Aussie Optimism Program

School of Population Health, Curtin University

The classroom-based programs consist of 10 weekly one-hour lessons. Age appropriate materials are available for the following levels:

• Kindy/Pre-primary: I Spy Feelings
• Years 1-3: Feelings and Friends
• Year 4: Positive Thinking Skills
• Years 5-6: Social Life Skills.

• Years 7-8: Optimistic Thinking Skills.

Aussie Optimism offer a range of programs for students in different year levels from Kindy to Year 8. The programs aim to build resilience and equip students with the skills they need to have good mental health. Aussie Optimism is mapped to the Health and Physical Education Curriculum, and offer training to school staff both at Curtin University and at individual schools.

Children and adolescents often experience stress, for example peer pressure, family conflict, moving from primary school to high school, increased demands of study, performance expectations and body changes. Children and adolescents cannot always be protected from stress, however, they can be provided with the skills necessary to cope with stress and to rise above life’s difficulties and challenges.

• Identify and manage feelings
• Make and maintain friends
• Solve social problems
• Think optimistically to promote self-esteem and bounce back from difficulties.

The program is designed to be implemented in weekly lessons over the course of a term, where students learn practical skills and strategies that relate to social and emotional wellbeing. The program utilises empirically validated psychological and pedagogical techniques. The programs are mapped to the national curriculum for Health and Physical Education, and English.

In order to implement the Aussie Optimism program, it is necessary to attend a one-day training workshop. These workshops are currently held at Curtin University three times a year. Alternatively, the Aussie Optimism team can come to your school or organise an online workshop for you. For more information, please contact Aussie.Optimism@curtin.edu.au

Cost
The cost of attendance depends on whether you would like to receive a full or provisional accreditation. Both accreditation types attend the same workshop.

Full Accreditation $150

• Required to teach the program.
• Training includes a copy of the teacher manual and student booklet. For the whole school workshop, you can choose which program you want resources for.
• You can purchase program resources.

Provisional Accreditation $50

• Recommended for those assisting delivery of program.
• Training does not include any additional materials.
• Does not allow purchasing of program resources
• There is a cost of $100 to convert any provisional accreditation into a full accreditation. Includes a copy of the teacher manual and student booklet.

• Reduced likelihood of alcohol use
• Reduced likelihood of tobacco use
• Decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety

One randomised controlled trial evaluated the substance use prevention benefits associated with combined implementation of the Social Life Skills program (in Year 6), the Optimistic Thinking Skills program (in Year 7) and the Parents and Families program. Benefits were only observed when teachers received training and ongoing coaching while implementing the program. Benefits associated with the early primary school programs have not yet been evaluated in a published research study. Other published research about this program focuses on the mental health benefits.