who recognises when something is wrong and acts to make it right. Being an upstander means standing up against bullying, supporting those who are targeted, and fostering a culture of respect and kindness. It’s about making a conscious choice to speak out, intervene, and support positive change.

I'm An Upstander Pin with Shadow

What Does It Mean to Be an Upstander?

An upstander is someone who recognises when something is wrong and acts to make it right. Being an upstander means standing up against bullying, supporting those who are targeted, and fostering a culture of respect and kindness. It’s about making a conscious choice to speak out, intervene, and support positive change.

Why #ImAnUpstander Matters

Bullying can have devastating effects on young people and communities. Victims often suffer from emotional distress, decreased academic performance, and social isolation. With your support, we aim to:

  • Raise Awareness: Educate people about the impact of bullying and violence.
  • Empower People: Encourage everyone to take a stand and make a difference.
  • Create Safer Spaces: Foster environments where everyone feels valued and respected.

Why #ImAnUpstander Matters

Bullying can have devastating effects on young people and communities. Victims often suffer from emotional distress, decreased academic performance, and social isolation. With your support, we aim to:

  • Raise Awareness: Educate people about the impact of bullying and violence.
  • Empower People: Encourage everyone to take a stand and make a difference.
  • Create Safer Spaces: Foster environments where everyone feels valued and respected.

How You Can Be an Upstander

Learn

Educate Yourself and Others! Learn about the different forms of bullying. It's important that we learn to recognise these behaviours, so we know how to react and respond.

  • Physical Bullying: This involves physical aggression like hitting, kicking, or pushing. It’s the most visible form of bullying.
  • Verbal Bullying: This includes name-calling, insults, and verbal threats. It can be just as damaging as physical bullying.
  • Social Bullying: Also known as relational bullying, this involves damaging someone’s social relationships or reputation. Examples include spreading rumours, excluding someone from a group, or public humiliation.
  • Cyberbullying: This takes place over digital devices like phones, computers, and tablets. It includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else.
  • Sexual Bullying: This involves harmful, embarrassing, or threatening behaviour of a sexual nature.
  • Racial Bullying: This involves bullying someone because of their race, ethnicity, or cultural background.

Lead

Lead by example! Encourage kindness, positive communication, and a culture of empathy and understanding in your community, whether in schools, in person or online.

Lead by Example:

  • Be a Role Model for Positive Behaviour: Lead by example through demonstrating kindness, respect, and inclusivity in your daily interactions. Smile, offer compliments, and show appreciation for others.
  • Practice Active Listening: Give people your full attention when they speak. This shows respect and makes them feel valued and understood.
  • Small acts of kindness can make a big difference: Kindness can create a ripple effect, encouraging others to behave kindly and helps create positive impact and change. 
  • Show Gratitude: Regularly express thanks and appreciation to those around you. Simple gestures like saying “thank you” can significantly boost morale and create a positive atmosphere.

Encourage Empathy:

  • Understand Empathy: Help yourself and others understand and share feelings. Use stories, role-playing, and discussions to illustrate the importance of empathy.
  • Acknowledge Emotions: Recognise and validate the emotions of others. Statements like “I understand this is difficult for you” can make people feel heard and supported.
  • Promote Perspective-Taking: Encourage people to put themselves in others’ shoes to understand different viewpoints and experiences.

Promote Positive Communication:

  • Use Positive Language: Encourage the use of positive and encouraging language in conversations. Avoid gossip, negative talk, and put-downs.
  • Resolve Conflicts Peacefully: Stay calm and practice open communication to address and resolve issues.

Speak Up

Speak Up! If you witness bullying, use your voice to support the victim and call out the disrespectful behaviour if it is safe.

Recognise the Situation:

  • Stay Observant: Be vigilant in your surroundings, whether at school, or online. Recognise the signs of bullying, such as physical altercations, verbal abuse, social exclusion, or negative online behaviour.
  • Assess the Severity: Understand the context and severity of the situation. Not all instances require the same level of intervention. Your safety and the safety of others are paramount.

Use Assertive Communication:

  • Be Direct: Address the bully or aggressor calmly and assertively if it is safe to do so. For example, you could say, “What you’re doing is not okay.”
  • Stay Calm and Confident: Keep your voice steady and avoid yelling or using aggressive language. Confidence can help de-escalate the situation.
  • Use “I” Statements: Express how the behaviour makes you feel without blaming the person directly. For example, “I feel uncomfortable when I see people being treated this way.”

Rally Others to Speak Up:

  • Mobilise Bystanders: Encourage others who witnessed the incident to join you in speaking up. A collective voice is more powerful and can deter the aggressor more effectively.
  • Build a Support Network: Foster a network committed to standing up against bullying. This network can provide mutual support and amplify your efforts.

Help

Offer Support! Reach out to those who are being bullied. Let them know they are not alone and help them find the resources they need.

Support the Victim:

  • Offer Immediate Support: Stand beside the victim and let them know they are not alone. You can say, “I’m here for you,” or “Do you want to talk about what just happened?
  • Listen and Validate: Give the victim a chance to express their feelings. Validate their emotions by acknowledging their experience. For example, “It’s understandable that you’re upset. What happened wasn’t right.”
  • Encourage Reporting: Help the victim report the incident to the appropriate authorities, such as school officials.
  • Create Safer Spaces: Work towards creating environments (whether at school, or online) where everyone feels safe and respected. Encourage safe spaces that protect against bullying.

Intervene Safely and Appropriately:

  • Distraction Technique: Sometimes, diverting the bully’s attention can defuse the situation. Ask a question or start a conversation unrelated to the incident to give the victim a chance to move away.
  • Stand Up Against Bullies: Confront bullies when it’s safe to do so. Let them know their behaviour is unacceptable. Sometimes, simply showing that you don’t support their actions can make a significant impact.

Support for Young People & Families

  • 2Connect Youth & Family Support Services
    We deliver accessible support to young people (aged 12-18) and parents/family members who live, work, or study in the Bayside and Georges River Council area.
  • Kids Helpline (for young people aged 5-25): 1800 55 1800
    Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free, private, and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.

IF SOMEONE IS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL 000.

More Anti-Bullying Resources:

Bullying No Way champions the National Week of Action Against Bullying and Violence, dedicated to promoting safe and supportive school environments by raising awareness and encouraging students to stand against bullying.

eSafety for Young People provide a broad range of useful information from online bullying help to information on giving and seeking help in relationships and more! Learn about how young people can stay safe online.

Spread the Word #ImAnUpstander

Help us spread the word! Follow us on social media, share our posts, and use the hashtag #ImAnUpstander to show your support. With your help, we can build a safer, more inclusive world for everyone and create a wave of positive change that ripples through our schools, workplaces, and communities.