In Term 2 of 2025, a powerful collaboration took flight to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people across New South Wales. . The “Schools Resilience Project,” a joint initiative between Creating Chances, Headspace National, and NSW Health, delivered 19 high-impact programs designed to foster positive mental health and build essential social-emotional skills.
The project made a significant footprint in the Central Coast and New England regions, engaging 1,177 participants from Year 5 to Year 11 across nine schools. Over 200 hours of delivery, the partnership provided students with safe, inclusive environments to explore personal growth and connect with their peers.
- Springboard: Focused on Year 5 and 6 students to prepare them for the social and academic challenges of transitioning to high school.
- Champions: A long-term program for high schoolers exploring life skills modules like self-awareness and coping mechanisms
- Wellbeing Days: Large-scale, whole-year group events addressing specific school priorities such as conflict management and growth mindset.
The outcomes of the partnership were profound, with students showing marked improvements across all measured psychosocial areas. According to data analyzed in partnership with the University of New South Wales, the project achieved:
- +16% Improvement in Teamwork: Students felt noticeably more confident collaborating with others.
- +15% Increase in School Belonging: Participants developed a stronger, more positive connection to their school community.
- +14% Boost in Resilience: Young people felt more capable of recovering from setbacks and adapting to new challenges.
- +12% Growth in Communication: Students improved their ability to express themselves clearly and listen actively.
"It has opened my eyes about things, I've started to see things from a different perspective. It changed the way I feel about myself, instead of feeling like I wasn't a part of the community here, I feel welcome."
Beyond building individual skills, the project also explored student support systems. Surveys revealed that while most students turn to parents and family (220 mentions) or friends (135 mentions) for support, there is a continued need to bridge the gap between students and formal school services or helplines.
With 86% of participants expressing a desire to join another Creating Chances program and a similar number willing to recommend it to friends, the Headspace partnership has proven to be a vital success in growing impact where it is needed most.
Are you interested in bringing a Springboard, Champions, or Wellbeing program, to your school? Contact us to learn more about our evidence-based pathways.
