The bullies and the bullied talk - made by young people - a program that works

How do you get young people to talk about bullying? How do you get bullies to acknowledge what they are doing?

A program made by young people, some of whom are victims of bullying, is getting kids to do just that.

Walk in my Shoes is a program developed through Wesley Mission Brisbane by young people who have disengaged from mainstream education for a variety of reasons, including bullying.

“I have been bullied,” said 17 year old film-maker Jade, “I ran away and I didn’t face it. I wish there had been something like this available for me. I think this program helps people like me.”

The Walk in my Shoes program carries a raw and honest message of survival and hope that speaks in a language everyone can relate to. By exploring bullying from the point of view of bullies, victims and teachers the program gives a thorough and holistic approach that reaches people – and that works.

“There’s a little bit of magic there,” says Program Coordinator Fiona Ware. “Walk in my Shoes opens people up, gets them talking and that’s a hard thing to do. It makes it a lot easier to get people to think about what they are doing – and honestly opens them up to the possibility that being a bully [or being bullied] just isn’t acceptable.”

Endorsed by bullying expert Professor Bruce Burton, of Griffith University, Walk in my Shoes has already been successfully trialed and implemented at a number of schools.

Nerang State High School’s Deputy Headmaster, Trish Berryman, is a strong advocate of the program. In follow up sessions she found students had, and continue, to talk about bullying and the program with their peers, their parents, siblings and others.

“What makes this so effective is it’s brutally honest and we’ve been there. Most of us have suffered at the hands of bullies. We know first-hand exactly what it feels like - and we also know how to pull ourselves out of the deep, dark hole that bullying may dig.” Sharne (film-maker, 15 years old).

Wesley Mission Brisbane staff have supervised all stages of the program development.

For more information about Walk in my Shoes please click here.