Better Buddies

Better Buddies overview

One of the most common forms of violence in the lives of children is bullying. In Australia it affects approximately one student in every four¹.  Bullying can have a devastating effect on a child.  In addition, children who portray bullying behaviours are more likely to commit anti-social behaviour and criminal acts.²

The Alannah and Madeline Foundation's Better Buddies Framework is an initiative designed to create friendly and caring primary school communities where bullying is reduced.

Through Better Buddies, children in their first and last year of primary school buddy up and learn the values: caring for others, friendliness, respect, valuing difference, including others and responsibility. All children in the school learn these values through formal and informal activities, including their interactions with the mascot Buddy Bear, our giant, fun-loving and caring purple bear. 

Better Buddies enables younger children to feel safe and cared for while older children feel valued and respected. It is designed to enhance existing buddy programs or introduce a buddy program to primary schools for the first time.  The evidence-based framework complements existing school welfare programs, is easy to implement and links to national curriculum initiatives.

Every child has a right to be safe from victimisation, violence and abuse at school. ‘It is a fundamental democratic right for a child to feel safe in school and to be spared the oppression and repeated, intentional humiliation implied in bullying.’ ³

Bullying is when someone (or a group of people) with more power than you, repeatedly and intentionally uses negative words and/or actions against you, which cause distress and risks your wellbeing. Bullying can be physical, verbal, emotional or social and can be carried out in person or electronically.

For more information about bullying please visit the National Centre Against Bullying website.

Better Buddies in 2009

In 2009 The Alannah and Madeline Foundation’s Better Buddies Team are delighted to be working with our proud partner NAB and other community groups. 

In 2009 we have also received funding from Trusts and Foundations to take Better Buddies to even more schools. Thank you to The Shane Warne Foundation, The Jack Brockhoff Foundation and The Pearce Armstrong Foundation. 

We are also pleased to have continued support from the ChillOut Festival, Hepburn Shire to develop a new unit of work called Buddies for Wildlife with Hepburn Wildlife Shelter and Wildlife Victoria. 

Our partnership with NAB, other Trusts and Foundations and community groups has allowed us to offer more sponsored positions to schools across Australia to implement Better Buddies. 

We still have a few limited sponsorship places available for Better Buddies for 2009, if your school is interested please contact on 03 9697 0666 or email betterbuddies@amf.org.au.

Applications now open for 2010!

Applications now open for sponsored Better Buddies Framework in 2010!!

You will receive an automatically generated email within 24 hours to confirm successful submission of your application. If you do not receive notice of successful submission within 24 hours, please use the downloadable form or contact the Foundation on 03 9697 0666.