7/30/2019 Mind Matters Fact Sheet 2013

1/2

Australian schools with secondaryenrolment that have attended MindMatters

events 2000 - 2012

MindMattersFact Sheet 2: Feb 2013

What is MindMatters?

MindMatters is the national mental health initiative for secondary schools funded by the Australian GovernmentDepartment of Health and Ageing and implemented by Principals Australia Institute. MindMatters is a resource andprofessional development initiative supporting Australian secondary schools in promoting and protecting themental health, resilience and social and emotional wellbeing of all the members of the school community; working withprincipals, leadership teams and school staff.

How does MindMatters work?

MindMatters is seen as a key organising framework by schools and health partners. It has been operating in Australiansecondary schools for over 10 years, working across health and education. MindMatters provides professional learningworkshops for classroom teachers, whole school planning workshops for leaders and school teams and a range ofworkshops including Transitions, Student Empowerment and Students experiencing high support in needs in mentalhealth.

MindMatters School Recognition

The MindMatters Recognition process is designed to acknowledge schools who are working in focused and strategicways to improve student mental health and learning outcomes. For schools to achieve MindMatters Recognition, theyhave undertaken and evaluated a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing over an extended period oftime fulfilling detailed criteria. Over the past 3 years, 46 schools have been recognised from every state and territory,with more currently on the journey.

Whole of school outcomes include:

Teachers are better able to identify students at riskand refer them to appropriate services.Taminmin College NT

Clear processes for Student Services; that better

address the mental health needs of students andconnect them to relevant agencies.

Balga Senior High School WA Growing school wide understanding about how

teachers influence student mental health andengagement.Marryatville High School SA

Enhanced social, emotional wellbeing and positiverelationships through student leadership andmentoring.Robert Townson High School NSW

Students have greater confidence to seek help formental health problems due to staff awareness andunderstanding.

Clayfield College QLD

7/30/2019 Mind Matters Fact Sheet 2013

2/2

Page 2 of 2

How many schools do MindMatters?

MindMatters continues to reach all systems and sectors of schooling with professional learning being accessed by 2,691(83.3%)of schools with secondary enrolments across Australia to date. This includes 446 (88.8%) of Catholic schools,1,688 (86.4%) of Government schools and 553 (71.6%) of Independent schools.In 2010, The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) conducted an evaluation of the MindMatters initiative.The evaluation survey reveals that:

98% of schools are aware of MindMatters

68% of schools use a core team to implement MindMatters

65% of schools use MindMatters as a curriculum resource

38% of schools use MindMatters as a key organiser for mental health promotion

What do Principals say?

A recent Principals Australia Institute survey of school principals and leaders (July 2011) showed:

84% were satisfied / very satisfied that MindMatters builds a personal understanding of mental health andwellbeing.

82% were satisfied / very satisfied with MindMatters providing practical classroom strategies.

70% were satisfied / very satisfied that MindMatters contributed to improved student mental health and

wellbeing outcomes.

Evidence of the effectiveness of MindMatters

Research supports the effectiveness of MindMatters work with schools. Recently published are the results of a threeyear multiple resilience intervention based on MindMatters and supported by an explicit adoption strategy. Itoperated in 3 schools for all students from Year 7 to Year 101 in NSW.Significant results include reduction in binge drinking, smoking and use of marijuana. This has led to the establishment ofa trial commencing in 2012 based on the MindMatters framework.

Whats happening in your state/territory?

Total Percentage of all Schools by Sector with a Secondary Enrolment Involved inMindMatters Professional Development 2000 - 2012

How can you find out about MindMatters?

MindMatters national office is located at Principals Australia Institute. MindMatters Coordinators are located in eachstate and territory. Further information can be found at: www.mindmatters.edu.au

1R K Hodder, J Daly, M Freund, J Bowman, T Hazell, J Wiggers A school-based resilience intervention to decrease tobacco, alcohol and marijuana

use in high school students.BMC Public Health. 2011

State Government Catholic Independent Total

No. # % No. # % No. # % No. # %

ACT 35 94.6 5 100 14 93.3 54 94.7

NSW 514 91.9 158 90.8 149 70.3 821 86.9

NT 51 72.9 11 91.7 11 84.6 73 76.8

QLD 287 87.8 90 94.7 108 75.5 485 85.8

SA 160 88.4 31 86.1 47 76.7 238 85.6

TAS 65 92.8 15 100 17 68 97 88.1

VIC 400 83 96 81.4 144 72.7 642 80.3

WA 176 76.5 40 85.1 60 56.6 276 71.9

All

States1688 86.4 446 88.8 553 71.6 2691 83.3

http://www.mindmatters.edu.au/http://www.mindmatters.edu.au/http://www.mindmatters.edu.au/