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What it means to be an ’empowerpreneur’

‘Empowerpreneur’ and energetic pocket rocket Rosie Thomas is tackling a serious issue in a fun, integrative way through her anti-bullying initiative Project Rockit.

Launched in 2006 with her sister and co-founder Lucy, Project Rockit has become the “student fave” anti-bullying program that is providing imaginative solutions to the issue of bullying and cyberbullying in Australian schools.
Rather than adopting a traditional ‘victim’ vs ‘perpetrator’ stance, Project Rockit emphasises the importance of building empathy and a whole-school approach. “To eradicate bullying we need to appeal to the bystander to stand up to it,” says Rosie.
And their method seems to be working. 94% of school students observed a difference in the culture of their year level following Project Rockit’s face-to-face workshops.
Many of Project Rockit’s sessions also delve into issues beyond bullying, such as gender, sexism and racism.
A large part of Rosie’s success has been the development of an equally passionate and enthusiastic team.
“Young people deserve access to respect, acceptance, and leadership, and our team are all about making that real and available,” says Rosie.
In 2012 Rosie was named Melbourne’s ‘Social Entrepreneur of the Year’ and launched P-ROCK, an innovative online anti-bullying curriculum – the first of its kind in Australia.
Since then, Rosie has continued to excel as an entrepreneur and advocate for social change. In 2015, Rosie was named a Young Social Pioneer by the Foundation of Young Australians and was also named in the Australian Financial Review and Westpac’s 2015 ‘100 Women of Influence’
Her advice to first-time entrepreneurs is “Just start. If an idea remains an idea, and doesn’t hit the market, it’s a waste of time.”
“I’m totally committed to providing innovative opportunities for young people to create the change they want to see in the world. More so, I’m excited by the positive force that’s unleashed when we empower girls and women,” says Rosie. “That’s why I’m so proud to be a Rare Birds Ambassador.”
Would you like to nominate a high calibre entrepreneur or business leader to be a Rare Birds Global Ambassador? Contact Rare Birds Founder and CEO to find out more: jo.burston@inspiringrarebirds.com