Refocus Youth Support

Refocus Youth Support is a youth service I founded in 2015 purely to provide extra education and support around BULLYING PREVENTION in schools and in the community for young people. Refocus draws on the Bullying Prevention Response Guide and the NZ Bully Frees site as the backbone of the program. Refocus is currently operating without funding but there is a high demand for the service to continue for young people & whanau.

Refocus Youth Support works in both primary schools and in secondary schools. It is a three pronged, fluid program, to assist parents, schools and young people with bullying prevention and management.

Refocus Youth Support's program has been successfully tested and proven effective. Refocus is now in the process of securing funding to provide this service to not just primary or secondary schools but also other target groups such as LBGTQ community, Maori, and Pacific Islander communities.

Bullying is wide spread in NZ. Refocus Youth Support is strong on providing advocacy and workable solutions for young people who are affected by online bullying, social exclusion, physical and verbal bullying.

I (Rowan Leoni) am a qualified mental health worker, youth worker and teacher aide with over 10 years experience working with young people in community service arena. Through my research, it is clear the that the Bullying Prevention Response Guide and the NZ Bully Free site is not being utilized by many schools as much as it could be. In response to this, I have developed Refocus to bridge the gap and create a support service that is fluid, adaptable and works along side schools and community organizations.