Overview
Alignment with Be You Domains
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Learning Resilience
Alignment with Australian Curriculum
- Health and PE
- Humanities and Social Sciences
Target audience
- Primary school
Target groups
- Small group
- Whole class
- Whole school
Aims
The Smiling Mind Primary School Program's goal is to empower children with the foundational mental fitness skills that evidence shows can support them to build resilience and thrive. Smiling Mind’s evidence-based, whole-school approach not only supports students’ social and emotional learning (SEL), but also provides tailored resources and training for educators, helping to create a positive shift in overall school culture while building mental health and wellbeing.Program theory
The Smiling Mind Primary School Program is an evidence-based SEL program co-designed by psychologists and educators to help students build mental fitness skills. Aligned with the Australian Curriculum ‘Personal and Social Capability’ and ‘Health and Physical Education’ content descriptors, it offers ready-to-implement lessons and resources, while also providing tailored training for teachers, school leaders, and wellbeing coordinators.Topics
The program includes 20 SEL lesson topics per year level, covering: Introduction to Mental Fitness; Awareness; Attention; The Senses; Savouring; Movement; Self-Compassion; Recognising Emotions; Managing Emotions; Building Optimism; My Strengths; Gratitude; Making Decisions; Setting Goals; Empathy; Acts of Kindness; Positive Relationships; Positive Communication; A Curious Mind; Growth Mindset; and, Resilience. All topics are mapped to the Australian Curriculum and Smiling Mind’s evidence-based mental fitness model.Cost
Program structure
Following the Orientation Lesson, there are 20 lessons for each year level covering different SEL topics, with each lesson designed to be delivered over a two-week period. This spaced learning model aids students’ learning of the concepts and helps integrate the concepts and skills into their daily lives. The Smiling Mind Primary School Program can either be run as a standalone wellbeing program or integrated with other programs used by your school. The Smiling Mind Primary School Program is a comprehensive curriculum and implementation toolkit designed for educators to integrate social and emotional (SEL) learning seamlessly into school environments. The 12-month subscription includes access to:
- 120 pre-planned lessons for Years 1-6 (20 SEL topics per year level with activities, discussion guides, meditations, and resources), saving educators up to 40 hours in lesson planning. Each lesson is enhanced by a digital front-of-class student view.
- 18 interactive “Brain Break” activities (10 to 15 minutes) for Foundation to Year 2 to recharge and boost social-emotional skills.
Instructor
- Educator
- Wellbeing leader
Instructor training
Online 60-minute self-paced ‘Mental Fitness Foundations’ course for educators and other school staff designed to help educators better understand: mental fitness and the related skill sets; how the program can effectively be implemented for greatest student impact; and, how mental fitness can support educators to build their own wellbeing. Additional on-demand training videos (20-30 mins) are also provided on topics such as Trauma, ADHD, Anxiety.Supporting resources or materials available with program
- Manual
- Online webinars
- Workbook
Other materials
Lesson plans; Digital front-of-class student view of lessons; Online training course and training videos; Implementation Guides; Additional downloadable resources for school, classroom, staff, and parents and caregivers.Ongoing support
This program is fully supported by online professional development training, on-demand training videos, extensive implementation guides and resources to ensure successful whole school implementation, and ongoing access to support from the Smiling Mind Education team.Parent involvement
- Follow-up information provided after program
- Written information provided to parents
Origin of program
Australia
Smiling Mind
Program authors
Smiling Mind
- 26-28 Easey St,Collingwood VIC 3066 (Wurundjeri Country) Australia
Ratings
Summary of evidence factors
This is a summary of the evaluation or research study characteristics that contribute to the program’s evidence rating.
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Positive impact on at least one outcome for children and/or young people?
The study reported positive outcomes. |
Yes |
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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 |
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Study design
Type of study design reported. |
Randomised control trial |
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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.
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Feedback sought from participants
Participants enjoyed the program and understood its benefits. |
Yes |
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Feedback sought from instructors
Instructors enjoyed the program and understood its benefits. |
Yes |
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Groups program is not suitable for
Groups the program wouldn't be suitable for or that required further research to determine suitability. |
Assessed and reported |
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Training provided during study
The model of training provided. |
Face to face, all instructors, in person |
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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.
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Study Participants
Pre school, primary school (Foundation to Year 6), secondary school (Years 7 to 12). |
Primary school |
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Country of Study/s
The location in which the evidence or research was conducted. |
Australia |
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Location of Study/s in Australia
The state (or states) the program was assessed in Australia. |
VIC |
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Evaluation of program in culturally and linguistically diverse populations
Provider has included culturally and linguistically diverse people when assessing the program. |
Yes |
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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. |
Yes |
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Evaluation of program in low socioeconomic groups
Program has evaluated a diverse socio-economic population in their research. |
Yes |
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Developmental based adaptations to program design and delivery
Shorter sessions for younger students or activities are adjusted for age appropriateness. |
No |
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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: 9 October 2025