Skip to content
Be You home
Log in Register for free
  • Home
  • About

    What is Be You?

    Be You provides educators with professional development, tools and resources to support mental health and wellbeing in early learning services and schools.
    • Organisations involved
    • Evidence base
    • History of Be You
    • Education Voices
    • News and updates
    • Research and evaluation

    Be You Stories

    Discover how educators from early learning services and schools across Australia are implementing Be You.

    Be You became the missing piece in our wellbeing strategy

    Supporting authentic engagement with First Nations communities

    Immediate support Help

    If you are concerned about someone at risk of immediate harm, call 000 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
    • Support helplines
    • Be You suicide response

    Be You implementation support

    Explore how Be You can support you and registered Be You Learning Communities.
    • Be You Consultants
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Contact us
  • Get started

    How to get started

    Not sure where to start? Our tailored handbooks have essential information for starting your Be You journey.
    • Educators
    • Wellbeing teams and Action Teams
    • Leadership teams
    • Pre-service educators
    • Tertiary professionals

    Register yourself

    Access free accredited professional learning modules and other resources.

    Register your community

    Is your early learning service or school registered with Be You? Be You Learning Communities can access Be You Consultants, tools and resources to support a whole-setting approach to mental health and wellbeing.
  • Courses

    Track your Professional Learning

    • Access our free learning modules.
    • Track and log your professional learning hours.
    • Discover tools and resources to put your learning into action.
    Log in Register for free

    Professional Learning

    Explore our accredited learning modules to build your skills, knowledge and confidence in mental health and wellbeing.

    • Mentally Healthy Communities

      Learn about mental health and how to create thriving learning communities.

    • Family Partnerships

      Build relationships with families to support mental health and wellbeing.

    • Learning Resilience

      Explore social and emotional learning and how to embed it in your practice.

    • Early Support

      Notice early signs, have sensitive conversations and provide support.

    • Responding Together

      Plan for critical incidents, learn about trauma and support recovery.

    Evidence and accreditation

    Explore the evidence behind Be You Professional Learning and how it aligns with national education standards.
    • National standards
    • Accreditation
    • Supporting evidence

    Planning for Implementation

    Five short modules exploring the Be You Implementation Cycle and how it can support you to create a mentally healthy learning community.
    • Planning for Implementation modules
  • Resources

    Immediate support Help

    If you are concerned about someone at risk of immediate harm, call 000 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
    • Support helplines
    • Be You suicide response

    Wellbeing toolkits

    Wellbeing tools for children and young people

    Wellbeing tools for educators

    Wellbeing tools for leaders

    Resource topics

    • Educator wellbeing

    • Cultural responsiveness and First Nations perspectives

    • Suicide prevention and response

    • Disability inclusion

    • Natural disaster response

    Wellbeing toolkits

    Wellbeing tools for children and young people

    Wellbeing tools for educators

    Wellbeing tools for leaders

    Implementation tools

    • Tools for Action Teams
    • BETLS Observation Tool
    • Mental Health Continuum
    • Programs Directory

    Fact Sheets

    • Child and adolescent development
    • Grief, trauma and critical incidents
    • Mental health issues and conditions
    • Mental health support
    • Communication and relationships
    • Social and emotional learning
    • Wellbeing and stress management
  • Events

    Explore Be You events

    Join our online events to learn about mental health and wellbeing topics, enhance your practice and support your engagement with Be You.

    Upcoming events

    Hear from Be You Consultants and subject matter experts talking about a range of topics.
    • Early learning
    • Primary
    • Secondary

    Event recordings

    Have you missed an event? Would you like to learn more about a particular topic? Check out our recorded events.
    • Be You Virtual Conference
Log in Register for free Immediate support Help
  1. Programs Directory

Seasons for Growth Children and Young People's Program

Mackillop Family Services - Mackillop Seasons

Early intervention education program based on the belief that change and loss are part of life, and grief is a normal response to these losses.
  • Visit website
  • Print
3/4 Evidence

The evidence rating is scored out of 4 and provides an assessment of the evidence underpinning the program.

4/4 Implementation

The implementation rating is scored out of 4 and provides an assessment of the program's training, support and acceptability by participants and instructors.

  • Overview
  • Cost
  • Structure
  • Organisation
  • Ratings
Contact program Back to top

Overview

Alignment with Be You Domains

  • Mentally Healthy Communities

  • Family Partnerships

  • Learning Resilience

  • Early Support

  • Responding Together

Alignment with Australian Curriculum

  • Health and PE

Target audience

  • Primary school
  • Secondary school

Target groups

  • Small group

Aims

Seasons for Growth aims to support connection with others going through similar circumstances, helping to foster emotional literacy and resilience as a pathway to improved social and emotional wellbeing. It aims to provide a safe learning environment for children and young people to: Acknowledge their experiences and recognise they are "not the only one" Understand that their feelings and other behavioural reactions are normal Develop skills for coping, positive choices, goal setting and decision making Build a peer support network and a felt sense of belonging and connection Help restore self-confidence and self-esteem

Program theory

Seasons for Growth is grounded in J. William Worden’s theory of grief, the principles of recognition and wellbeing, and Childhood Studies.

Topics

Seasons for Growth provides the support and space for children and young people to: Learn about how different people respond to change, loss and grief Understand that it is normal to experience a range of grief reactions Explore new approaches to dealing with change, loss and grief in their lives Build communication, decision making and problem-solving skills Participate in a supportive network of peers and adults Integrate their new learning into their relationships with family, friends and others.

Cost

There are many different packages and costs are published on the MacKillop Seasons website under training and events. To run the groups, each participant will need a journal, available for purchase on the website. Updated costs are also listed there. https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/

Program structure

Seasons for Growth is a small group program of 4-7 participants. It’s run over eight formal sessions, plus a celebration and optional reconnector session. The small groups are in-person and facilitated by a trained companion and tailored to participant age. Level 1 (6 - 8 years): 40 min sessions Level 2 (9 -10 years): 40 min sessions Level 3 (11-12 years): 45 min sessions Level 4 (13-18 years): 50 min sessions

Instructor

  • External facilitator
  • Psychologist
  • Educator
  • Wellbeing leader

Instructor training

The program training is 12 hours over 2 days - on line or face to face. The training provides attendees with detailed, theoretical, evidence-based content. The training is accessible and interactive. Once trained, facilitators are called "Companions" as the role emphasises the importance of balancing the subject matter expertise of the facilitator with the program learning experience, based on conversations with and between the children and young people.

Supporting resources or materials available with program

  • Manual
  • Workbook

Other materials

Each trained Companion (facilitator/instructor) receives a Program Manual and a sample pack of children’s journals for reference.

Ongoing support

The following free additional support for trained Companions is provided: - Online and telephone support can be accessed 5 days per week - Monthly online follow-up (Community of Practice) - Additional online trainer led professional development sessions to continue building their knowledge and understanding of grief and loss. - Access to a Companion portal with additional practical resources for running their groups and a quarterly newsletter featuring the latest research, evidence, relevant articles, and stories. -Access to an Online support group for Companions (Seasons Online Community)

Parent involvement

  • Attend information sessions
  • Follow-up information provided after program
  • Written information provided to parents
  • Online resources

Origin of program

Australia

Mackillop Family Services - Mackillop Seasons

Program authors

Professor Anne Graham

Address
14 Rodborough Road, Unit 11,Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Australia
Phone
+611300379569
Email
louise.hall@mackillop.org.au
website
Visit website

Ratings

3/4 Evidence

The evidence rating is scored out of 4 and provides an assessment of the evidence underpinning the program.

4/4 Implementation

The implementation rating is scored out of 4 and provides an assessment of the program's training, support and acceptability by participants and instructors.

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?

The study reported positive outcomes.

Yes
Link between program description and theory of change

Theory of change refers to whether there was a comprehensive description and illustration of how and why a desired change is expected to happen in a particular context.

Comprehensive
Study design

Type of study design reported.

Pre-post cohort
Independence

The degree to which the program authors were involved in the research.

Completely

Summary of implementation factors

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

Feedback sought from participants

Participants enjoyed the program and understood its benefits.

Yes
Feedback sought from instructors

Instructors enjoyed the program and understood its benefits.

Yes
Groups program is not suitable for

Groups the program wouldn't be suitable for or that required further research to determine suitability.

Not assessed
Training provided during study

The model of training provided.

Face to face, all instructors, in person
Ongoing instructor support provided during study

Whether ongoing support is provided.

Yes

Context

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

Study Participants

Pre school, primary school (Foundation to Year 6), secondary school (Years 7 to 12).

Primary school

Secondary school

Country of Study/s

The location in which the evidence or research was conducted.

Australia

Location of Study/s in Australia

The state (or states) the program was assessed in Australia.

VIC

NSW

Evaluation of program in culturally and linguistically diverse populations

Provider has included culturally and linguistically diverse people when assessing the program.

No
Evaluation of program in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people

Provider has included Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples when assessing the program.

No
Evaluation of program in low socioeconomic groups

Program has evaluated a diverse socio-economic population in their research.

No
Developmental based adaptations to program design and delivery

Shorter sessions for younger students or activities are adjusted for age appropriateness.

No
Evaluation of program in children and young people with disability and/or learning difference

Provider has included participants with a disability or learning difference when assessing the program.

Yes

Last updated: 4 March 2025

    • What is Be You?
    • Be You Stories
    • Immediate support
    • Be You implementation support
    • How to get started
    • Register yourself
    • Register your community
    • Professional Learning
    • Track your Professional Learning
    • Evidence and accreditation
    • Planning for Implementation
    • Resource topics
    • Wellbeing toolkits
    • Implementation tools
    • Fact Sheets
    • Explore Be You events
    • Upcoming events
    • Event recordings
  • Delivered by
    • Beyond Blue home
  • In collaboration with
    • Early Childhood Australia home
    • Headspace home
  • Funded by
    • Logo - Department of Health and Aged Care
  • Follow us

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Youtube
    • Twitter
  • Contact us
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy
  • Privacy collection statement

Copyright © 2025 Australian Government

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags

Be You acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend our respect to all Elders and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples across Australia.