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Mindful School Pathway

Mindful Meditation Australia

A whole-school wellbeing approach for staff, students and the community using mindfulness practices.

Overview

Alignment with Be You Domains

  • Mentally Healthy Communities

  • Family Partnerships

  • Learning Resilience

  • Early Support

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 wellbeing

Alignment with Australian Curriculum

  • Health and PE

Target audience

  • Early learning
  • Primary school
  • Secondary school

Target groups

  • Whole school

Aims

To support schools in developing a tailored whole-school approach to wellbeing through mindfulness practices for staff, students and families.

Program theory

Mindful School Pathway draws on the Health Promoting Schools, Implementation, social and emotional wellbeing and CASEL frameworks, along with Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory.

Topics

The program covers topics such as whole-school planning for wellbeing and mindfulness implementation, the science and benefits of mindfulness for staff, students and parents, the science behind student self-regulation and SEL, mindfulness tools for classroom and home-based practices, how to implement a targeted program for students with mild anxiety using mindfulness tools, as well as basic neuroscience and how to manage stressors for staff.

Cost

The whole school pathway is delivered in 6 modules: 1. Mindful Beginnings (1-day staff wellbeing session): $1,500 plus $15 per staff member for resources. 2. Mindful Education (3-hour session): $750 plus $30 per staff member for teacher resources. 3. Mindful Me (half-day session): $850 including a resource kit. 4. Mindful Communities (2-hour workshop): $450 5. Mindful Refresh (half-day refresher session): $750 6. Mindful Progression (half-day session): $750 Note: Costs don't include any required travel or accommodation.

Program structure

The 6 sessions are delivered through face-to-face training to school staff and parents at the request of the school. Bespoke modules may be available upon negotiation for schools experiencing financial constraints.

Instructor

  • Psychologist
  • Educator
  • Wellbeing leader

Instructor training

To assist school staff to implement the Mindful School Pathway Teacher Resources, educators are required to have attended module 1: Mindful Beginnings and module 2: Mindful Education. To assist schools in implementing a 6-week small group program for mild anxiety, staff are required to have attended modules 1, 2 and 3: Mindful Me.

Supporting resources or materials available with program

  • Manual
  • Workbook

Ongoing support

Support for instructors includes ongoing phone support, a Facebook group, online resources, networking events, the website, blogs and newsletters.

Parent involvement

  • Attend information sessions
  • Written information provided to parents
  • Online resources

Origin of program

Australia

Mindful Meditation Australia

Program authors

Mindful Meditation Australia

Address
PO Box 6170,Swanbourne WA 6010 Australia
Phone
+61 08 6249 0175
Email
bruce@mindfulmeditationaustralia.org.au
website
Visit website

Ratings

2/4 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 None
Study design Pre-post cohort
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

Australia
Location of Study/s in Australia

WA
Evaluation of program in culturally and linguistically diverse populations No
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 No

Last updated: 25 March 2024