By Ewen McRae
A nationwide online anti-bullying campaign will launch in Melton this week.
The event, titled Project Rockit, will bring together more than 300 students from 15 Melton schools at Melton Christian College on May 21. The project is aimed at empowering students as digital ambassadors to tackle online hate and create positive social change.
It is part of a national campaign supported by a $1 million investment from Facebook and Instagram.
Project Rockit chief executive Lucy Thomas said it was about creating young leaders to influence online behaviour.
“Our vision for a Project Rockit digital ambassador is to be a powerful source of leadership in the online world,” Ms Thomas said. “Digital ambassadors recognise their power in the online world and use that power for good.
“They use their unique strengths to stand up, challenge the status quo and reclaim technology as a tool for positivity.”
The course aims to create 10,000 digital ambassadors in 600 schools by the end of 2020.
A similar anti-bullying campaign has been running for several years, targeting bullying in schools.
Facebook Australia’s policy director, Mia Garlick said expanding the message to the online space was a logical next step.
Details: www.projectrockit.com.au.
