The Anxiety Project
On Tuesday 19 August 2025 from 9:30 to 3:00 PM, we will be holding a face-to-face information session about our two wellbeing projects.
Our venue will be the NSW Teachers’ Federation Room in Surry Hills, which has capacity for 90 people. Please book early if you would like to attend as we expect this event will be well attended.
During the session you get a framework for how you can improve the wellbeing of your whole school community by addressing the number one mental health issue affecting Australian children, as well as walking away with some strategies and tips for improving teacher wellbeing. Our two projects are evidence based and offer long term and sustainable results. The cost is $129.00. You can book through the QR code on the attached flier.
Achieving large-scale change in student wellbeing relies on a well-designed population change process which complements existing the school plans. I am familiar with this type of population change process having worked with UNICEF and UNFPA in South-East Asia, on large-scale population change.
Our wellbeing projects challenge the use of ‘unhelpful accommodations’ in Australian which, while well-intentioned, are problematic. The accommodation of students, by well-intentioned adults, is making the problem of child anxiety worse in Australian schools. We are the only project that tackles accommodation-behaviour (by adults) being used in Australia.
Our projects offer teachers and parents the skills and strategies to reduce student anxiety. Children and teenagers can be coached in ‘everyday conversations’ and taught essential knowledge and skills in seven lessons to help them manage their anxious thoughts and how to calm their bodies. The lessons come with learning intentions and success criteria at each step in the lesson sequence.
Each of the primary and secondary projects address the record levels of student anxiety in Australian schools. (See attached, 2024 peer reviewed article from The Lancet highlighted on page 735, to see how serious the problem of mental ill-health is in Australian students.)
There are three attachments (above):
- A flier for our wellbeing seminar for further information and links to book for the 19 August.
- Research comments made by teachers currently involved the primary and secondary projects, and a few comments made about less durable wellbeing projects.
- The McGorry et al article, mentioned above.
I hope to see you at the NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre on 19 August.
We are still taking schools for participation in the Anxiety Project for 25-26. It’s not too late to join for this year
Developed in partnership by the NSWPPA and Parentshop’s lead psychologist, Michael Hawton, The Anxiety Project has been designed and developed for delivery in Australian schools and is now available across all states and sectors.
- The data is showing significant changes in teacher confidence in recognising anxiety and knowing how to respond. Staff are also reporting marked improvements in their wellbeing as they realise how much changes they are making have improved outcomes for students.
Further information Rob Walker rob.walker@det.nsw.edu.au or Hayley Cravigan gm@parentshop.com.au
Click here to watch the May 2025 Information Session
Click here to complete the EOI Form
If you have any questions about the project or would like a presentation at your local PPC meeting you can contact The Anxiety Project General manager on on 0404 011 135.