Anti-bullying campaigner John Caldwell says his nomination for Australian of the Year will give him access to politicians, including the PM, to help further his cause.
The founder of international recruiting company Retailworld Resourcing spends most of his spare hours working as an anti-bullying advocate, and now that he's Victoria's nominee for Australian of the Year, he plans to work even harder for his campaign.
"I'm going to take it to a whole new level," he told AAP from London.
"This gives me a platform and access to high-profile people who I haven't previously been able to get to.
"I'll definitely be raising this when I have morning tea with the prime minister."
Mr Caldwell works with the anti-bullying organisations Angels Goal, The Alannah and Madeline Foundation and the Brodie's Law Foundation.
The 36-year-old said his own experience of severe bullying in his youth made him want to help children who are suffering now.
"I have achieved a lot, but I wanted to give something back, to help people who are where I was 20 years ago," he said.
"It started with small things - raising money, then talking at schools, then talking at bigger schools and then media interviews.
"I didn't set out to change the world."
Mr Caldwell said he wanted to see the stigma of talking about bullying pushed aside, especially for young men.
"We're talking about generational change here, it's not possible to right the ship overnight," he said.
Share
