By Ewen McRae
Monique Mastrobattista has had a busy year – and 2019 is shaping up to be another big one as she prepares to launch her second book.
The Caroline Springs anti-bullying campaigner, 15, has visited schools and built a strong social media following as she spreads her message, one inspired by her own experience of bullying.
Ms Mastrobattista has received a $10,000 grant from the AMP Foundation’s Tomorrow Fund, which supports talented people who are working hard for community benefit but need help to go to the next level.
She said the grant would be a big help in spreading her message.
“It’s going to make a huge difference,” she said. “I can use that to make more video productions to show into more schools and also help with the new book, which is really exciting.
“I’ve had great feedback on the school visits, like messages from parents or kids saying how it made a difference.
“I think having a young person standing up and talking at the schools has been a big part of that – a lot of kids find it hard to relate when it’s an older person standing up and talking about this stuff.”
While her first book,
My Discreet Bully, focused on her experiences with bullying, the new book will focus more on body positivity.
“There’s more in there on self love, but still about bullying, just based on a different message,” she said. “I’m hoping it will be out in February.”
