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WILDSIDE

Resilient Youth Australia Pty Ltd

The WILDSIDE program aims to foster leadership and responsibility in Year 5-6 students by training them to lead nature-based activities.

  • ACT
  • NSW
  • NT
  • QLD
  • SA
  • Tas
  • Vic
  • WA

Pricing: Paid

Origin: Developed in Australia for Australian schooling contexts

Affiliations: Adelaide University

Product type: Program; Fact sheets; Online resources (e.g. videos, games, tools, readings); Student activities; Incursion, excursion or immersive experience

Contact details

Resilient Youth Australia Pty Ltd
ABN: 19 636 065 711

https://www.resilientyouth.org/wildside

sally@resilientyouth.org

Focus areas

  • Positive relationships

  • Belonging and inclusion

  • Bullying and cyber-bullying

  • Mental health literacy and life skills

  • Self-regulation and engagement

  • Resilience and optimism

  • Self-esteem and body image

Curriculum alignment

Prospective users

Audience: Whole class universal (Tier 1)

Communities: First Nations

Context: School or centre-based

Main beneficiaries: Year 5, Year 6

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

Aims & approach

The WILDSIDE program is a full-day training for up to 30 Year 5-6 student leaders, teaching them to lead safe, nature-based activities for younger students. The program promotes peer support, positive values, and cultural awareness.

Delivered by experienced facilitators, WILDSIDE fosters leadership and positive values, incorporating an Australian theme inspired by traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander games and the 8 Ways Aboriginal Pedagogies. The program is culturally informed and aligned with the Australian Curriculum's General Capabilities (Personal and Social Capability).

The day consists of an interactive morning training session, followed by an afternoon of student-led games with younger students under trainer supervision. Participants will be equipped to run the program for the rest of the school year, with ongoing support from a designated teacher. Two experienced facilitators, with VIT registration and/or Working with Children Checks, deliver the training.

Implementation support

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

Evidence

The program is informed by Play Based Learning, Nature Based Learning, and Self Determination Theory, and is endorsed by a review of the program conducted by Dr Mark Kohler from the University of Adelaide. The experience is further supported by positive feedback provided by participants via student evaluation surveys.