White Ribbon Day 2014

Brainstorm Productions teamed up with Canterbury Girls High School and Girraween High School for White Ribbon Day 2014 on 25th November to help raise awareness and much needed funds to support White Ribbon Australia’s work to break the silence around violence. 

Violence against women is at epidemic proportions. Devastatingly, on average, one woman is killed every week in Australia as a result of partner violence. While death is at the pointy end of a broad spectrum, violence against women and girls encompasses verbal, emotional, psychological, physical and sexual abuses, which all form part of a destructive cycle of violence.

The two Brainstorm Productions White Ribbon Day events held at Canterbury Girls High School and Girraween High School used educational theatre to address anti-social behaviour and how this can have a profound effect on student mental health and wellbeing. Students participated in a performance of ‘Cyberia’ which tackled digital violence in the form of cyber-bullying, one of the biggest threats to teenagers today.

The Herald-Sun recently reported that bullying behaviour is starting in children as young as age three; with research from the University of Wollongong revealing 93% of early childhood educators believe young children are capable of bullying. With most instances of bullying beginning in the playground with name calling, pushing and hair pulling, anti-bullying programs are vital to help guide primary school children who may already be displaying challenging or aggressive behaviour or to help kids who are being bullied.  

How have 1.7 million Australian students learnt how to use effective conflict resolution, manage their anger and look at violence and bullying in a new light? From engaging with our 'Sticks & Stones K-6’ and 'Sticks & Stones Yrs 7-10’ school programs. 

Bullying is a difficult issue for schools everywhere. Research from the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics ‘Census at Schools’ survey shows that bullying is now the #1 issue for Australian school kids, and with the average weekly time schoolchildren spend on a computer jumping from 3 hours in 2006 to 13 hours in 2013, there has been a correlating increase in kids struggling and falling victim to cyber bullying. 

Below is a case study from Reynella Primary School in Adelaide, illustrating how they use theatre in education to support their "Successful Learners Program", which is designed to encourage a positive learning environment at the beginning of each school year. If you'd like to know more about how Brainstorm Productions can assist your school, please click here to contact one of our friendly team.