What is KidsMatter Primary?
KidsMatter Primary is a national primary school mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention initiative developed in collaboration with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, beyondblue: the national depression initiative, the Australian Psychological Society, and Principals Australia. This initiative has three major aims:
Improve the mental health and well-being of primary school students
Reduce mental health problems among students (eg. anxiety, depression and behavioural problems)
Achieve greater support for those students experiencing mental health problems.
Responsibility for KidsMatter Primary rests with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Why is this important?
Good mental health is integral to academic achievement. Students who are mentally healthy learn better and have better relationships with their teachers, family members and peers. Good mental health makes it easier for students to negotiate the transition into adolescence and then adulthood, improving their chances of achieving long-term education and career goals as well as a better quality of life.
Who benefits?
Primary school students, their families and school staff.
What is KidsMatter Primary delivering?
KidsMatter Primary schools develop and implement comprehensive plans for each of the four areas that protect students from developing mental health problems:
a positive school community
social and emotional skills for students
parenting education and support
early intervention for students experiencing mental health difficulties.
Participating schools receive professional development covering the four aspects above, a KidsMatter Primary Implementation Manual, a KidsMatter Primary Programs Guide and mental health resources such as information sheets.
How does it work?
KidsMatter Primary is based on a comprehensive model for a school mental health program that involves the entire school community. It targets the mental health and well-being of all students in primary schools through creating a positive school environment and providing education on social and emotional skills for life.
School leadership teams plan and co-ordinate the implementation of KidsMatter Primary with teachers having a central role in delivering the initiative. These teams are supported by people with mental health expertise who provide training for teachers so they can implement the aims of the four key areas.
Students are taught ‘resilience skills’, helping them to cope with change, make and keep friends and manage their emotions. At the same time teachers and parents are given information on child development and how to respond to a child who is experiencing mental health difficulties. Parents and teachers are also shown how to develop appropriate strategies that will guide a child with difficulties to a better state of mental health.
A range of resources are made available, including a website www.kidsmatter.edu.au.
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What funding is attached to this initiative?
On 5 October 2009, the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon, announced funding of $12.2 million over three years to allow the expansion of the original pilot program.
The Minister also announced funding of an associated $6.5 million project for the early childhood sector.
When did KidsMatter start?
KidsMatter Primary began in 2006 with a national two year pilot. The 101 participating schools came from all States and Territories, from government, catholic and independent school sectors, and from metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.
How is KidsMatter progressing?
KidsMatter Primary is being extended to further primary schools nationally and will be piloted in pre-schools and long day care centres in 2010 and 2011.
An external evaluation by Flinders University of the KidsMatter Primary pilot funded by beyondblue: the national depression initiative found KidsMatter Primary had a positive impact on children, school staff, parents and carers. This included improvements to student mental health and wellbeing such as optimism and coping skills, and reduced mental health difficulties such as emotional symptoms, hyperactivity, conduct and peer problems. The ability of teachers and parents to help students with their difficulties was also improved.
Further information
Please see the web page www.kidsmatter.edu.au for further information about KidsMatter.
Page currency, Latest update: 10 May, 2007