A report earlier this year from the eSafety Commissioner has shed light on a worrying trend: cyberbullying is on the rise. According to the report, there has been a staggering 40 per cent increase in cyberbullying reports, with eSafety receiving 2383 reports in 2023 compared to 1700 in 2022.
What is particularly worrying is that two-thirds (67 per cent) of these reports were concerning children aged 12-15 years old – just like Dolly – highlighting the vulnerability of young people to online harassment and abuse.
Cyberbullying can happen on a social media site, game, app, or any other online or electronic service or platform. It can include posts, comments, texts, messages, chats, livestreams, memes, images, videos and emails.
Examples include sending hurtful messages, sharing embarrassing photos, spreading nasty online gossip, purposely excluding people online, creating fake accounts in their name and tricking people into believing they are someone else.
Determined that no other family would suffer from the same devastation, Dolly’s parents Tick and Kate Everett established the anti-bullying organisation Dolly’s Dream.
They have committed to changing the culture of bullying by addressing the impact of bullying, anxiety, depression, and youth suicide, through awareness, education and direct support to young people and families.
Dolly’s Dream supports Australian families by providing crucial services such as their free 24-hour support line, anti-bullying and online safety workshops in schools, mental health first aid training in communities and more recently (in partnership with Telethon Kids Institute) the free Beacon cyber safety app - a trustworthy resource for parents and carers to help them confidently navigate their family’s technology use and reduce associated harms.
“Since starting Dolly’s Dream, having an app in our program offering to further support parents and carers in navigating the online world is something we have been incredibly passionate about,” Kate Everett says.
“We don’t want other families to ever have to go through the heartache we have experienced. We are proud that Beacon provides easily accessible support and information to families, especially in our rural, regional, and remote communities, that we wish we had,” Kate added.
Every dollar raised helps Dolly’s Dream in their mission to empower and educate the community to address and prevent bullying and cyber bullying, making a positive impact to the lives of Australian families and their communities.
Each year in May thousands of communities come together to remember Dolly by going blue (Dolly’s favourite colour), donating and participating in fundraising activities to help support the important anti-bullying work of Dolly’s Dream, sharing the message to be kind and speak even if your voice shakes.
Get involved on May 10 for Do It For Dolly Day and Go Blue to End Bullying. To register, donate or find out more click here.
Dolly’s Dream provides the following resources, support services and programs:
- Dolly’s Dream Support Line
- Australia wide, free 24-hour telephone service with qualified counsellors available to help by calling 0488 881 033. Webchat is also available.
- Beacon Cyber Safety app
- Free app that provides families with trustworthy, practical resources to help them confidently navigate their children’s technology use and reduce associated harms.
- Dolly’s Dream School Workshops
- Online safety and anti-bullying workshops for students of all ages, as well as parents, teachers and the general community.
- Mental Health First Aid Training
- Dolly’s Dream works with communities to deliver Mental Health First Aid Training to help build their capacity in coping with mental health issues.
- Dolly’s Dream Parent Hub
- Trusted information about online safety and bullying in one place.
To report cyberbullying to eSafety
If the content is seriously harmful, and the service or platform does not help, a child or young person under 18 (or an adult they have authorised to help them) can report it to eSafety using its online form here.
