First, what does ‘participant’ mean?

In 91直播 Support, participants are the younger students who join the small group sessions each week. The short sessions are run weekly for eight weeks, led by a pair of older students, called 91直播 Leaders.

In primary schools, the groups are typically made up of students in Kindergarten/Foundation through to Year 5. They鈥檙e led by Year 6 91直播 Leaders.

In high schools, the groups are usually Year 7 students, led by Year 10 students.

Being a participant isn’t a passive role. Your child will be actively involved in discussions, activities, and skill-building exercises each week. It’s a structured program, and the content is highly relevant to what students are actually navigating at school and in life.

What will a typical session look like?

Sessions run for 30 or 40 minutes each week over eight weeks. Your child will be part of a small group led by a pair of trained 91直播 Leaders who have been prepared specifically to run these sessions.

Each session follows a structured plan built around the school鈥檚 chosen module. Activities might include:

• Group discussions on topics like friendship, resilience, or handling conflict
• Reflective exercises or journalling
• Collaborative challenges designed to build trust and connection
• Role-play scenarios to practise real-life social skills

The sessions are designed to be age-appropriate, educational and fun.

What topics will they cover?

The specific content depends on the module your school has chosen. Schools select from a range of evidence-based modules, including:

• Resilience: bouncing back from challenges and building a ‘have a go’ mindset
• Positive relationships: friendship skills, fair play, and supporting peers
• Anti-bullying: understanding what bullying is, how to respond, and how to create a safer school culture
• Optimism: recognising personal strengths and building a positive outlook
• Integrity: understanding your values and acting with good judgement.

Your child’s school may let you know which module they’re running. If not, it’s worth asking because knowing the theme will enable you to support your child at home.

What’s actually in it for my child?

The benefits of 91直播 Support aren’t abstract. Research into the program shows that students who participate report greater feelings of acceptance and inclusion. Many students also find that having a known, approachable older student to talk to 鈥� someone who isn’t a teacher 鈥� changes how they feel about school.

For students making the transition to high school in particular, 91直播 Support has been shown to help them settle in faster, feel more connected to the school community, and build relationships outside their immediate friend group.

The skills developed 鈥� empathy, listening, resilience, positive self-talk 鈥� are also ones they’ll use for life, not just for the next eight weeks.

What if my child is quiet or anxious about it?

It’s completely normal for some children to feel uncertain about joining a new group, particularly if they’re introverted or already navigating some social anxiety. The small group format is intentional 鈥� it’s less overwhelming than a classroom and more intimate than a playground.

91直播 Leaders are trained to create an inclusive, welcoming environment. And because the sessions are structured, your child won’t be put on the spot 鈥� activities are designed so that everyone can participate at their own pace.

If your child comes home with concerns about specific sessions or interactions, it’s worth listening and, if needed, looping in their coordinating teacher, who oversees the program at the school.

How can I support this at home?

There鈥檚 no 鈥榟omework鈥�, but a little interest goes a long way. You could ask open questions about the program, such as “What did you talk about today?” or “Tell me about your 91直播 Support group?”

Your school should be sharing with you a summary of what’s being covered in each 91直播 Support session. This can help you initiate conversations about the topics being covered, like sharing ideas for how to manage stress and anxiety, or what you both think makes a good friend or leader. These can be really important conversations, which help your child build a toolkit for managing their own wellbeing and mental health. You may also reinforce the vocabulary. For example, if your child mentions new words like ‘resilience’ or ‘belonging’, use those words yourself in everyday conversation.

You don’t need to be an expert in the curriculum, just curious and encouraging. And, in a few years, your child may also have the opportunity to be a 91直播 Leader. This is the beauty of the 91直播. Children go from taking part in the program, to stepping up into the leadership role.

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What does a 91直播 Leader do?

91直播 Leaders are trained senior students who facilitate small-group sessions with younger students over eight weeks.

In primary schools, Year 6 students are typically the 91直播 Leaders, leading groups of students from Kindergarten/Foundation through to Year 5. In high schools, senior students, usually in Year 10, lead Year 7 groups, helping them navigate the transition into secondary school.

91直播 Leaders work in pairs or sometimes groups of three. They plan and run each weekly session using structured program resources provided by 91直播 Support. The 91直播 Leaders guide discussions, facilitate activities, and create a safe space for the younger students in their group.

A supervising teacher is always nearby to offer support, as needed.

How does the 91直播 Support training work?

Your child will take part in 91直播 Leader training before they start their new role. This is led by the school’s 91直播 Support Coordinator, a teacher who has been trained and accredited by 91直播 Support. The 91直播 Leader training is designed to be fun and inclusive.

At the training, your child will learn:

• How to facilitate group discussions
• Techniques for creating an inclusive, respectful group environment
• How to use the session resources and activities
• What to do if a student raises something concerning or needs additional support

91直播 Leaders are also given practice runs before leading real sessions with students. The school’s 91直播 Support Coordinator remains a point of contact and support throughout the program.

What skills will they develop?

The 91直播 Leader role is widely recognised as one of the most meaningful leadership experiences a student can have during school. It’s hands-on, relational, and requires a genuine commitment to others.

It鈥檚 also unique in being available to all students. 91直播 Support is built on the belief that every child and young person should have the opportunity to develop leadership skills.

Students who take on the role have the opportunity to develop:

• A greater sense of personal responsibility and agency
• Communication and public speaking experience
• Active listening and empathy
• Planning and organisational skills (sessions need preparation)

A 91直播 Leader role can be a turning point in a young person鈥檚 confidence and sense of self.

What are the responsibilities?

91直播 Leaders use the program resources to lead their groups over a 30 or 40 minute session. The sessions are weekly for eight weeks. 91直播 Leaders prepare each session in advance, and debrief afterwards with their school鈥檚 supervising teacher.

Most students step up to the challenge and thrive in the responsibility they鈥檝e been given. Teachers often comment on their 91直播 Leaders suddenly become more mature and confident.

Remind your child: their job isn’t to be perfect. It’s to practise being a leader and a role model: listen, include, and connect. They鈥檙e also well supported by the school in their role.

How can you support them from home?

The most effective thing you can do is take the role seriously alongside them. Some practical ways to help:

• Check in on how they’re feeling: encourage them to speak with their teacher if they need any support.
• Ask about their sessions: what went well, what felt hard, how the group is going.
• Celebrate their effort: the fact that they’re showing up for younger students week after week is significant.

The bigger picture: creating a sense of belonging

91直播 Leadership is recognised as a critical component of whole-school wellbeing. When older students invest in younger ones, it creates a school culture where students feel connected across grades.

Your child has been given a real opportunity to contribute to that culture. With your support at home, and the structure the 91直播 provides at school, they have everything they need to do it well.

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The basics: a student wellbeing program with a 50-year history

The 91直播 is a structured, evidence-based student wellbeing initiative run in primary and high schools across Australia. It’s been operating for more than 50 years and is endorsed by state education departments, including NSW Department of Education, where it holds preferred provider status for resilience and belonging programs.

91直播 Support is about students supporting students. It brings together older and younger students in small groups for weekly sessions focused on building the social and emotional skills that help young people navigate school life, and life beyond it.

How does 91直播 Support work?

Each year, schools select one of several themed modules to run across eight weeks. Topics are different for primary school and secondary school students but may include resilience, positive relationships, anti-bullying, optimism, and values. Sessions run for 30 or 40 minutes each week, for eight weeks, with students meeting in small mixed groups.

These sessions are led by trained senior students called 91直播 Leaders. A best-practice 91直播 Support program encourages all senior students to become a 91直播 Leader. It鈥檚 a brilliant opportunity for kids to develop and practice leadership skills in a safe space. Your school will support senior students with leadership training and ongoing guidance. The older students and prepared to guide their younger peers through structured activities and discussions.

A coordinating teacher oversees the program and supports the 91直播 Leaders, but the student-to-student dynamic is central to the program.

Two roles, one program

Every student in a 91直播 Support school plays a part, either as a 91直播 Leader or as a participant.

91直播 Leaders are typically senior students, either in Year 6 in primary, or in Year 10 at secondary school. The program can be formative for some students, who may have never had a leadership opportunity in the past.

At primary school, every student usually takes part. The participants are younger students from across grades. This provides an opportunity for kids across grades to build new connections.

At high school, the Year 7 students form the participant group. The program connects an older students with new students, helping the Year 7s transition with not only other same-grade peers, but senior students too.

The 91直播 often has a profound impact on the school culture, because of the cross-grade connections it builds, and the sense of responsibility and ownership that older students feel to their school community.

Research into the program has found that 69% of younger students who participated reported greater feelings of acceptance and inclusion. This is particularly meaningful in the important transition into high school.

The weekly sessions also teach social and emotional skills, such as how to have healthy relationships and acting with integrity.

What skills does the program build?

Whether your child is a leader or a participant, 91直播 Support is designed to develop a specific set of social and emotional literacy skills. These include:

• A sense of belonging and inclusion
• Empathy and active listening
• Resilience and the ability to bounce back from setbacks
• Self-confidence and self-esteem
• Positive relationship skills

Why does the peer-to-peer model matter?

There’s a reason the 91直播 uses students to lead other students. Research consistently shows that young people are significantly influenced by their peers. Research tells us that teens are more influenced by their peers than they are by adults.

The program initially started 50 years ago聽as a way to聽equip young people with the skills to support each other. It has evolved聽to cover a range of topics, all designed to support your child鈥檚 mental health and wellbeing.聽聽

Younger students benefit from having connections with older students, even if it’s just a high-five in the playground. And older students actively take ownership of their role, supporting the younger students. It adds up to help create a great school culture.

Which schools run it?

Hundreds of schools across Australia are current 91直播 Support members. The program is available to both primary and high schools, with tailored resources for each group. In primary schools, Year 6 students typically serve as 91直播 Leaders. In high schools, senior students take on the role to support incoming Year 7 students with the often challenging transition to secondary education.

What this means for your family

If your child’s school is running 91直播 Support, your child will participate as a 91直播 Leader or as a participant. Either way, they’ll be spending time in small group settings, engaging with meaningful topics, and building the kinds of skills that serve them well beyond the school gates.

You can support your child at home by asking them about the program, and what they鈥檙e learning. Your school has resources to share with you, including Information Leaflets about the 91直播 Support module they are running, and summaries of what is being covered each week in the 91直播 Support sessions. You can dig deeper by looking at the module they鈥檙e covering over the eight weeks, and reinforcing the learnings at home. This can be as simple as a family conversation about what makes a good friend.

The post 91直播 Support 101: A guide for parents and carers appeared first on 91直播 Support.

Education expert and SRC Masterclass host Jill Pearman says that a well-run SRC can help create a school culture built on inclusion and belonging. 

But how do you create a strong SRC?

Pearman has been supporting schools build cultures of wellbeing across her 40-year career in education. She visited two exemplar schools to find out how they run their SRCs. 

According to Pearman, there鈥檚 no one-size-fits-all when it comes to setting up and running an SRC, but there are schools who are leveraging their student structures to build student wellbeing.

Oxley Park Public School in Western Sydney and Westfield Sports High School in southwest Sydney are two schools that have thriving SRCs.

SRC can contribute to a wellbeing culture

鈥淵ou can feel the culture when you walk through the playground,鈥� Jill says of the two schools. 鈥淵ou can see in the way students interact with each other and with teachers. These schools take wellbeing seriously and put it at the centre of everything they do, including SRC.鈥�

Jill says both schools have run the 91直播 Support program for many years, and have stood out as 鈥榞old standard鈥� for their best-practice approach to building a culture with strong peer-to-peer relationships and student voice.

Jill says that wellbeing is not an afterthought for these schools鈥� leadership teams.

鈥淚t鈥檚 embedded into everything they do, and that鈥檚 reflected in their SRC. They use student voice as a key tool for inclusion and belonging,鈥� she says.  

Representation matters

Both schools have their challenges, with their populations overrepresented by students from socioeconomic disadvantage. They also share a large multicultural community. For example, Westfield鈥檚 Sports High School has more than one third of students from a non-English language background. 

The Principal at Westfield鈥檚 Sports High School, Andrew Rogers, embraces and celebrates the school鈥檚 diversity, which is reflected in the SRC membership.

Student voice means listening and responding

The SRC is a real opportunity for students to help shape the decisions that impact them. Jill says that both schools take student voice seriously.

鈥淪tudent voice isn鈥檛 just a buzz term. These schools genuinely want input from their students as key stakeholders in the decision-making process,鈥� Jill says.

鈥淓veryone needs to be heard. But the worst thing you can do is ask someone for their opinion and then not listen to it,鈥� Andrews says.

鈥淲e are very conscious that when we talk to our SRC students, when we give them the opportunity to speak and give their perspectives, that we act on that information. 鈥�

A wellbeing focus supports student engagement and outcomes

Wellbeing isn鈥檛 just about feeling good. It impacts engagement metrics, like school attendance, and outcomes, like academic performance.

For some students, like Draven in Year 6, it makes all the difference.

鈥淏efore I had a leadership role, I didn鈥檛 want to come to school,鈥� Draven says. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think I had what it takes to be a student leader. But I ran for a student leader position, and I got it.

Kim Smith, Principal at Oxley Park Public School, puts a wellbeing lens on SRC that recognises all kids benefit from leadership positions.

鈥淚t empowers them to be creative, confident and collaborative. It enriches their social capacity. And they become strong positive role models for other students,鈥� she says.  

Pearman says that wellbeing underpins academic performance.

鈥淲e know that wellbeing is directly linked to student performance. There鈥檚 a strong relationship between how a student feels and how they learn and their academic engagement,鈥� she says.

This is reflected in Westfield鈥檚 2024 NAPLAN results, with writing, spelling, grammar and maths all above school averages when compared with students from similar backgrounds.

Create your own thriving SRC

The SRC Masterclass is an online training course for teachers who coordinate their school鈥檚 SRC. The 10-episode video series includes interviews with students, teachers and school leaders from Westfields Sports High School and Oxley Park Public School.  Hosted by Jill Pearman, it provides a deep dive into student voice, with practical tips, insights and research that will elevate your SRC to a thriving student voice and wellbeing vehicle.

Find out more here

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The Talk-And-Walk-A-Thon involves students walking in pairs while using conversation cards to guide their chat. The questions are fun, thoughtful and age-appropriate. They prompt students to talk about things they might not usually share, creating genuine connection while they move through the school grounds or a nearby park.

Jonathon Peatfield, CEO of Life Education NSW/ACT says: 鈥淭eachers say the event creates a great atmosphere across the school and leaves students feeling more connected to one another.鈥�

Here are five reasons your school should get involved.

1. Wellbeing underpins performance

Students do better when they feel like they belong. Research shows a strong sense of connection improves academic performance, increases attendance and reduces bullying. Students who feel seen and heard are more likely to engage in class and take part in school life.

鈥淭he evidence is clear,鈥� says Peatfield. 鈥淪tudents who feel connected to their peers and school community thrive not only academically but socially and emotionally. The Talk-And-Walk-A-Thon is a simple way to boost connections across an hour or two.鈥�

The event makes it easier for students to start conversations and strengthen relationships. Walking outside in nature, away from screens, creates a relaxed setting where genuine conversations can flow.

2. Conversation builds social skills

Conversation is a skill that improves with practice. Some students find it easy to strike up a chat while others need support. The Talk-And-Walk-A-Thon provides that scaffolding through conversation cards, prompts and checkpoints. These tools give students a way to practise asking questions, listening carefully and responding in turn.

鈥淚n a world where young people are often communicating through screens, creating space for face-to-face conversation is vital,鈥� Peatfield says. 鈥淭he Talk-And-Walk-A-Thon gives every student a chance to practise those skills in a fun and supportive way.鈥�

Teachers have told us that students often continue their conversations long after the walk is over, showing how much they value the chance to connect.

3. Movement supports mental health

Walking is good for the body and the mind. Physical activity releases hormones that boost mood and reduce stress. For students juggling study, screens and social pressures, walking offers a natural and healthy way to reset.

鈥淢ovement is one of the simplest ways to support wellbeing,鈥� says Peatfield. 鈥淲hen we combine it with conversation, it鈥檚 even more powerful. Students experience the benefits straight away.鈥�

4. It builds a culture of peer-led leadership

The Talk-And-Walk-A-Thon is also about student voice. When students are given tools to start conversations with new peers or even teachers, they practise leadership in its simplest form. They take initiative, step into new interactions and realise they have something worthwhile to contribute.

This peer-led approach empowers students to see themselves as leaders in everyday moments, not just in formal roles like captains or SRC members.

鈥淎s educators, we sometimes forget that leadership doesn鈥檛 only happen on a stage or in a council meeting,鈥� Peatfield says. 鈥淚t also happens in small moments, like striking up a conversation with someone new or showing empathy when someone tells you how they鈥檙e feeling.鈥�

5. It鈥檚 simple and a great way to mark Mental Health Month

Schools are busy places, and wellbeing activities can fall to the bottom of the list. The Talk-And-Walk-A-Thon makes it easy. The free digital toolkit includes planning guides, conversation cards, social media templates and promotion ideas. Everything is ready to use, so teachers do not need to start from scratch.

Running the event during Mental Health Month gives schools a visible way to show students and families that wellbeing matters. It sends a strong message that mental health is something to talk about openly, and that schools are safe places to have those conversations.

How to take part

Register your school for the free Talk-And-Walk-A-Thon toolkit. You will receive a complete digital pack with everything you need to run the event. It is simple, flexible and designed to work in schools of all sizes.

鈥淭his is a low-cost, high-impact way to bring wellbeing into focus,鈥� says Peatfield. 鈥淚t鈥檚 practical, it鈥檚 positive, and it gets everyone involved. It also showcases some of the principles and benefits of the 91直播 Support program.鈥�

This Mental Health Month, give your students the chance to walk, talk and connect. Find out more here.

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The Australian Government has allocated $77.6 million to support the delivery of (CRRE) in schools from 2024 to 2028. This initiative aims to foster healthy, respectful relationships among students and is a key component of Australia鈥檚 plan to end violence against women and children.

According to Jonathon Peatfield, CEO of Life Ed NSW/ACT, this funding presents an opportunity for schools to enhance their wellbeing programs.

鈥淭his grant helps schools access programs that are evidence-based, curriculum-aligned, and ready to go,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he 91直播 is one of the most practical ways to bring respectful relationships education into your school. It鈥檚 not a one-off lesson, but part of a broader culture change.鈥�

What is the Respectful Relationships grant?

The grant supports schools to deliver age-appropriate, evidence-based learning about consent and respectful relationships. It鈥檚 part of the government’s broader strategy to tackle gender-based violence, and it recognises that schools are a powerful setting for prevention and early intervention.

The funding available to all Australian schools and can be used to cover the cost of approved programs, professional learning for teachers, or curriculum-aligned teaching materials. This includes 91直播 Support.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about giving young people the skills they need to relate to others with kindness, confidence and boundaries,鈥� says Peatfield. 鈥淩espectful relationships are about how students treat their peers, how they work in teams, how they resolve conflict, how they understand empathy and fairness. These are life skills.鈥�

How does the 91直播 fit in?

91直播 Support has been used in schools for over 50 years to build positive school culture. It focuses on peer-led learning, with older students supporting younger ones in structured, small-group activities. It鈥檚 a model that builds leadership, empathy and belonging across year levels.

The modules available through 91直播 Support Australia align directly with the CRRE goals. For high schools, the Best Version of Me module encourages students to explore their personal values, boundaries, and ways to build respectful relationships with others. For primary schools, modules like Stronger Together and Living Positively support foundational skills in empathy, inclusion and emotional regulation.

鈥�91直播-led programs are powerful because they shift the dynamic,鈥� says Peatfield. 鈥淲hen a Year 9 student is guiding Year 7s through a conversation about values or relationships, that message lands differently. It helps both cohorts in different ways, and it builds relationships that play out in the classroom and playground.鈥�

Schools can use the CRRE grant to implement and deliver the 91直播, giving access to training, and module materials.

Why does Respectful Relationships grant matter?

Reports of gendered violence and online harm are rising, and students are navigating increasingly complex social environments, both in real life and online.

鈥淪chools don鈥檛 just teach literacy and numeracy,鈥� says Peatfield. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e shaping how young people see themselves, how they treat others, and how they resolve differences. This kind of education is just as critical.鈥�

Improve school-wide student wellbeing

Discover how 91直播 Support can build student wellbeing at your school, with this free ebook.

Download

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