Living Ripples is a process that integrates, supports, and wraps around a school’s existing priorities in student wellbeing. The process provides an accessible online survey tool for students aged 7 to 19 years, teachers, and parents/carers, with anonymous and amalgamated data delivered immediately, in real time, to the school’s own unique reporting portal.
With the data collected, Living Ripples provides practical support to analyse the findings and working alongside the self-nominated school team, helps create a practical action plan reflecting the priorities highlighted from within the data and connected to the School’s plans. Living Ripples is a partnership with the school, supported by philanthropy and delivered with Resilient Youth Australia and the University of Adelaide.
In this issue:
The survey data factor analysis
Taking stock: Tools for understanding and measuring day to day impact
The Flourish Movement: A partnership for whole school wellbeing
Building clusters of Living Ripples schools, expressions of interest open
Wellbeing round up: Outdoor wellbeing
Student Wellbeing Action Grants, granting rounds and applications open
Analysing the survey data
With many schools already having completed their student, family and teacher surveys, Student Wellbeing Action Plan (SWAP) meetings are underway. School executive and teaching team members meet online with the University of Adelaide’s WiLDlab expert facilitators. Together, the organised data, grouped into eight themes or factors generated from the 60-item Student Resilience Survey, is further investigated. This factor analysis approach maximises the collected data to enable a nuanced understanding of the findings supporting reflection and review to actively pursue and address wellbeing for all those in the school community. During these online sessions, an immediate task is the co-creation of a Student Wellbeing Action Plan within the school’s portal.
In preparing for the SWAP meeting, as schools have immediate access to their data through their own reporting portal, here is a summary of the eight factors:
Taking stock: Understanding and measuring ongoing impact
Checking in, tracking, collecting feedback on planned wellbeing initiatives, activities and programs as part of existing school plans and the Student Wellbeing Action Plan is a regular activity. Led by the school in a way most suited to their needs, the process to do these check-ins varies. With interest in online tools to assist, four have been summarised here: My Mind Check, Living Ripples Plus, Switch4Schools and UpSchool My Voice. Each have their own specific strengths and while a summary has been provided based on questions received, schools are best placed to know what will work for them.
Partnering with The Flourish Movement
In May, Living Ripples Ltd partnered with The Flourish Movement, an initiative directly supporting school leaders and their teams to help spotlight and prioritise wellbeing for all members of the school community. The Flourish Movement is a nationally recognised, research-driven program. Founded in 2016 by performance researcher Dr Adam Fraser, in collaboration with Deakin University, the program equips principals and school leaders with practical strategies to manage stress, enhance work-life balance, and foster sustainable leadership practices. Participants have reported significant improvements including reduced stress levels, better sleep, and increased time for strategic planning. At Cambewarra Public, a Living Ripples school in NSW, Principal John Bond talks about the impact. Our partnership provides practical support in the delivery of workshops in the following NSW Principal Networks of Batemans Bay, New England and Sydney. More information is available from The Flourish Movement and for principals and school leaders interested in Living Ripples, please register your interest here. And listen to the Flourish Podcasts here.
Creating a local cluster of Living Ripples schools
Expressions of interest invited for 2026
Current and new Living Ripple schools across Australia are invited to apply for a fully funded, three-year opportunity to join our transformative process as a Living Ripples cluster. We are looking for multiple schools within the same broader community to participate – ideally, a cluster of geographically connected schools. While applications are open to all, we have a strong preference for schools in rural, remote, and regional areas, where our support can make the greatest impact. In rural and remote areas there may not be another school ‘nearby’ but there may be schools that are connected in other ways despite their distance that are keen to collaborate and participate. All schools are welcome, public, independent, distance education, primary, secondary, F-12 schools, schools for special purpose. Where school clusters are created, there is also an opportunity to apply for a part time, 1/2 day a week Living Ripples Local Lead paid role.
Wellbeing Round Up
Outdoor and nature-based wellbeing activities is the focus for Issue 10. These low cost activities are designed for a range of ages and locations. Many will be familiar to you but we hope there are some new approaches or angles. We welcome your contributions, tips and recommendations.
SWAG Applications
Round 2 completed and applications welcome
We are delighted to share that our second SWAG grant round has been completed with our helping hand grants awarded to schools in NSW, Victoria and South Australia.
We have been very encouraged with the interest and scope for support directly. As a helping hand grant, the assistance is usually for smaller amounts. While not prescriptive as the premise of the Living Ripples process is for solutions led by the school, the SWAG can be used for any enabling activity within the school’s Student Wellbeing Action Plan. This includes from professional learning to programs and activities. Some activities, programs and providers can be found here. SWAG is unable to support is capital or building works.
We welcome applications for round 3 which will be reviewed on 2 September and outcomes advised by 12 September. In your application, provide the context for your program, service or support requirement and please review the FAQs. Include all the costs associated with the program, project or initiative. The aim of the SWAG is to provide a helping hand. Often the SWAG amount is a proportion of the total amount required. The SWAG is a competitive process and is assessed by the Board.
Reads and reports released in June 2025
Why workplace wellbeing matters
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve (Professor of Economics and Behavioural Science at the University of Oxford) and George Ward (Junior Research Fellow in Economics at Somerville College, University of Oxford) have authored Why Workplace Wellbeing Matters (June 2025). The book brings together extensive global data demonstrating how wellbeing and happiness at work boosts productivity, retention, and creativity. Included in the book are actionable strategies, steps and ideas.
Trends in Mental Health and Support Seeking
Beyond Blue released on 2 June 2025 its Trends in Mental Health and Support Seeking report. The findings include one in five Australians facing serious mental health impacts, with many turning to friends and family for support. The report highlights rising distress, delays in seeking help, and growing support gaps. It urges earlier intervention and scalable, community-based solutions to help prevent symptoms from escalating into crisis.
