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.

For more information about Better Buddies, please visit our new website at www.betterbuddies.org.au

Better Buddies in 2010

In 2010 The Alannah and Madeline Foundation's Better Buddies Team are delighted to be working with our proud partner NAB and other community groups. 

In recent years we have received funding from a range of Trusts and Foundations and community groups to take Better Buddies to even more schools.  Thank you to our supporters to date:  Chain Reaction Bike Challenge, ChillOut, City of Melbourne, Daylesford Rotary Club, Harcourts Foundation, Hepburn Shire, Hobart City Council, National Pharmacies, Tasmanian Community Foundation, Tasmanian Community Fund, The Jack Brockhoff Foundation, The Pierce Armstrong Foundation, The Shane Warne Foundation and The William Buckland Foundation.

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. 

Key Dates for Better Buddies

January to July

Schools may register their interest to become a Better Buddies school. Sponsored positions are allocated as they become available. Regular newsletters and information are provided to help shools plan for the implementation for the following year.

February

Better Buddies Welcome

Buddy Week

May

Better Buddies Games

Aug

Better Buddies Book Week

October to December

Student training in preparation for the new year.

November

Better Buddies Celebration

Supporting Students

The Better Buddies Framework is designed to enhance buddy programs to support students' orientation and transition during their first year of primary school.  For this reason and the need to confirm the availability of sponsored places, expressions of interest to participate in Better Buddies will be accepted throughout the year; however resourcing and implementation will begin towards the end of the year.  For example, student training for senior buddies ideally takes place at the end of the year.  The Better Buddies Team will provide information and support to schools in the meantime in order to help them prepare to implement the Framework.  Better Buddies is designed to be adapted to meet the needs of your school community, so the Better Buddies Team endeavours to be flexible in their approach to working with schools.  Schools interested in purchasing the Framework themselves should contact a member of the Better Buddies Team or phone (03) 9697 0666 to discuss this option.

Register your interest for 2011!

Schools may register their interest in receiving a Better Buddies Framework for the 2011 school year and will receive ongoing support and information to help them plan for implementation.

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.

Buddy Bear

Buddy Bear as he appears today!

The mascot of Better Buddies is a giant fun-loving and caring purple bear, Buddy Bear. As well as learning about the values of Better Buddies through formal and informal acitivities, students learn about them through their interactions with Buddy Bear (online, in activity books and in real life).

The Alannah and Madeline Foundation would like to acknowledge Michael Salmon as the illustrator of the original Buddy Bear. The Foundation is very grateful to Michael for his valuable support.