mindfulness in schools: what local programs are available

Central Coast schools began delivering weekly mindfulness classes on 6 July at five public campuses between Gosford and Wyong.

Rising reports of student anxiety have prompted the expansion. Local education offices noted a 28 percent increase in wellbeing referrals across the region in the past 12 months, according to internal figures released last month by the NSW Department of Education Central Coast network. Teachers say short daily breathing exercises help students settle after the morning commute along busy roads such as the Pacific Highway and Mann Street.

Programs operating at specific campuses

At Gosford Public School on Taylor Street, Year 4 and 5 students take part in 15-minute guided sessions three mornings each week using audio tracks recorded by local instructors. The program runs in partnership with a community group that also offers drop-in classes at the nearby Gosford Community Centre. Further north, Kincumber High School on Brisbane Avenue introduced a 10-week course for Year 7 students that combines seated meditation with short walks to nearby Bouddi National Park lookouts on Friday afternoons. Both initiatives follow the same eight-week structure used in a 2024 pilot at Terrigal Public School.

Each participating school received a $4,200 grant from the Central Coast Council youth wellbeing fund to cover instructor fees and basic mats. Sessions cost families nothing, though some after-school extensions at Avoca Beach cost $15 per child for a six-week block.

Next steps for families

Parents can request enrolment details directly through school offices or the Central Coast mindfulness network email list, which sends monthly updates on new groups. Schools will hold open information sessions at the end of Term 3, including one at the Terrigal Surf Life Saving Club hall on 18 September. Families interested in trying the practices at home can start with the free audio files posted on the network website, then speak with a GP or school counsellor before committing to any paid extension programs.