Thriving School Communities
Emotional Resilience for Teachers, Students and Parents
Schools are complex, demanding environments. Supporting wellbeing means equipping the whole school community with practical skills to manage stress, navigate change and respond to challenge with greater awareness, resilience and connection.
Living Aware offers evidence-based mindfulness and wellbeing programs for teachers, students and parents, drawing on Lydia’s extensive experience in education, mental health and school wellbeing.
Programs range from practical workshops and short courses to a more comprehensive whole school approach for staff, students and parents.
Supporting Teacher Wellbeing
Teaching requires attention, energy and emotional resources. Developing mindful awareness can help educators manage stress, reduce burnout and cultivate greater emotional resilience and self-compassion.
Our training gives teachers skills they can use in the midst of a busy school day – to pause, regulate stress, respond rather than react and bring greater presence to their relationships with students and colleagues.
Practical skills to help teachers:
- manage stress and reduce overwhelm
- strengthen emotional resilience and self-awareness
- respond more calmly to challenging situations
- improve focus, presence and communication
- develop sustainable practices for their own wellbeing
Research into mindfulness training for teachers has found benefits including reduced psychological distress and burnout, increased self-compassion, and improvements in classroom organisation and teaching effectiveness. Results Explore the research →
“This has completely changed the way I am with the children I work with. I’m busy but not stressed any more.” Kathryn – 8 Week Course for Teachers
Supporting Students
Young people are growing up in a world of increasing distraction, uncertainty and social pressure.
Age-appropriate mindfulness and awareness practices can help students learn to self-regulate, recognise unhelpful thoughts and emotions, strengthen attention and develop healthier ways of responding to challenges.
Our programs support the development of attention, emotional regulation, resilience, self-awareness and practical strategies for managing challenges – skills students can draw on at school and beyond. Programs can be tailored to include time-management, exam pressure, bullying and developing positive relationships.
Awareness for Teens
Adapted from the evidence-based MBSR approach, this eight-week program gives young people practical skills to manage stress, build emotional resilience, strengthen self-awareness and develop greater confidence to navigate everyday challenges.
Ideally delivered in eight 50-minute sessions, the program can be adapted to suit the needs of your school.
Just Breathe – Meditation Made Easy
An accessible introduction to mindfulness and stress management, with practical tips to pause, settle a busy mind and reconnect with the present moment. Available as a short course or workshop, tailored to different age groups and school settings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVA2N6tX2cg
The School Reset – for Parents & Carers
Supporting a young person begins with having the resources to manage our own stress and respond with greater calm and presence.
Our parent and carer workshops explore stress management, emotional regulation and mindful communication, with awareness practices to use in family life.
The School Reset can be delivered as a workshop or short course with simple strategies to help parents and carers pause, regulate stress and create greater calm and connection at home.
Supporting Teachers to Support Students
Lydia’s work in schools extends beyond mindfulness training to student mental fitness, suicide prevention, postvention, grief and disaster recovery. Through her work with headspace Schools and Beyond Blue, Lydia worked alongside school leaders, teachers, wellbeing teams and communities experiencing significant disruption, loss and distress after bushfires and floods.
Her training and facilitation experience includes delivering SAFEMinds, equipping educators to recognise and respond to students experiencing self-harm and suicidal ideation and understanding referral pathways. This experience provides a deep understanding of the realities teachers and school leaders face when supporting the wellbeing of young people.
“This is the first time someone has addressed our stress and it’s made a difference to us.” Adrienne – 8 Week Course for Teachers
A Whole-School Approach
Wellbeing is most effective when it ‘s part of the school culture. We work with schools to create a co-ordinated approach across staff, students and parents.
Our School Programs
Teacher Wellbeing & Mindfulness
Practical workshops and courses to manage stress, reduce burnout and strengthen resilience, self-awareness and presence in teaching.
MBSR for Teachers
Deeper evidence-based mindfulness training supporting teacher wellbeing, emotional regulation and resilience.
Awareness for Teens
An eight-week program helping young people develop practical skills for managing stress, building resilience and strengthening self-awareness.
Just Breathe – Meditation Made Easy
An accessible introduction to mindfulness and meditation for students, available as a workshop or short course.
The School Reset – Parents & Carers
Practical strategies for managing stress and creating greater calm, connection and emotional steadiness at home.
Whole-School Wellbeing
Tailored programs bringing teachers, students and parents together as part of an integrated approach to wellbeing.
Extensive Experience across Schools and School Communities
Lydia has facilitated wellbeing, mindfulness, mental wellbeing, grief and disaster-recovery programs in more than sixty schools and school communities across New South Wales – through Living Aware and on behalf of leading education and mental health organisations. Her experience includes work with headspace Schools, the Beyond Blue Bushfire Response Program and Mind with Heart International.
Many years of working with schools has given Lydia a deep understanding of the realities of school environments – the pressures experienced by educators, the wellbeing needs of young people and the importance of practical approaches that can be integrated into everyday school life.
Explore research on schools and teacher wellbeing →
“If I am confronted by negativity I remain calm and don’t allow others to change my emotions. Don’t sweat the small stuff. I loved it and floated home every Thursday, like I didn’t have a worry in the world.” Sylvia, 8 week course for Teachers
“The course made me more aware of myself and others in everyday relationships. Great instructor thank you! It was something to look forward to, time for yourself and to share with others.” Sandra, 8 week course for Teachers
“Really loved the course, such a privilege to be able to participate” Krystina, MBSR for Teachers
Contact Lydia to bring the benefits of wellbeing and mindfulness to your school
