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Aussie Optimism

Aussie Optimism

Aussie Optimism is an evidence-based social emotional learning (SEL) program that provides children and young people with practical skills and strategies that promote mental health and wellbeing.

  • Online
  • WA

Pricing: Paid

Origin: Developed in Australia for Australian schooling contexts

Affiliations: Curtin University; WA Mental Health Commission; Approved elsewhere: Be You

Product type: Program; Posters; Student activities; Professional learning; Presentation by an expert or speaker ; Whole school approach or initiative; Incursion, excursion or immersive experience; Learning modules; Class lesson plans

Contact details

Aussie Optimism
ABN: 92 631 380 183

https://aussieoptimism.com.au

Aussie.Optimism@curtin.edu.au

Focus areas

  • Mental health literacy and life skills

  • Resilience and optimism

Curriculum alignment

  • Health and PE

Prospective users

Audience: Whole school universal (Tier 1), Whole class universal (Tier 1), Targeted small group early intervention (Tier 2)

Context: School or centre-based

Main beneficiaries: Foundation/Prep, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6, Year 7, Year 8

Delivery style: Classroom teacher is trained

Aims & approach

Aussie Optimism aims to prevent anxiety and depression in children and adolescents, as well as to enhance mental wellbeing and the skills and strategies necessary for this.

The program teaches emotion regulation, thinking skills, social skills and coping skills, and is based on psychological theory and research, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy principles.

School staff who want to implement the program in their classrooms attend a training workshop facilitated by an accredited Aussie Optimism trainer. They then receive accreditation and are able to run the program in their classrooms. There are currently six programs in the Aussie Optimism suite, which are suitable for different developmental levels:

  • I Spy Feelings (Kindy and PP)
  • Feelings Explorer (Years 1 and 2)
  • Feelings and Friends (Year 3)
  • Positive Thinking Skills (Year 4)
  • Social Life Skills (Years 5 and 6) and
  • Optimistic Thinking Skills (Years 7 and 8)

Each program consists of 10 modules, each of which takes approximately an hour to facilitate. All programs are mapped to the HPE curriculum.

The program resources include teacher manuals, student booklets, printable resources, and access to online database of teaching resources.

Schools and organisations can also apply for the Train-the-Trainer program, where we train new trainers who are then able to go back to their schools and communities to train staff onsite. The program to become an Aussie Optimism trainer runs for 4 days at Curtin University.

School staff and new trainers can access support from the Aussie Optimism team as often as they need, via a coaching model. New trainers are also supported by a member of the team when they run their first workshop.

As well as the six programs, we also offer free student incursions, staff sessions, and parent sessions to schools within the Perth metropolitan area.

Implementation support

  • Access to professional facilitator, instructor or mentor
  • Implementation training webinars or modules
  • Ongoing helpdesk, email or phone support

Evidence

The program is informed by CBT and Positive Psychology.

Its impact is supported by positive outcomes found in evaluations, a full list of which can be found at https://aussieoptimism.com.au/awards-research/.