In a town where young people feel overlooked and under-resourced, PROJECT ROCKIT delivered three powerful days of workshops at Bannockburn P–12 College - sparking important conversations about bullying, digital safety, and community change. With support from the Anthony Costa Foundation and coverage from local media, the program gave students the tools to take action and raised youth voices on issues reaching far beyond the school gate.
We had a huge impact in Bannockburn - a town that students and teachers alike described as ‘fallen through the cracks’. Trains and buses have stopped running in/out of the town and there are “more pubs than medical facilities” according to students. A massive shoutout to our presenters who delivered three days of powerful workshops, navigating all the complexities that come with working in schools.
You are incredible.
PRF was thrilled to have the funders (Anthony Costa Foundation) shadow a workshop as well as secure media coverage from the Geelong Advertiser and Golden Plains Shire to amplify the voices of Year 8 students Isobel, Logan (and Dot!)
Our Head of School Programs, Dot Bertrand, sharing the purpose of PROJECT ROCKIT's visit - all about teaching the next generation about what harmful actions can do to school communities.
“We’re talking about interpersonal bullying and also online bullying and unpacking the conversations around that,” she said.
“It’s been really informative and the young people here have so much to say even beyond the school gate and it’s been really insightful to hear the issues they’re having.
“It’s also been great to be able to talk about some of the tips and tricks from Project Rockit that are really relatable to young people today.”
Sessions focused on improving digital literacy as well as utilising tools to combat cyber-bullying, to the broader impact on the community as a whole.
From Year 8 student Isobel, one of about 80 Bannockburn P-12 College students participating in the program.
“They did lots of activities and sat us down, explained what bullying was and gave us some strategies to help us,” she said.
“What I found most informative was they gave us some suggestions on what to do when you see someone bullied.
“My favourite was the idea of taking the attention off the person being bullied by cracking a joke or something like that.”
Bannockburn P-12 College principal George Porter on his hopes to see Project Rockit’s impact at the school exceed beyond their three-day visit.
“They’re dealing with issues important to kids in that age group so it’s so good to have people that are trained to come out and engage and talk to them,” he said.
“It’s always ideal to have outside experts come in. The kids have been very engaged and the presenters have been fantastic in the way they’ve answered questions and raised issues.”
An additional case study group also gave the team a wider insight into issues facing Bannockburn youth as a whole.
“I met with a small group of young people and they spoke about things like the level of racism, as well as climate issues and the amount of littering they experience in the school,” Dot said.
“They feel like, as young people, they need to take action to create a better environment.
“When we looked at beyond the school gates, they also spoke about the fact that alcohol and drugs in Bannockburn’s community is actually a really big issue.
“One of our young year 7s said ‘it’s like we have more pubs than health resources. How are young people here meant to have a better future when we’re not set up for success?’ It was very insightful.”
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