Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd

18/03/2026

There’s something powerful about stepping away…

Clearing your head…

Finding a moment to just breathe.

After a long day, our Board Member Chris Gill hit the trails at Mt Coot-tha, not to train harder, but to reset.

Because self-care isn’t selfish.
It’s essential.

At Ollie’s Echo, we talk a lot about kindness.

But the truth is, kindness has to start with you.

It’s in the quiet decisions:
To go for the walk.
To log off.
To take a breath instead of pushing through.
To give yourself the same care you so freely give others.

We don’t always get it right.
Life is busy. Minds are loud.

But even small moments like this matter more than we realise.

And maybe that’s what this photo really represents…

Not just a run, but a reminder.

A reminder that looking after yourself is part of looking after each other.

If you’d like to support Ollie’s Echo and help us continue creating conversations around mental health, kindness and prevention you can grab one of our Ollie’s Echo shirts via the link in the comments.

Every purchase helps us keep showing up in schools, communities and conversations that matter.

17/03/2026

Attending the 2026 Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference this week has been incredibly powerful.

Over three days, we’ve been surrounded by people from across Australia and beyond. Clinicians, educators, researchers, advocates and those with lived experience all united by one shared goal: creating a safer, more connected world for our young people.

But what has stood out most… is the people. The conversations in between sessions. The shared stories.

And the privilege of meeting new friends who are all working, in their own way, to change the trajectory for children and adolescents.

There is something incredibly grounding about being in a room where lived experience is not just acknowledged, it is valued.

Where prevention, early intervention, and connection are not just words, they are a collective mission.

For Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd, this work matters deeply. Because behind every conversation is a child. A family. A story that deserves a different ending.

We will leave this conference feeling more connected, more determined, and more hopeful than ever.

Together, we are stronger.
Together, we can change the narrative.

16/03/2026

We were honoured to join the wonderful team at End ED’s House of Hope for their recent Networking Morning Tea.

At Ollie’s Echo: Pathways to Prevention, we believe deeply in the power of collaboration. No one organisation can tackle the complexities of eating disorders alone. It takes a connected community of advocates, educators, clinicians, families and organisations working together to create meaningful change.

Thank you to the endED team for bringing people together in such a supportive space to share ideas, strengthen partnerships and continue supporting individuals and families navigating eating disorder recovery journeys.

Together, we keep building pathways to prevention — and to hope. 🌻

Today we had the absolute honour of hosting a Networking Morning Tea at the wonderful endED House of Hope.

We were joined by a wonderful group of ladies who had the opportunity to connect with one another, hear about endED and other exciting projects that are happening at the moment.

At endED, we certainly recognise that community connections play such a valuable role, and it is truly an honour to be joined by so many wonderful organisations and continue spreading valuable messages to continue support Individuals & Families navigating their eating disorder recovery journeys.

It was wonderful to be sharing the space today with:
Aussie Home Loans Nambour Aussie
Kairos School
Ollie's Echo Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd

Because with you 🌻there is hope🌻

15/03/2026

Last week we attended the Su***de Prevention Australia Queensland LiFE Awards, proudly wearing our Ollie’s Echo shirts.

Events like this are an important reminder that behind every program, every policy, and every piece of research are people and communities working tirelessly to prevent su***de and support those who are struggling.

At Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd, we believe prevention begins with conversation, connection, education, and kindness and it’s encouraging to stand alongside so many individuals and organisations across Queensland who are committed to the same goal.

We’re grateful to be part of a community that refuses to look away from this issue and instead chooses to work together to create safer, more supportive environments for young people and families.

Every step forward matters. Every conversation matters. And every life matters.

Ollie was 14.
His life mattered.

***dePrevention

11/03/2026

If things feel unbearable, pause for a moment.

What you are feeling is real but feelings can change, even when it doesn’t seem like it right now.

You don’t have to face it alone.
Reach out to someone you trust or contact Lifeline (13 11 14) for support.

Ollie's life mattered.
Your life matters.
You matter.

***dePrevention

10/03/2026

Ollie should still be here.
Instead, his story is now helping protect other children.

Yesterday, our founder Mia Bannister spoke at the Shield Global Online Safety Conference, sharing Ollie’s story and the mission behind Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd.

In this presentation, Mia speaks about the intersection of vulnerability, eating disorders, bullying, and the digital environments young people now grow up in and why prevention, education and kindness must sit at the centre of how we respond.

You can watch the SHIELD presentation here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qezlzhohqhvxjdc6ko14n/SHIELD-Global-Online-Safety-Conference-20260310_135022-Meeting-Recording.mp4?rlkey=qpo4e2pjrkyt5vfs6p759dmf9&st=o9w87vx6&dl=0

Through Ollie’s Echo, Mia has already spoken with students, parents, educators and workplaces across a number of schools and organisations, reaching more than 2,500 students and starting important conversations about recognising early warning signs, building safer digital environments and creating cultures of kindness and connection.

What began as one mother sharing her son’s story is now helping spark conversations not only in Australian schools and communities, but in rooms and conferences around the world.

If your school, workplace or community organisation would like to host a talk about Ollie’s story and the importance of kindness, early intervention, and safer digital environments for young people, we would love to hear from you.

📩 mia@olliesecho.com.au or reach out via the contact page on our website: www.olliesecho.org.au.

Because the more we talk about these issues, the more lives we have the chance to protect.

Turning pain into purpose.
Ollie was 14. His life mattered.

Shared with Dropbox

08/03/2026

Recovery isn’t linear or easy, but it is possible. Early intervention, compassion and education improve outcomes. Prevention creates conditions where recovery is achievable and hope can grow.

08/03/2026

Shaun's Training Update – Noosa Triathlon for Ollie’s Echo 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♂️🏃‍♂️

The training is underway.

Shaun recently completed his first “brick” session, a bike ride followed immediately by a run — a key part of triathlon training designed to prepare the body for the “jelly legs” that come with transitioning between disciplines.

Training for an event like the Noosa Triathlon takes dedication, resilience and grit. Every early morning session, every kilometre ridden, and every step run is part of something bigger.

Shaun is taking on this challenge in support of Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd, helping us continue our work raising awareness of eating disorders in boys and young men, advocating for safer digital spaces, and delivering kindness-led education in schools and communities.

One race. One purpose.

We are incredibly grateful for Shaun's commitment and for everyone supporting his journey.

💙 If you’d like to follow along or support his efforts, stay tuned for more training updates as race day approaches. We know Shaun has been providing updates on his LinkedIn page as well

https://lnkd.in/gq4W2FXx

04/03/2026

Eating disorders in boys are frequently missed or misunderstood.

Assumptions delay help. Prevention means noticing earlier, believing sooner and acting faster. Silence protects illness. Support protects lives.

03/03/2026

Not when you lose weight. Not when you gain muscle. Not when you achieve something. Now. Boys are often told to be strong and silent, but being enough doesn’t require suffering quietly. We’re changing the narrative so boys can speak honestly and be supported early.

02/03/2026

FROM GRIEF TO REFORM — GLOBAL CONVERSATION 🌏

On Monday, 9 March 2026, our Founder, Mia Bannister will speak at the Shield Global Online Safety Conference.

Ollie was 14.

His life mattered. And his Echo still matters.

In this keynote, From Grief to Reform: Community-Led Action to Protect Children in the Digital Age, Mia will explore:

▪ How digital harm escalates quietly through algorithmic amplification

▪ Why adolescent neurodevelopment and platform design create a perfect storm

▪ What emerging Australian research tells us about screen use, sleep disruption and su***de risk

▪ The global shift in platform accountability — and why legislation must move beyond symbolism to enforceable design reform

▪ The difference between reactive safety tools and preventative architecture

▪ Why digital literacy must be embedded in education — not bolted on

▪ And how community-led innovation is building early intervention pathways grounded in lived experience

Social media did not cause Ollie’s anorexia.
But amplification at a vulnerable developmental stage mattered.

Prevention is possible but only if responsibility is shared.

Safety is not a feature update.
It must be designed, measured, and enforced.

📅 Monday, 9 March 2026
🕐 1:30PM AEST

Join the conversation:
🔗 https://shield-global-online-safety-conference.heysummit.com/talks/from-grief-to-reform-communityled-action-to-protect-children/

A Talk by Mia Bannister

01/03/2026

In April, our Founder, Mia Bannister will present a poster at The National Su***de Prevention Australia Conference.

What began as personal tragedy has grown into national advocacy.

Following the loss of 14 year old Ollie to su***de after a battle with anorexia nervosa, a disorder still dangerously misunderstood in boys, Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention Ltd was established to challenge stigma, address systemic blind spots, and strengthen early intervention pathways.

Our poster presentation will explore:

The gender bias surrounding eating disorders
The intersection of digital harms and vulnerability
The importance of lived experience in shaping prevention
The need for earlier, kinder, more informed support systems for boys and young people

We are honoured to stand alongside researchers, clinicians, policymakers and advocates committed to preventing su***de and ensuring young people are seen, heard and supported sooner.

For Ollie. For every child. 💙

***dePrevention