Chris Boyle is a Queensland-based social entrepreneur in the child protection and family support sector, whose Churchill Fellowship is helping him build a cloud-based solution to enable national (and world-wide) automation of the StandbyU Shield.
StandbyU Shield program is helping address complex social issues such as abuse, family violence and isolation through the mobilisation of family and friends. Chris is demonstrating the StandbyU shield at Australia’s first mall safe space set up for family violence victims, ‘Magnolia Place.’
Chris Boyle said: “We have recently partnered with Scentre Group – owners of Westfield to provide a StandbyU space in Westfield Helensvale to meet the needs of the local community, by delivering an all-inclusive, walk-in support service for anyone experiencing abuse or isolation,”
“I am further developing the StandbyU Shield to ensure it is a catalyst for children, adults and families to develop a meaningful safety plan that identifies the friends and family to contact in a crisis, as well as more traditional formal supports, including emergency services,” said Chris.
Adam Davey, CEO of the Winston Churchill Trust congratulated Chris on his ongoing and valuable contribution to a safer community. “Chris is considered one of Queensland’s longest standing and most respected child protection experts. He has a passion for social justice and is giving a voice and opportunity to the most vulnerable children, young people and families in our community.”
“Driven by his Churchill Fellowship experience, in 2016 Chris founded the StandbyU Foundation. He then developed the StandbyU Shield, to help keep vulnerable people safe by using connections to prevent abuse, domestic violence and isolation,” added Mr Davey. “The program is based on existing social networks, with a plan to address risks, and a wearable device that connects to pre-identified safe networks and it is being used globally to keep hundreds of people safe.”
Chris is one of the latest recipients of the Winston Churchill Trust’s Impact Funding program – an initiative established to enhance outcomes of Churchill Fellowships here in Australia. He will use the grant provided by the Winston Churchill Trust to further develop the cloud-based solution that will enable national (and global) automation of the StandbyU shield, in order to reduce programming time of each shield by up to 90 per cent.
“I am using my Churchill Fellowship Impact Funding Program to spark the mobilisation of family and friends to prevent abuse, domestic violence and isolation amongst vulnerable people and all in a more timely manner,” said Chris.
Applications for Churchill Fellowships open 1 March
A Churchill Fellowship is a life-changing opportunity to travel overseas to explore a topic or an issue you are passionate about. We encourage applications from all sectors of the community and in any field or topic of interest. There are no educational qualifications needed.
Applications open 1 March 2023 with a series of information sessions being held during February.
