Buddy Day

The Buddy Handshake is being taught and learnt by students right around the country, so let’s take a closer look at our Buddy Handshake Ambassadors who are leading the charge to teach their fellow students the Buddy Handshake in time for Buddy Day on Friday, 1 June.

Over the next few days we’ll be profiling our fifteen Buddy Handshake Ambassadors, starting with Victoria and South Australia.

Victorian Ambassadors:

Ben (Year 6), Jackson (Prep) and Grant (Year 4) from Berwick Lodge Primary School

Ben (Year 6):

“It’s great to be a buddy and it’s also great to have a buddy but I think being a buddy is more important than having a buddy. I have a buddy called Jackson. He is in Prep and he is very cute. As older buddies we are also role models for our buddies, so we have to behave and be sensible, because our buddies look up to us and copy us.

It is also fun being a buddy, because you can help them with different activities, talk to them, and best of all, you can teach them things. The other day, my class went out onto the basketball courts with our Prep buddies. It was great fun teaching them how to bounce and dribble a basketball, how to pass a basketball, how to roll a basketball and how to shoot (into our arms). When I see the joy on their faces when they are having fun, it makes me really happy.”

Grant (Year 4):

“To have a buddy I feel happy, responsible and like a role model. To be a role model, I have to do what all mature kids would do which is lead by example. My buddy in Grade 2 is Kyan. I like being a friend for my Grade 2 buddy and being there for him to talk to.

It was great to learn about the Buddy Handshake. I learnt the handshake with another friend, Anna. The Buddy Handshake is a way of showing friendship and appreciation for each other so that we can say ‘no’ to bullying.”

Jackson (Prep):

“Ben is my buddy and he looks after me. We are friends and he says ‘hi’ to me in the play-ground. He taught me how to do the Buddy Handshake and now I’m going to teach all of my friends!”

South Australian Ambassadors:

SA Ambassadors
Caleb Murongah (Year 10) and Kirsty Jose (Year 5) are ‘buddies’ at Trinity College, Blakeview

Caleb Murongah (Year 10):

“To me, Better Buddies means caring or looking after younger students and your chosen buddy. By doing this we promote resilience against bullying behaviour and enable every student to feel valued and respected.

Better Buddies enhances the shared values of Trinity College Blakeview and the caring school community that we have here. Being an R-10 school where younger students share areas with older students, it is important that they feel safe.

The Buddy Handshake symbolises the values that should be promoted to combat bullying. By coming together on National Buddy Day to do the Buddy Handshake we are celebrating friendship and taking a stand against bullying – so learn the Buddy Handshake and teach your mates!”

Kirsty Jose (Year 5):

“I was very happy when I found out I was in Better Buddies. My buddy is easy to talk to and is friendly and caring. He asks me what I have been doing during the week and we always say ‘hello’ whenever we see each other at school.

Caleb has been teaching me the Buddy Handshake and it is fun to do. It shows values of helping each other and caring for others which is what we do in Better Buddies. It also shows that we are friendly and respectful even though we are all different. In Better Buddies we include others and make everyone feel happy and safe. I can’t wait to teach all of my friends how to do the Buddy Handshake.”