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The Wellbeing Classroom and Kimochis®

Schools Ministry Group Inc

The Wellbeing Classroom (WBC) is an evidence-based framework that emphasises wellbeing and social-emotional learning, grounded in trauma-informed pedagogy and utilises Kimochis® resources and Life Matters workshops for young learners.

  • SA

Pricing: Paid

Origin: Developed elsewhere but applicable for Australian schools, Developed in Australia for Australian schooling contexts

Affiliations: Department of Social Services

Product type: Posters; Fact sheets; Student activities; Activity sheets; Professional learning; Whole school approach or initiative

Contact details

Schools Ministry Group Inc
ABN: 99 713 472 424

https://smg.asn.au/the-wellbeing-classroom

thewellbeingclassroom@smg.net.au

Focus areas

  • Positive relationships

  • Belonging and inclusion

  • Bullying and cyber-bullying

  • Self-regulation and engagement

  • 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)

Communities: Diverse cultures or language groups

Context: School or centre-based

Main beneficiaries: Early learning, Foundation/Prep, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4

Delivery style: Classroom teacher is trained; Delivered by program staff

Aims & approach

The Wellbeing Classroom (WBC) framework supports children aged 4-12 in educational and care settings in South Australia, utilising Kimochis as its primary tool.

Schools are consulted and receive a 3-hour staff professional development on the framework incorporating trauma informed practice, Kimochis® resources and/or training and an onsite wellbeing coach based on their needs.

Wellbeing Coaches mentor staff and students, fostering a positive wellbeing culture that enhances emotional regulation and essential social skills in a supportive environment throughout the school community. Wellbeing Coaches run weekly lessons with classes, upskilling participants with emotional literacy and communication skills to build positive relationships, while supporting educators to embed these strategies into classroom practice. Families engage with wellbeing activities at home and through family learning events.

The Wellbeing Classroom is designed as a targeted universal model of early prevention support. The product has a wide-ranging appeal and can be adapted to multiple groups and contexts. Each of the strategies utilised are selected as they offer appropriate evidence informed support to children who experience chronic stress, behavioural challenges and trauma, but also provides significant benefit to all children. The professional development and coaching of educators and the involvement of families and the wider community are key to the success of the model.

Implementation support

  • Access to professional facilitator, instructor or mentor
  • Ongoing helpdesk, email or phone support

Evidence

WBC is informed by positive psychology, mindfulness, ACE theory, Polyvagal theory, neurobiology of trauma, project-based learning, and attachment theory.

The program was developed from a partnership between Salisbury Communities for Children, academic staff from UniSA School of Education, Schools Ministry Group, and a local primary school. Its impact is supported by positive outcomes identified in an impact evaluation, with further evaluations and reviews that show positive changes in school readiness, students' social relationships, attendance, emotional literacy and NAPLAN scores. Positive outcomes were also identified in the Wellbeing Transitions Report by UniSA.