Newsletter - October 2025 - Primary and Secondary
The mental health crisis in our schools demands urgent, evidence-based action.
With anxiety disorders now affecting nearly 50% of young women and being the leading cause of disability in the 10-24 age group according to the latest Lancet Psychiatry Commission, this isn't just a trend—it's an epidemic requiring strategic leadership response.
Throughout 2026 we will be hosting several transformative seminars that will equip you with proven frameworks to create sustainable, whole-school change to address this rising issue.
From these seminars you will learn:
- Strategic implementation skills: Learn how to embed a comprehensive population-change approach into your school's strategic plan—moving beyond ineffective "plug and play" programs to sustainable cultural transformation.
- Evidence-based frameworks: Receive information on a research-backed methodology that addresses the root cause of rising anxiety while preventing teacher burnout and improving staff wellbeing.
- Measurable outcomes: Discover how schools implementing this approach report improved academic performance, enhanced social skills development, and students taking greater responsibility for their learning.
- Further resources to create change in your school: On request, you can receive PowerPoint presentations, videos, and other materials to share with your leadership team and staff to learn how to become involved with these transformative projects.
Learn from Australia's Leading Mental Health Experts:
A variety of speakers throughout the year including;
Michael Hawton - Lead Psychologist, The Anxiety Project, and the Resilience In Our Teens project, former school teacher and child psychologist specialising in school-based anxiety solutions.
Associate Professor Terry Laidler - Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health, expert in population-level mental health approaches.
Professor Patrick McGorry AO - Chair in Youth Mental Health. Centre for Youth Mental Health (Orygen).
Dr Danielle Einstein - Clinical Psychologist and co-author of "Raising Anxiety," bringing cutting-edge research on youth mental health interventions.
Why a different approach to child anxiety is needed?
Unlike traditional one-on-one therapy models, a comprehensive approach addresses the critical issue that well-intentioned accommodations are actually making anxiety worse in young people.
You'll learn:
- How to identify and eliminate "unhelpful accommodations" that inadvertently reinforce anxiety
- Cognitive behavioural techniques for "serve and return" conversations between teachers and students
- Population-change strategies that complement existing school plans
- How to transform school culture involving all stakeholders: teachers, parents, and students.
Your leadership in transforming school mental health approaches will create lasting impact for generations of students.
For more information; click the button below.