PVSC SPONSORS BULLY ZERO FOUNDATION CHARITY BALL

“A Safer Nation for the Next Generation”

On Saturday 19th September , the Bully Zero Australia Foundation held its inaugural Black Tie A Safer Nation for the Next Generation an event designed to raise awareness and funds to support the Bully Zero Australia Foundation in eradicating bullying and cyber bullying for children and teenagers.

The Bully Zero Australia Foundation was launched on March 16, 2013 and continues to work tirelessly to deliver evidenced-based, effective programs on a National level. The Foundation exists to protect and empower children, adolescents, teachers, parents, employees and employers, to live fulfilling lives free from all forms of bullying.

Allem Halkic was a teenager with a promising future until he tragically committed suicide as a result of persistent and callous cyber bullying. In 2014 more than 2,500 Australians committed suicide, that is equivalent to 6 a day and 180 attempts are made daily.

These statistics are a tragic reflection of the magnitude of the problem. More than 250 children committed suicide in Australia last year alone. Some of these deaths were attributed to bullying. A staggering one in eight Australians is affected by workplace bullying and cyber bullying affects as many as one in five, often with devastating results.

Bully Zero Australia Foundation has surveyed 308 parents of children aged 10 – 16 over the past 10 months and found 75% are concerned about the impact of Social Media on their children’s on and off-line behaviour. Parents agreed they were digital natives of the online world and many were not sure about the language, apps and social media platforms their children were using.

More than 70% of parents were not aware that bullying was a crime in Victoria and anyone over the age of ten could be charged. Furthermore, 85% did not know about the Federal Crimes legislation amendment Act, which makes using a carriageway to menace, harass or offend others online a crime, punishable by three, seven or ten years imprisonment depending on the threat.

Our Treasurer Jim Kounetas said , “We are proud to be partnering with the Foundation to make Australia a safer nation for every generation. We hope that our contribution will assist the Foundation in delivering its community programs. At PVSC we have always reflected the values and needs of our community.”

Updated 07:06 - 22 Oct 2015 by PASCOE VALE FOOTBALL CLUB