Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd

01/01/2026

As we step into 2026, we do so with hope, determination and a deep commitment to protecting boys and young men, a group so often overlooked and misunderstood.

Eating disorders do not discriminate. Far too many boys and young men continue to struggle in silence. Add to that the impact of social media, online bullying, and constant comparison, and we see just how closely mental health and digital spaces are intertwined.

But there is hope.
Early support saves lives.
Education changes outcomes.
Connection and community matter.

At Ollie’s Echo, we believe prevention is possible through awareness, early intervention, safer online spaces, and honest conversations that let boys know it’s okay to ask for help.

2026 is shaping up to be a big year for Ollie’s Echo. We have important work ahead — expanding our education and advocacy, strengthening partnerships, and continuing to amplify the voices of boys, young men and families who deserve to be seen and heard.

Thank you for walking beside us. Together, we can build a future where boys grow up supported, safe and seen — and where recovery, hope, and change are always possible.

16/12/2025

As 2025 draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on an incredible year of growth, impact, and connection at Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd.

Since May, we’ve had the privilege of speaking to over 2,500 students, sharing Ollie’s story, raising awareness about eating disorders and mental health in boys and young people, and promoting kindness and positive connection in schools. We’ve also been highlighting the importance of the new social media legislation, helping students understand what the age limit of 16 means for their safety and wellbeing online. Every conversation has been a reminder of why our work matters and the importance of early education and prevention.

Our launch event in May was a truly special moment, bringing together our community of supporters, advocates, and friends who share our vision of a world where all children are safe, supported, and heard. This event also marked the launch of our Ambassador Program, and welcomed our first Youth + Community Ambassador, Hayden Westwood.

From the fairways to the fundraiser, our Ollie’s Echo Inaugural Golf Day brought together supporters in a day full of laughter, friendly competition, and generosity.

Our Spring Charity Fundraiser at Oh Boy Bok Choy was a deliciously fun way to raise vital funds for our programs, with every dollar helping us continue our mission.

This year, our founder Mia Bannister has been proud to take Ollie’s Echo’s message beyond the classroom advocating for safer online spaces through the social media age limit legislation, and speaking at the National Men’s Health Gathering in October to raise awareness about boys’ mental health and wellbeing.

We’ve also been humbled by the incredible generosity of others who have fundraised for Ollie’s Echo at their own events, and by the support of our first Corporate Platinum Partner, Helloworld Travel Limited, alongside all the supporters and sponsors who have made our events possible. Your contribution helps us continue to grow our impact and reach more young people.

🎥 Please watch our video wrap-up of 2025 – it’s not short, but it’s certainly fun, and we hope it gives you a sense of all that has been achieved this year!

Looking ahead to 2026, we’re excited to continue expanding our education programs, advocacy work, and community initiatives. We’ll be speaking to even more students, supporting kindness programs in schools, collaborating with families and partners, and creating new ways to honour Ollie’s legacy through meaningful impact.

Thank you to everyone who has joined us on this journey in 2025. Your support is helping us turn pain into purpose, awareness into action, and Ollie’s story into a lasting ECHO of hope.

Here’s to 2026 – another year to educate, inspire, and make a difference.

Ollie was 14 - his life mattered! 💙

11/12/2025

Yesterday, our Founder (Ollie’s mum) stood alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister Anika Wells MP, fellow parents and organisations to mark 10 December: the day Australia finally said “Enough.”
Enough to tech giants.
Enough to addictive algorithms.
Enough to children being harmed for profit.

Minister Anika Wells quoted Mia twice from her speech on 30 July, when she stood before national media in the Prime Minister’s courtyard and said:

“This law isn’t the result of one voice, but the power of many — united in purpose, driven by hope, and committed to protecting our kids.”

“Together, we made change happen. Together, we will keep going.”

And we will. Because the work is only beginning.

We need independent enforcement.
We need better education in schools.
We need real transparency from platforms.
We need regulation that keeps pace with technology.
And above all, we need proper mental health support for the young people already impacted by social media.

We’ve posted the full live broadcast of yesterday’s formalities. It’s a long watch but we urge you to take the time.

Ollie was 14 — his life mattered.
For Tilly’s sake
For Mac
For Sienna
For Liv
For Charlotte
For Allem
For Hamish
For Courtney
For all the lost children… we will not stop.

06/12/2025

At Ollie’s Echo, we know the weight of these stories all too well. Today, six families including our founder, Mia Bannister, have opened their hearts to show what online bullying can take. Their letters, written to Australian parents, are a powerful reminder of why protecting our kids must be a national priority.

Read their letters here:

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/let-them-be-kids/grieving-parents-unite-in-powerful-plea-to-support-social-media-ban-for-children/news-story/bf655da4d8155fe8fb161096f9eed502?fbclid=IwdGRjcAOhikVjbGNrA6GAMWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHjV4DyaNV2wagmzm02-omjp9xbG4lX2d7rLQHlXIwnpegnyBDAW0xXtF_7Mm_aem_u5ctiorJxyOXn2e1fGM3tQ

05/12/2025

Our founder Mia Bannister was recently interviewed by Renee Chopping of Collective Shout to discuss the new social media age-limit law coming into effect on 10 January — a law shaped in part by the stories of children like Ollie.

Mia shared a little about her son Ollie — her bright, funny, deeply sensitive boy with the red hair everyone remembers. Ollie wasn’t a statistic; he was a child who should still be here.

She spoke honestly about how his anorexia was fuelled by bullying, harmful content, and two “so-called” friends who told him to kill himself on Snapchat. The system failed to protect him and too many kids like him.

This new law is a crucial step toward giving children the boundaries and safety they deserve. And at Ollie’s Echo, we’ll keep pushing for prevention, awareness, and safer pathways for all young people.

02/12/2025

From 10 December, Australia’s new social media age laws come into effect — finally shifting responsibility from parents to the platforms that have profited from unregulated, addictive systems for far too long. This isn’t about punishing kids or judging parents; it’s about protecting young people by putting guardrails where they always should have been. But legislation is only the starting point. Our kids will need steady guidance, open conversations, and reassurance as they navigate what this change means for their social world.

Even the strongest legislation can’t replace what happens around the kitchen table, at school drop-off, or before bedtime. Our kids still need us — our presence, not perfection. Calm, informed adults help them navigate change with empathy instead of fear.

02/12/2025

Today I was up on the Sunshine Coast meeting with some incredible charities doing powerful work in our community.

The beautiful Clare McCarthy from Jacks place Foundation — a charity aiming to establish Australia's first purpose built, 24/7 su***de prevention facility set in a natural location specifically chosen for its calming and restorative environment.

The amazing Renee Chopping from Collective Shout — a grassroots movement campaigning for a world free of sexual exploitation, calling out the objectification of women and girls, and holding industries accountable for the harm caused to our kids.

And one of my favourite people, Mark Forbes from End ED — an organisation offering lived-experience care and support to individuals and families affected by eating disorders. I even got a tour of the new endED Village, a genuinely healing place, and came home with a box of fresh veggies straight from their garden.

Days like today remind me why collaboration matters. When charities come together — sharing knowledge, ideas, and heart — we amplify every voice and strengthen every step forward.

Together, we can create real, lasting change for our kids and families.

30/11/2025

On December 10, Australia’s world-first law to protect kids from the harms of social media comes into effect — finally requiring platforms to block users under 16 or face penalties up to $50 million. This change didn’t happen by accident; it was fought for by grieving parents, including Emma Mason and myself, after losing our beautiful children to an online world they were never ready to navigate. This law isn’t about restriction — it’s about protection, prevention, and giving families the power to say not yet.

If you need support, call Lifeline 13 11 14. For information about depression, contact beyondblue 1300 224 636, or speak with your GP or someone you trust.

30/11/2025

‘I believe that when social media was unleashed on the world, it was the greatest social experiment of humankind.’ 📌 MORE: tinyurl.com/5b2nfr87

29/11/2025

Seeing this story told so honestly is never easy, but it’s necessary. Emma and I never wanted to be the faces of this issue, but we refuse to stay silent after losing our beautiful children to the harms of an online world they were never equipped to navigate. And we are only two faces, part of a growing chorus of voices advocating for change. There are so many more parents who have lost their babies to the scourge that is social media, families shattered in ways that can never be undone.

The upcoming social media laws aren’t about control, they’re about protection. They’re about giving kids time to grow, time to be children, without the relentless pressure, comparison, bullying, and exploitation that cost Tilly and Ollie their lives. These changes won’t fix everything, and they won’t bring our children back. But they will give other families a chance. And that is why we fight, every day, for the safeguards we never had.

‘I found Ollie. So, I go to bed with that vision in my head every single night. Every night.’

28/11/2025

It's not long now until Australia’s new under-16 social media laws come into effect and we’re already seeing platforms begin to contact teens about their data, which is a promising start. This legislation isn’t about control; it’s about protection. Just like seatbelts, drink-driving limits, and age restrictions on alcohol, it draws a clear line to keep young people safe. It gives parents and carers the backing to confidently say, “not yet.” And for many families, that line in the sand is long overdue.