Mindfulness in Schools: What Local Programs Are Available

Canberra primary students are being taught breathing exercises and body scans alongside their times tables this term, as mindfulness programs expand across north and southside ACT schools.

Incidents of anxiety and classroom stress have been rising since the pandemic, according to local principals and school wellbeing coordinators. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that one in seven children between ages 4 and 17 experiences a mental health disorder each year. This places growing pressure on schools to find practical approaches to help students build emotional resilience, manage stress, and support positive learning environments.

Mindfulness Moves from Staffroom to Classroom

In Turner, at North Ainslie Primary, educators this term introduced MindUp—a curriculum designed to teach mindfulness, emotional regulation and gratitude. The program includes sensory awareness activities and mindful eating sessions during morning snack breaks. "It's become a core part of our wellbeing strategy," said the school's programs officer (unnamed at their request), who cited "noticeably calmer transitions" between classes as an early benefit.

On the southside, Lanyon High School in Conder recently rolled out Smiling Mind across all year seven homegroups. Developed in partnership with Beyond Blue and freely available through the Smiling Mind Foundation, the app-based program consists of ten-minute guided meditations and reflection prompts, with group check-ins on Friday mornings. Smiling Mind also runs workshops for local ACT teachers, including a session last month at the University of Canberra, to give educators the tools and confidence to embed mindfulness in curriculum and daily routines.

Evidence, Uptake and Costs

The MindUp and Smiling Mind programs are supported by research from University of NSW and ANU, showing regular mindfulness practice can reduce disruptive behaviours and improve focus in students. According to the 2024 ACT Wellbeing Data Snapshot, 30% of Canberra public schools now integrate explicit mindfulness sessions at least once a week. The ACT Education Directorate funded professional development for over 120 teachers in 2025 to support expanded uptake of these programs across both campuses and afterschool care settings.

For independent schools, options can vary. Radford College offers an eight-week Mindful Schools course (costing $140 per child, run after school each term), held in a dedicated quiet room overlooking Lake Ginninderra. Meanwhile, the free Mindfulness in Action youth group meets fortnightly at the Belconnen Arts Centre for self-guided practice sessions.

Some parents are seeking even more targeted interventions. The Canberra Mindfulness Centre, located on London Circuit, offers school-based workshops at $350 per class for one-off sessions. Popular topics include digital mindfulness and techniques to calm nerves before NAPLAN testing.

For families interested in exploring mindfulness outside of school hours, many neighbourhood libraries across the ACT now include guided mindfulness audiobooks in their borrowable resources. Tuggeranong Library, for example, hosts a free kids’ mindful storytelling hour on the first Saturday of every month.

Getting Started: What Next?

With more schools adopting mindfulness, parents are encouraged to ask their child’s teacher or school office what programs are on offer. Many schools now list their wellbeing initiatives on the school website or in newsletters. ACT Health also recommends Canberra families use apps such as Smiling Mind (free), Headspace for Kids (subscription-based), or join community sessions like parkrun Tuggeranong’s monthly post-run mindfulness cool-downs.

For individual advice about a child's mental health or readiness for group meditation, ACT Health suggests consulting a local paediatrician, school wellbeing officer or ACT-based mental health support line such as Beyond Blue (1300 224 636). As mindfulness continues to move from the periphery of Canberra classrooms to their centre, local schools are hoping that self-awareness and resilience become as much a part of school life as reading and mathematics.