Welcome back to Elevate Her! 🌟 In this episode, we sit down with the incredible Rosie Thomas OAM, co-founder of Project Rockit—Australia’s leading youth-driven movement against bullying, hate, and prejudice.

Rosie shares how a spark of frustration and injustice she felt after high school led her and her sister Lucy to create Project Rockit 20 years ago. Their mission? To build a world where kindness and respect are louder than bullying and prejudice. With vulnerability and fire, Rosie reflects on how students can feel labelled and limited from the first day of high school, and how those impacts can shape the rest of their adolescence.

This episode is packed with practical advice for parents, carers and educators—whether it’s identifying signs of bullying, holding space for your teen, navigating tricky school dynamics, or supporting kids in the digital age. Rosie also dives into the delicate balance of preparing young people for risk without overprotecting them, and why the “allyship muscle” needs to be developed just like any other life skill.

We also tackle the big one—social media. Rosie unpacks the harms and the critical opportunities it presents, from connection and mental health support to global youth-led movements.

From practical tips to emotional insight, this is an episode full of wisdom, empathy, and a rallying call to raise brave, kind, and capable young people.

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome to Elevate Her!

02:00 - Meet Rosie Thomas: Co-founder of Project Rockit

05:00 - The Schoolyard Lottery: Why Kindness is a Game-Changer

09:00 - What Parents Can Do When Their Child is Being Bullied

13:00 - Building Resilience Without Overprotection

16:00 - Social Media & Mental Health: A Complicated Reality

22:00 - The Power of Digital Connection for Marginalised Youth

25:00 - Teaching Allyship and Peer Support in Schools

30:00 - Practical First Steps When Bullying Is Disclosed

34:00 - The Emotional Labour of Parents & Finding Your Support Crew

36:00 - Final Thoughts: A Message to Teenage Rosie

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Tune in to learn how you can empower young people to navigate the challenges of adolescence and develop a strong sense of self-worth.

This episode is a must-listen for parents, educators, and anyone passionate about supporting the next generation! 🌈✨

Looking for further support?

Lifeline - 13 11 14

QLife - 1800 184 527

Butterfly Foundation - 1800 33 4673

Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800