Latest news with #TracyAdams
News.com.au
23-07-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Girl, 7, contemplates suicide, reaches our for help
A seven-year-old girl made a phone call late one night telling a stranger she was thinking about killing herself. That call saved her life. The little schoolgirl, who is still in regular contact with her professional counsellor at Kids Helpline, is just one of 4000 Australian children aged five to nine who reach out for help every year. 'That's a lot of really young people who have the courage to ask for help,' Kids Helpline CEO Tracy Adams told 'We take our role to provide them with free, professional support any hour of the day extremely seriously,' she said. 'I really celebrate that they have that courage and absolute ability to recognise in themselves that they need to talk to someone and help them through what's worrying them. 'The fact they understand themselves well enough to do that is very special. They should never feel not worthy and not valued. We have built a whole service for children and young people, not anyone else, so that's how much we value them.' Last year the service carried out 135,000 counselling responses to people from the age of five to 25. Three per cent of all those contacts were made from children between five and nine years old. Bullying is one of the key issues affecting the young children who reach out. The epidemic is claiming lives of children turning to suicide as an escape. This month a 10-year-old girl died in her bedroom on the NSW South Coast. 'We are not going to solve the bullying issue if we don't engage with young people,' Ms Adams said. 'It's really about building respect, celebrating diversity and helping students and young people to embrace their differences, celebrate them rather than feeling like differences make children a target.' Ms Adams said the support service, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, not only helps young people but 'walks beside families who have suffered great tragedy'. One such family is Kellie and Mat O'Brien from Sydney who lost their 12-year-old daughter Charlotte to suicide last year. The O'Briens are holding a Charlotte's Wish charity event in August this year to raise much needed funds for the service so no child ever has their call unanswered. 'In the wake of our unimaginable loss, we are honouring her legacy by channelling our heartbreak into action,' Mat O'Brien said. 'We aim to strengthen Kids Helpline's capacity to engage, inform, and support children, young people, parents, carers, and educators. It's crucial for everyone to have access to the right support, at the right time, in the right way, and at no cost – 24/7,' he said. 'Our goal is to create a stronger safety net for children and young people, enabling them to access the right support when they need it most. We truly want no child or young person to feel alone, unheard, or helpless in the face of bullying. 'By working together to honour Charlotte, we believe we can create lasting change in the lives of children, young people, and their families.' Mr O'Brien said that while bullying is a complex issue, doing nothing isn't an option.' The charity is also having a Giving Day on Thursday, hoping to raise $500,000 to allow for another 9000 counselling contacts a year.
ABC News
21-07-2025
- ABC News
Distress rates from school bullying higher than COVID times, with children as young as 10 facing online and in-person abuse
Warning: This story contains discussion of suicide. School bullying has reached devastating new peaks in Australia, with figures showing rising rates of children as young as 10 expressing serious emotional distress following online and in-person abuse. Crisis counselling service Kids Helpline is sounding the alarm, with its data showing a rising proportion of calls from children aged 10 to 14 who are experiencing bullying and having thoughts of suicide. While health data indicates these thoughts very rarely translate into actions, Kids Helpline chief executive Tracy Adams said they were a key measure of mental health. "[What] we are really seeing over the last five years is significant growth in the level of distress and it's actually higher levels of distress among our younger children," she said. "The nature is now online and offline. So young people are still being physically assaulted, they're still being verbally abused. They're also being isolated and we're seeing that play out in the online environment as well." It coincides with the latest release of data from the landmark Australian Child Maltreatment study that shows more than one in four (28.7 per cent) adults reported being bullied at school, and these rates were not improving for each new generation. The new data is backed by figures from the office of the eSafety Commissioner, which show school-age cyberbullying complaints surged 456 per cent in the past five years — from 536 to 2,978 — and in 2024 nearly half of reports involved children under the age of 13. The office said it was increasingly dealing with deepfakes involving pornographic depictions of classmates or teachers that it must refer to the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The AFP's Centre to Counter Child Exploitation reported a 27.7 per cent rise in reports from the commissioner relating to child image-based abuse, sextortion and cyberbullying in the two years to 2024 from adults and minors. Charlie Ford was just 10 years old when she was first bullied through school messaging apps. By the time she was 13, it had escalated to threats of physical violence, exclusion at school, and gossip being spread over social media videos. At one point, her mother, Serena Ford, said she overheard school friends telling her daughter on a video chat to self-harm. When she spoke to the girls, it was met with verbal abuse. Over time, Charlie said her mental health declined significantly, and she would try to escape the car on the drive to school. "I didn't really want to go to school because of all the threats," she said. "I'd be hearing things from people and that would just make me break down in tears." Serena said it was devastating to watch the spark go out of her once bright little girl. "I had nights where I had to sleep with her because she was just so upset," she said. But after reaching out for help, Charlie got support, and the 16-year-old is now enrolled in distance education. In February, the federal government launched an Anti-Bullying Rapid Review, with findings due to be handed down later this year just as the social media ban for under 16s comes into effect. Co-chair Dr Charlotte Keating said they had received more than 1,600 responses from schools, teachers, parents and young people from around the country. "We've been tasked with putting together potential models for what a consistent national standard could look like to respond to bullying in schools," she said. Serena Ford said each time Charlie moved schools, the institutions' investigations were slow and protracted, and their responses ineffective. "They just kept putting it on Charlie as in, 'she is the problem; she needs to be more resilient'." At one point the family were threatened with breaking the law for not sending Charlie to school but were given no help to find her an alternative place. Serena said schools failed to acknowledge the overlap between schools, friendships and technology. "They told me that 'it's happening outside of school, so it's not their problem'." Ms Adams said their figures indicated Australia was not getting its anti-bullying policies right. In 2024, Kids Helpline received more than 3,500 calls and online contacts about bullying alone. The proportion that involved a child experiencing bullying and having thoughts of suicide was higher than at the peak of COVID lockdowns, which was a "critical mental health concern". "When we see levels of distress to the nature that Kids Helpline is getting, we see tragic consequences," she said. The latest release of data from the Australian Child Maltreatment study also raised questions about the country's responses to school bullying. The study of 8,500 Australians found despite at least two decades of extensive anti-bullying policies in schools, there was "no meaningful change" in the number of people experiencing bullying in their childhood over the past five decades. Lead author Dr Hannah Thomas, from the University of Queensland, said childhood bullying had been linked to higher rates of depression and other mental illness. "Those mental health harms happen not only just during childhood, but they tend to follow people into adulthood as well," she said. The study did find the duration of the bullying was shorter among the most recent generation of 16 to 24-year-olds. Dr Thomas said this suggested some anti-bullying policies "might be working". The Australian Child Maltreatment Study found the main reason people were bullied was because of their height or weight, followed by race or ethnicity, disability, sexuality and gender identity. Kids Helpline said reports to their counsellors suggested bullying happened both in-person and online and could range from physical assault to the use of anonymous online comments. New technologies were compounding the problem, according to the experts. The eSafety Commissioner's office said cyberbullying reports included sending hurtful messages, sharing embarrassing photos, spreading gossip, exclusion from chats and catfishing. "We're not teaching young people to deal with differences with kindness," Ms Adams said. "We see adults behaving poorly online. So we have to ask ourselves, as adults, are we role modelling?" Ms Adams said amid the troubling figures Kids Helpline was hopeful about a rise in young people seeking help. "We've got to continue to promote the strategies that young people have available," she said. Charlie and Serena said they were speaking out because they wanted young people to have more education about how to interact and more support for parents to get their children help. "I really want to make a change because nobody deserves to be treated the way I was treated," Charlie said.
IOL News
29-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Straining to support: South Africa's social grants are vital but can the state keep up?
Economic challenges and the future of social grants in South Africa Image: Tracy Adams Social relief of distress, or social grants, is a key part of South Africa's welfare system; however, recent data indicates that its role is increasingly strained, raising concerns about sustainability, economic growth, and social cohesion. According to the latest General Household Survey released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), an unprecedented 40.1% of the population - approximately 25.4 million individuals-now rely on social grants. This marks a significant increase from previous years and reflects a steady rise in dependence, particularly amid persistent unemployment and economic challenges. Risenga Maluleke, Statistician-General of South Africa, noted that the country's official unemployment rate hit 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025. Such figures highlight the stark depth of economic hardship many face, with social grants serving as a vital safety net without sufficient employment opportunities. Paul Maritz, Director at Free SA, a foundation advocating for rights, equality, and systemic reform, highlighted the gravity of this dependence. 'The growing reliance on social grants - now affecting over 25 million people — highlights deep socio-economic challenges and the urgent need for structural change,' he explained. 'Our proposed Power to the People Amendment aims to address these issues by reducing waste, devolving policing, and breaking monopolies that hinder economic opportunity.' Maritz warned that 'sustained dependence on grants without parallel investment in job creation risks entrenching a welfare economy that stifles individual potential and hampers long-term growth.' He warned that if current trends persist, South Africa's economy could face stagnation, shrinking tax bases, and rising inequality-all threatening social stability. The fiscal burden of social grants is significant. In 2011, the South African government allocated around 3.5% of GDP to social assistance, which has grown over the years. The Centre for Global Development estimated that expenditure on social grants, particularly the Child Support Grant (CSG), reached nearly ZAR31 billion (approximately US$4.2 billion) in 2010-11. Instead, they argued that they serve as a necessary-but insufficient-measure to support those unable to provide for themselves. "While grants have helped improve food security, children's well-being, and school attendance,' Maritz warned that they are not a long-term solution to poverty. 'Overdependence can distort labor markets. When social assistance becomes a substitute for employment, it can disincentivize active job-seeking and skills development. 'Countries with more developed economies often implement prerequisites or conditions tied to grants, encouraging recipients to pursue upskilling or community participation.' He added that the current approach risks creating a stagnating workforce and reducing overall productivity in South Africa, thereby hindering economic growth and perpetuating inequality. 'Ironically, the system designed to reduce inequality may inadvertently reinforce it if not paired with empowerment strategies. 'Without access to meaningful employment, quality education, and secure communities, social mobility remains elusive for many beneficiaries.' Furthermore, dependence on grants without addressing the root causes-unemployment, corruption, and inefficient public services-could erode trust in institutions. Maritz warned that 'a society where millions feel trapped and unheard is inherently unstable,' stressing the need for comprehensive reforms.
IOL News
29-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Welfare State? Concerns grow over South Africa's unsustainable rising dependence on social grants
Economic challenges and the future of social grants in South Africa Image: Tracy Adams Social relief of distress, or social grants, is a key part of South Africa's welfare system; however, recent data indicates that its role is increasingly strained, raising concerns about sustainability, economic growth, and social cohesion. According to the latest General Household Survey released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), an unprecedented 40.1% of the population - approximately 25.4 million individuals-now rely on social grants. This marks a significant increase from previous years and reflects a steady rise in dependence, particularly amid persistent unemployment and economic challenges. Risenga Maluleke, Statistician-General of South Africa, noted that the country's official unemployment rate hit 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025. Such figures highlight the stark depth of economic hardship many face, with social grants serving as a vital safety net without sufficient employment opportunities. Paul Maritz, Director at Free SA, a foundation advocating for rights, equality, and systemic reform, highlighted the gravity of this dependence. 'The growing reliance on social grants - now affecting over 25 million people — highlights deep socio-economic challenges and the urgent need for structural change,' he explained. 'Our proposed Power to the People Amendment aims to address these issues by reducing waste, devolving policing, and breaking monopolies that hinder economic opportunity.' Maritz warned that 'sustained dependence on grants without parallel investment in job creation risks entrenching a welfare economy that stifles individual potential and hampers long-term growth.' He warned that if current trends persist, South Africa's economy could face stagnation, shrinking tax bases, and rising inequality-all threatening social stability. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The fiscal burden of social grants is significant. In 2011, the South African government allocated around 3.5% of GDP to social assistance, which has grown over the years. The Centre for Global Development estimated that expenditure on social grants, particularly the Child Support Grant (CSG), reached nearly ZAR31 billion (approximately US$4.2 billion) in 2010-11. Instead, they argued that they serve as a necessary-but insufficient-measure to support those unable to provide for themselves. "While grants have helped improve food security, children's well-being, and school attendance,' Maritz warned that they are not a long-term solution to poverty. 'Overdependence can distort labor markets. When social assistance becomes a substitute for employment, it can disincentivize active job-seeking and skills development. 'Countries with more developed economies often implement prerequisites or conditions tied to grants, encouraging recipients to pursue upskilling or community participation.' He added that the current approach risks creating a stagnating workforce and reducing overall productivity in South Africa, thereby hindering economic growth and perpetuating inequality. 'Ironically, the system designed to reduce inequality may inadvertently reinforce it if not paired with empowerment strategies. 'Without access to meaningful employment, quality education, and secure communities, social mobility remains elusive for many beneficiaries.' Furthermore, dependence on grants without addressing the root causes-unemployment, corruption, and inefficient public services-could erode trust in institutions. Maritz warned that 'a society where millions feel trapped and unheard is inherently unstable,' stressing the need for comprehensive reforms.
IOL News
30-04-2025
- General
- IOL News
SASSA urges SRD grant beneficiaries to complete identity verification to avoid payment delays
SASSA has called on Social Relief of Distress grant beneficiaries to urgently complete their identity verification Image: Tracy Adams The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has called on Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant beneficiaries to urgently complete their identity verification to prevent delays or disruptions in payment. This comes after the agency also introduced a mandatory biometric enrolment and identity verification process designed to enhance security, particularly for beneficiaries using alternative forms of identification instead of the standard 13-digit South African ID number. The SRD grant was first launched by the government in 2020 as an emergency measure to alleviate the financial strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement issued to the media last week, SASSA Mpumalanga spokesperson Senzeni Ngubeni said all beneficiaries must go through the verification process to avoid delays in receiving their grant. 'There is no shortcut. All beneficiaries who are required to go through this process must do so to avoid delays and the disappointment of not receiving the grant,' Ngubeni said. Ngubeni explained that beneficiaries who receive an 'identity verification' status message may do so due to suspected fraudulent activity or discrepancies in their information, and called on them to verify their details either at their local SASSA office or by logging into the website.
