A powerful evening of reflection, advocacy, and community action unfolded at Revesby Workers’ Club, as the Light on the Hill Anti-Bullying Forum brought together leaders, families, and community members united by one goal—to create a kinder future for young people.

Held on Thursday, 23 April 2026, the forum formed part of a growing movement to address bullying through early intervention, awareness, and meaningful reform.

A Night Driven by Purpose

The evening commenced with a welcome from Light on the Hill Chair and Club Director Linda Downey, setting the tone for what would become an emotional and deeply impactful discussion.

Key speaker Chris Barton from Step Into Action and Charlotte’s Wish shared his personal journey, highlighting the importance of movement, connection, and emotional intelligence as critical pillars in supporting youth mental health.

Drawing from his own experiences, he emphasised that change begins with action:

“We’re born to move… if we don’t move, not only our physical health but our mental health suffers.”

A Story That Touched the Nation

At the heart of the forum was the deeply moving story of Charlotte—shared by her parents Matt Howard and Kelly O’Brien.

Charlotte, remembered as “funny, smart, caring, and full of love,” tragically lost her life following prolonged bullying, including online abuse.

Kelly described her daughter as:

“Someone who noticed every little thing… she just knew how to make you feel good about being you.”

The weeks leading up to Charlotte’s passing revealed a painful reality—bullying that began subtly within friendship groups before escalating, eventually extending into the online space.

What made the story even more confronting was that, to her family, Charlotte had appeared happier in her final days.

Turning Grief Into Action

Despite unimaginable loss, Charlotte’s family made the courageous decision to transform their grief into advocacy.

Just weeks after her passing, they travelled to Canberra, meeting with national leaders including Prime Minister the Hon. Anthony Albanese and the Hon. Peter Dutton to push for reform.

Their advocacy contributed to major changes, including:

• Social media restrictions for under-16s
• A national anti-bullying framework for schools

Speaking about these reforms, Matt explained:

“It’s about giving kids more time—to build resilience and emotional intelligence before they’re exposed to that world.”

Australia has since taken a leading role globally, with early implementation already showing significant impact.

National School Reforms Introduced

The forum also highlighted newly introduced national anti-bullying guidelines led by the Hon. Jason Clare – Federal Minister of Education.

For the first time, all schools across Australia—regardless of system—will follow consistent standards.

One of the most significant changes is a mandatory 48-hour response requirement, ensuring schools:

• Investigate incidents promptly
• Implement solutions
• Prevent recurrence

As Matt shared:

“You can’t dismiss it anymore… if a parent raises it, you have to act.”

A Call for Cultural Change

Kelly O’Brien delivered one of the night’s most powerful messages—challenging long-standing attitudes towards bullying.

“Let’s stop saying ‘be the better person and ignore it’… let’s start saying ‘be the better person and stop it.’”

She called for a shift from passive bystanders to active “upstanders,” urging individuals to speak up when they witness harmful behaviour.

“If just one person had stepped in… things could have been different.”

Her message reinforced a central theme of the evening: Kindness is not optional—it is essential.

Community Support in Action

The event also showcased the strength of community involvement.

The Education Committee of Revesby Workers’ Club announced a significant $20,000 donation to support the scholarship program, contributing to more than $100,000 raised overall for youth-focused initiatives.

The committee—known for its annual scholarships for Year 12 students and grants supporting local projects—chose to direct part of its funding towards this cause, reinforcing its commitment to education and community wellbeing.

These funds will support scholarships designed to assist young people aged 11–14 in the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA through:

• Mental health services
• Sport and movement programs
• Personal development and life skills

Kelly highlighted the true measure of success: “I don’t measure success in dollars and cents… I measure it in happiness.”

A Vision for the Future

With a goal of 5,000 scholarships across Australia, the initiative aims to create a ripple effect—supporting not just individuals, but families, schools, and entire communities.

“We can’t change the whole world,” Kelly said, “but we can change the world of every life we touch.”

A Lasting Message

As the evening concluded, one message remained clear: Everybody matters. Every day.

The Light on the Hill Anti-Bullying Forum was more than an event—it was a call to action.

A reminder that change begins with individuals, grows through community, and becomes lasting through courage, compassion, and collective responsibility.