Overview

Alignment with Be You Domains

Learning Resilience

Alignment with Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)

Children are confident and involved learners
Children are connected with and contribute to their world
Children are effective communicators
Children have a strong sense of identity
Children have a strong sense of wellbeing

Alignment with Australian Curriculum

Health and PE

Target audience

Early learning
Primary school
Secondary school

Target groups

Whole school

Aims

Leader in Me is a whole school improvement program that aims to build leadership and life skills in students – fostering wellness, a high-trust culture, and laying the foundation for sustained academic achievement. The Leader in Me Framework aims to empower students to make healthy, informed choices, build respectful relationships, manage emotions, and develop a strong sense of identity and purpose. The program teaches Personal and Interpersonal Effectiveness through whole person leadership.

Program theory

Leader in Me is grounded in research and theoretical frameworks that support whole-child development, leadership, and social-emotional learning (SEL). It is recognised as a CASEL SELect program, aligning with the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning’s five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The program is built on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen R. Covey, a framework for personal and interpersonal effectiveness. These habits provide a common language and structure for leadership development across all year levels. Since 2010, over 100 independent studies have evaluated Leader in Me, using both qualitative and quantitative methods. These studies demonstrate consistent positive outcomes in student wellbeing, behaviour, engagement, and academic achievement. In addition, nearly all of the studies were reviewed by a peer or academic advisory group before release, and all studies were conducted independent of FranklinCovey.

Topics

Leader in Me covers the following topics:

Abundance mindset
Growth mindset
Perseverance
Recognising and regulating emotions
Proactive language
Personal mission statements
Goal setting and achievement
Emotional Bank Accounts
Courage and consideration
Practicing empathy
Respectful communication
Celebrating differences
Regulating stress
Standing up for others
Serving other
Celebrating others
Developing high-trust relationships
Strengthening wellness
Leading teams

Cost

(ex GST) Micro School – Up to 50 students $1,500 Small School – 51 to 120 students $2,100 Standard School – 121 to 200 students $3,500 Large school – 201 to 570 $3,500 + $17.50 for each additional student over the standard school threshold For a school with over 570 students – fee is capped at $9,975 Optional add-ons for staff: 1 full day workshop facilitation (face-to-face or live online) - $4,500 Half-day workshop facilitation (face-to-face or live online) - $2,850 Two-hour virtual workshop facilitation - $1,250 One-hour virtual coaching - $550 Two-hour virtual coaching session - $995

Program structure

Leader in Me is accessed via an annual subscription to an Online Learning Tool. Staff begin by learning The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the foundation of the program, available through a one or two day live or live online workshop, self paced modules, or short staff meeting segments. The digital curriculum is age specific and aligned across Early Learning, Primary and Secondary. Early Learning includes 5 modules, each delivered across 9 weeks, with 4 × 15 minute lessons per week. Primary includes 35 year levelled modules with 4 × 15 minute lessons in each. Secondary includes 8 modules, each comprising 16 × 20 minute lessons. All modules build communication, collaboration, self management, reflection, leadership, wellbeing and resilience.

Instructor

Educator

Instructor training

Educators first complete The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People course, delivered either as a live or live‑online one or two‑day workshop, or through a self‑paced on‑demand format via the Leader in Me online learning tool. Schools and institutes may also obtain an organisational licence, which allows a nominated staff member to become an accredited 7 Habits facilitator. This accreditation is completed via a self‑paced online facilitation platform. Once accredited, facilitators deliver the course internally to colleagues, with participant kits purchased directly from FranklinCovey.

Supporting resources or materials available with program

Online webinars
Posters
Workbook

Ongoing support

Included in the subscription, the school receives two to three complementary individualised coaching sessions with experienced FranklinCovey consultants, to help guide and mentor them through implementation and sustainment. FranklinCovey Australia regularly shares resources, tips and tricks via email, as well as on-call implementation support as needed during Australian business hours. Additional support may be purchased such as full day or half day facilitated workshops, two-hour virtual facilitation and extra coaching sessions. The Leader in Me online learning tool also hosts manuals and video user guides.

Parent involvement

Attend information sessions
Homework
Written information provided to parents
Online resources

Origin of program

International

FranklinCovey Pty Ltd

Program authors

FranklinCovey, in collaboration with Dr Stephen R Covey, Muriel Summers, Sean Covey

: GPO Box 2769, Brisbane QLD 4001 Australia

: +61721110292

: education@franklincovey.com.au

: Visit website

Ratings

3/4 Evidence

3/4 Implementation

Summary of evidence factors

This is a summary of the evaluation or research study characteristics that contribute to the program’s evidence rating.

Positive impact on at least one outcome for children and/or young people?	Yes
Link between program description and theory of change	Comprehensive
Study design	Quasi-experimental
Independence	Completely

Summary of implementation factors

This is a summary of the program’s characteristics that contribute to its implementation rating.

Feedback sought from participants	Yes
Feedback sought from instructors	Yes
Groups program is not suitable for	Not assessed
Training provided during study	Face to face, all instructors, in person
Ongoing instructor support provided during study	Yes

Context

This is a summary of the context in which the evidence for the program was established.

Study Participants	Primary school
Country of Study/s	International
Evaluation of program in culturally and linguistically diverse populations	Yes
Evaluation of program in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people	No
Evaluation of program in low socioeconomic groups	Yes
Developmental based adaptations to program design and delivery	No
Evaluation of program in children and young people with disability and/or learning difference	Yes

Last updated: 5 August 2026