Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd

06/06/2026

The P&Cs Qld Conference wrapped up yesterday, and what a privilege it was for Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd to be part of it.

Over the two days, we had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people from school communities across Queensland, share parts of Ollie’s story, and speak about why prevention, awareness, kindness and earlier conversations matter so deeply.

What stayed with us most were the people who stopped by, opened up, and shared their own stories with such honesty and vulnerability. Those conversations are exactly why this work matters. When we create space for people to feel safe enough to speak, we create space for connection, understanding and change.

It was also so lovely to catch up with the amazing Ariane Knowles from P&Cs Queensland, and of course Kristy Taylor-Rose, who was proudly rocking her Ollie’s Echo shirt and helping us share the message far and wide. And the girls from Share the Dignity....those headbands made our day 💗

Thank you to everyone who came to say hello, shared their story, asked questions, or offered support. We are so grateful.

Prevention starts with awareness, kindness and conversation and this conference was full of all three.

05/06/2026

Day one of the P&Cs Qld Conference is done, and what a wonderful first day it has been for Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd.

It has been so lovely connecting with parents, carers, P&Cs Qld members, school leaders and community advocates who care deeply about the wellbeing of young people.

Ollie’s Echo was created in memory of Ollie, a beautiful 14-year-old boy who took his own life after experiencing anorexia nervosa, bullying, mental health challenges and the pressures of today’s online world.

Our work is about awareness, education, kindness and earlier conversations helping families, schools and communities recognise when young people may be struggling, and creating safer, kinder environments before crisis point.

We’re looking forward to another big day tomorrow, sharing more about our school presentations, parent and carer sessions, educator resources and Kindness Kits.

If you’re at the conference tomorrow, please come and say hello. We’d love to connect.

02/06/2026

Today, on World Eating Disorders Action Day, we stand with individuals, families and communities around the world to say clearly: Stop stigma. Start care. Together.

Eating disorders do not discriminate, and they are not a choice. They affect people of all ages, genders and backgrounds, yet stigma continues to stop too many from being seen, heard and supported. At Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd, we believe prevention starts with awareness, compassion, early conversations and the courage to challenge the misconceptions that keep people silent.

This day is a reminder that words matter, kindness matters, and early support matters. By working together, we can help create a world where those experiencing eating disorders are met with understanding, not judgement, and where families feel supported, not alone.

Stop stigma. Start care. Together.

01/06/2026

What an afternoon of community, connection and hope.

On Friday, 29 May, we gathered at BRISBANE POWERHOUSE for the Ollie’s Echo Corporate Fundraising Lunch.

It was a deeply meaningful date for us. One year earlier, on 29 May 2025, Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd was officially launched at Brisbane Powerhouse on the Turbine Platform in front of more than 200 people.

One year on, we returned to the same beautiful venue, this time at Bar Alto with a smaller, carefully curated room of people who care deeply about prevention, mental health, young people and creating safer communities.

And what a room it was.

We are so grateful to everyone who joined us, listened so generously, shared so openly, and stood beside us as we continue building pathways to prevention.

A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful moderator Greg Atkinson and to our incredible speakers Anthony Corrie and Oscar Allen from the Brisbane Lions, Hayden Westwood, Grace Sholl and Dee Fuller, who each brought such honesty, vulnerability and wisdom to the conversation.

Thank you also to our Platinum Corporate Partner Helloworld Travel, our partners, prize donors, supporters and every guest who made the afternoon so special.

Ollie’s Echo exists because Ollie mattered. His life mattered. His story matters.

And with the support of this beautiful community, his Echo continues.

27/05/2026

Thank you to Successful Grants and in particular Jenny Lawson and her wonderful team, for the support they have been providing Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd with our grant submissions.

As a small, volunteer-led charity working hard to create meaningful change in prevention, early intervention and awareness, having people around us who understand the grant landscape and who take the time to understand our story, our purpose and our impact makes such a difference.

Grant writing is not just about filling in forms. It is about clearly communicating why this work matters, who it will reach, and the change it can help create in communities. Jenny and her team have helped us shape that story with care, clarity and professionalism.

We are so grateful for their guidance, patience and belief in the work of Ollie’s Echo as we continue building pathways to prevention for young people, families, schools and communities.

Thank you, Jenny and the Successful Grants team, we are very lucky to have you in our corner.

25/05/2026

This lunch was intentionally designed as a small, invite-only gathering bringing together a carefully curated group of people from across business, health, education and community who care deeply about prevention, mental health and creating safer environments for young people.

With only 4 tickets now remaining for our Ollie’s Echo Corporate Fundraising Lunch this Friday, we’ve decided to open the final seats to those within our broader network who may wish to attend.

This won’t be a typical fundraising event.

It’s a space for genuine connection, meaningful conversation and shared purpose as we discuss prevention, social media, body image, youth mental health and the importance of creating kinder, safer environments for young people before crisis occurs.

Over the past 12 months, Ollie’s Echo has reached more than 3,500 students through school presentations and community talks, opening up critical conversations around eating disorders in boys, body image and online culture.

We’re incredibly grateful to have:
▪ Anthony Corrie, Head of Player Welfare and Wellbeing at the Brisbane Lions
▪ A Brisbane Lions player
▪ Our Ambassador Hayden, joining us from Sydney to share his lived experience
▪ Grace Sholl, Mental Health and Su***de Prevention Advocate
▪ Dee Fuller, Dee Fuller Fit

📍 Bar Alto, Brisbane Powerhouse
📅 Friday, 29 May 2026
🕛 12 noon – 3pm

If you would like to join us, we would genuinely love to have you in the room.

Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/ollie-s-echo-pathways-to-prevention-ltd-corporate-fundraising-lunch

20/05/2026

Last week, our Founder Mia Bannister stood in Brisbane City Council Chambers and told Ollie’s story.

She spoke about her beautiful boy, her only child, and the life he should still be living. She spoke about anorexia, bullying, mental health, the online world, and the devastating impact these things can have when a young person is already vulnerable.

But she also spoke about prevention.

Because Ollie’s story is not just a story of loss. It is the reason behind Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd.

Standing in that Chamber and sharing such a deeply personal part of her life was not easy. But these are the conversations that need to be had in the rooms where decisions are made.

Our young people need earlier support. They need safer online spaces. They need schools, families, communities and governments working together. They need to know that their lives matter, their words matter, and that kindness can be a pathway to prevention.

We are incredibly grateful to the Councillors and Council team who listened with such care and compassion, and for the conversations that have already begun about how Ollie’s Echo can reach more communities across Brisbane.

For Ollie.
For every young person still here.
And for every family who has had to carry the unimaginable.

Kindness is prevention.
Words matter.
And Ollie’s echo continues.

17/05/2026

We’re proud to be part of the P&Cs Qld State Conference this June.

If you’re involved in your school’s P&C, this is such a valuable opportunity to connect, share ideas and take practical strategies back to your school community.

At Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd, we’re looking forward to speaking with parents, carers, educators and school communities about prevention, kindness, mental health, online safety and the role we can all play in supporting young people before they reach crisis point.

We’ll be there across the two days at Booth #32, come and say hello.

📅 5–6 June 2026
📍 P&Cs Qld State Conference, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

16/05/2026

We have always believed there needs to be accountability on both sides.

Parents and carers have a role to play. We need to stay informed, have the hard conversations, set boundaries, delay access where needed, and hold the line even when it feels difficult.

But let’s be very clear: families should never be expected to carry this burden alone.

The greater responsibility must sit with the tech platforms whose systems are deliberately designed to capture attention, drive engagement and keep children online.

These are not neutral spaces. They are engineered environments, and when children are harmed within them, accountability cannot stop at the family front door.

This legislation was never about “banning kids”. It was about stopping billion-dollar platforms from accessing children unless they can prove they can do so safely.

And on the issue of Discord and Roblox, Jen Hoey is absolutely right. It should have been captured in the legislation. Any platform where children are gathering, communicating and being exposed to harm should not sit outside serious scrutiny. We hope this will be addressed through the proposed Digital Duty of Care, which is intended to shift responsibility from individuals to online services by requiring them to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm.

Because this is bigger than one app. It is about the design of digital environments. It is about accountability. And it is about making sure children are not left to navigate unsafe online spaces while adults argue over technicalities.

At Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd, we will continue to advocate for stronger protections, better education, and real accountability, for platforms, for systems, and for the communities around our children.

Parents can hold the line.
But platforms must be made to draw one too.

16/05/2026

Families fought too hard for this law to be treated like a suggestion.

Today’s article in The Courier-Mail captures the frustration so many parents and advocates are feeling.

Australia introduced world-leading legislation to stop social media platforms from accessing children under 16. But months on, families are asking a very fair question: where is the accountability?

The eSafety Commissioner has reportedly placed platforms “on notice” and investigations are ongoing, but no fines have yet been issued despite penalties of up to $50 million being available for serious breaches.

At Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd, we believe this moment matters.

Because this was never about “banning kids”. It was about stopping billion-dollar platforms from accessing children unless they can prove they are safe.

Families cannot compete with algorithms designed to maximise engagement, comparison and harm. Parents cannot carry this burden alone. And children should not be the testing ground for weak compliance, delayed action or voluntary promises.

We respect the need for process. But process must not become a place where accountability disappears.

For every family who has lived the consequences of online harm, this is deeply personal.

Education remains critical too.

Young people, parents, carers, educators and communities all need the tools to understand the online world our children are growing up in. The algorithms, the pressures, the comparison, the bullying, the harmful content, and the way these platforms are designed to keep them engaged.

But education cannot sit on families and schools alone.

We need both: strong education and strong enforcement.

Safety cannot be optional. Compliance cannot be performative. And children’s wellbeing must come before the comfort of tech giants.

The law was passed for a reason. Now it needs to be enforced.

Thank you to Eilidh Mellis and News Corp Australia for continuing to shine a light on this issue and for giving families a voice in this important conversation.

Read the article here:
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/let-them-be-kids/australias-esafety-watchdog-refuses-to-fine-tech-giants-over-social-media-age-ban/news-story/3e01dee7aa87aec3d1c4e4a2f894d852

Five months into Australia’s world-first social media ban for under 16s, the eSafety Commissioner still won’t fine platforms flagrantly flouting the rules, citing “procedural fairness” and lack of “sufficient evidence”.