At Upper Yarra Secondary College, improving student wellbeing has long been a shared priority. Like many schools, however, the team was mindful of adding another survey to students’ already busy schedules.

The school first heard about Living Ripples through Resilience Youth Australia. The approach was introduced to members of the leadership and wellbeing teams, and the initial response was cautious. Staff were mindful that students already participate in a number of surveys and wanted to ensure that any additional activity would be worthwhile.

Through discussions within the wellbeing and leadership teams, staff began to see the potential value of the survey. They noted that the questions were thoughtful and meaningful, exploring areas of student life that schools often find difficult to measure clearly, such as coping skills, anxiety, and digital behaviours.

The wellbeing and leadership teams worked closely together to consider whether the survey could genuinely support the school’s wellbeing priorities. Over time, the conversation shifted from simply adding another survey to exploring how meaningful data could strengthen the school’s overall wellbeing strategy.

Once the leadership team reviewed the results, the value quickly became clear. The data was easy to interpret and directly relevant to the experiences of their students.

“It was very telling,” staff reflected. “The information was simple to read and immediately useful.”

With the results in hand, the school brought together leadership and wellbeing staff to reflect on the findings and explore next steps. They also connected with a Living Ripples facilitator to unpack the data more deeply and identify priority areas for their wellbeing approach.

Several clear opportunities emerged:

• A chance to better support female students, particularly in managing levels of anxiety
• Growing awareness around phone use and digital habits, opening up space for more positive and balanced engagement
• An opportunity to strengthen students’ confidence in coping with challenges and building resilience

These insights gave the school a strong foundation to focus their efforts where they would have the greatest impact. Rather than taking a broad approach, they began shaping targeted initiatives aligned to the specific needs of their students.

The data also supported a successful application for a local council wellbeing grant, helping fund programs that build resilience and coping skills among young people. Beyond informing programs, the insights deepened staff understanding of students’ experiences, creating a more informed and responsive approach to wellbeing.

School leaders shared the findings with year level coordinators, opening conversations about how teachers could respond more sensitively and holistically to student needs. “This kind of insight is something we’ve always wanted, but never really had access to before,” staff explained. The data helped move discussions beyond assumptions and toward a shared understanding across the school. For Upper Yarra Secondary College, the facilitated session with Living Ripples was a key part of the process.

While staff could read the report themselves, the meeting helped translate the data into practical action. The facilitator guided the team through the results, demonstrated tools within the portal such as the Gemfinder, and supported the staff in identifying priority areas. With busy schedules and competing demands, staff found this guidance extremely helpful. Having senior leadership in the conversation also strengthened the impact.

The school sees family engagement as an important next step. Many families in the community face challenges related to time, resources, and access to information, particularly within a low socioeconomic context. Staff believe parents are generally open to wellbeing initiatives, but recognise that meaningful engagement takes time, coordination, and consistent support. “It’s something we’d really value building over time,” staff reflected. “With the right support and coordination, we think there’s real potential to strengthen connections with families.”