Building Respectful School Communities Through Our Bullying Prevention Program
Creating safe, respectful, and inclusive school cultures is essential for students’ mental health, academic outcomes, and sense of belonging. Schools aren’t just places for learning - they are communities that shape who young people become. That’s why preventing bullying in schools isn’t optional - it’s urgent.
At the heart of our work is a peer-led bullying prevention program that prioritises student voice, agency, and leadership. Our award-winning approach is grounded in peer-reviewed and program evidence.
Why Bullying Prevention Programs Matter
Bullying in schools - whether physical, verbal, online, or social - can cause serious harm. It affects mental wellbeing, academic engagement, and student safety. Effective bully prevention in schools must go beyond awareness campaigns and one - off workshops. It needs to be embedded in school culture.
SUP focuses on long-term culture change by equipping students with practical tools to prevent bullying. Our goal is to build a generation of upstanders - students who act when they see harm and model respectful behaviour every day.
The Four D Model: Upstander Strategies That Work
At the centre of SUP is the globally recognised Four D Model:
Direct: Speak up when it’s safe to do so.
Distract: Change the subject or redirect attention.
Delay: Support the person later, after the moment has passed.
Delegate: Ask for help from a trusted adult or peer.
These strategies are easy to remember, easy to use, and effective, making bully prevention in schools more practical, immediate, and student-friendly.
Frequently Asked Questions
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SUP is designed for whole-school participation, with a special focus on empowering student leaders.
Here’s how it works:
All students in a selected year level (e.g. Grade 5/6 or Year 7) begin by participating in foundation sessions. These sessions teach the core concepts of bullying prevention, leadership, and Upstander strategies.
From this group, SUP Student Leaders are nominated - either by teachers or peers, or through an application process. These students then receive additional training and take the lead in delivering lessons to younger students, running school initiatives, and even presenting to staff and parents.
Teachers and school staff also participate through professional learning sessions and co-facilitating alongside students.
Parents and carers are invited to dedicated sessions to support consistent messages at home.
In short, SUP is open to all members of the school community, but it puts students in the driver’s seat - because meaningful culture change starts with them.
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Absolutely not. SUP is open to any student who is willing to participate and make an impact. The student leadership training is structured to develop leadership skills so students grow throughout the experience.
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SUP consists of five core in-person sessions, with added workshops, planning meetings, and support materials. The overall duration will vary based on school calendars and student projects.
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The Stand-Up Project provides comprehensive support to schools before, during, and after program delivery.
This includes:
Planning & Logistics Support: We work closely with school leadership to tailor delivery dates, session structures, and student selection based on your school’s unique needs.
In-Person Facilitation: Our expert facilitators run engaging, age-appropriate sessions with students, staff, and families.
Leadership Resources: SUP Student Leaders receive lesson plans, activity guides, and presentation tools to help them succeed.
Staff & Parent Engagement: We offer dedicated teacher and family sessions to ensure a consistent, whole-school approach.
Evaluation Tools: We provide surveys, reflection activities, and end-of-year evaluation reports to measure impact.
Ongoing Communication: Our team remains available throughout the year to troubleshoot, adjust content, and offer guidance.
Contact Us
Hours
Monday–Friday
8am–6pm
Phone
0438 650 569
Location
1-3 Lakewood Blvd, Braeside VIC 3195