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| KidsMatter | |
|---|---|
| Name | KidsMatter |
| Type | Mental health promotion program |
| Founded | 2000s |
| Country | Australia |
| Area served | Australia, international adaptations |
| Focus | Child and adolescent mental health, school-based intervention, wellbeing |
KidsMatter KidsMatter is a multi-component mental health and wellbeing initiative designed for primary schools and communities. It integrates strategies for prevention, early intervention, and promotion across educational, health, and community sectors. The framework connects practitioners from Australian Psychological Society, Beyond Blue, Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing Research, Black Dog Institute, and Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care with schools, families, and health services.
KidsMatter provides structured modules addressing social and emotional learning, teacher and parent engagement, and links to clinical services. It synthesizes evidence from World Health Organization approaches, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, and trials such as those published by Cochrane Collaboration and researchers affiliated with University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, and Deakin University. The program aligns with policy instruments like the National Mental Health Commission recommendations and incorporates tools used by Headspace, ReachOut, Lifeline, Beyond Blue, and state-based services such as NSW Health and Victorian Department of Education and Training.
Development began in the early 2000s amid policy reforms influenced by reports from Productivity Commission (Australia), advisory input from the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, and academic work at Australian Catholic University and Monash University. Pilot implementations drew on school partnerships similar to programs run by Kids Helpline, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, and Queensland Health. National roll-out phases coordinated with initiatives like the National Action Plan for Mental Health 2006–2011 and consultation with peak bodies including the Australian Education Union and Association of Independent Schools of Australia.
KidsMatter consists of several interlocking components: classroom curricula for social-emotional learning, whole-school strategies to create supportive environments, parent and family engagement modules, and pathways to professional care. Curricula elements mirror techniques from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy applications in schools practiced by clinicians at Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane and academic groups at Flinders University. Whole-school practices reference frameworks used by Australian Principals Federation and measurement instruments from Australian Council for Educational Research. Parent modules reflect methods promoted by Parentline Australia and family support services such as Anglicare and Centacare.
Implementation in schools relied on partnerships with state education departments like Queensland Department of Education, Western Australia Department of Education, and South Australian Department for Education. Collaborations included non-government organizations such as SANE Australia, Mission Australia, and research partners at Griffith University and Curtin University. Funding and policy alignment involved federal bodies including Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and advocacy from groups such as Mental Health Australia. Training resources were developed with professional associations like Australian Psychological Society and teacher unions including Australian Education Union.
Evaluations utilized randomized controlled trials, cluster designs, and longitudinal studies conducted by teams at University of Wollongong, Macquarie University, and University of Queensland. Outcome measures incorporated standardized instruments from Australian Bureau of Statistics mental health surveys and international measures endorsed by World Health Organization. Results reported reductions in reported emotional difficulties and improvements in teacher confidence similar to outcomes documented in trials of Social and Emotional Learning programs and meta-analyses by Cochrane Collaboration contributors. Independent assessments referenced reports prepared for the National Mental Health Commission and academic publications in journals linked to Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry and Journal of School Psychology.
The KidsMatter model inspired adaptations and knowledge exchange with organizations in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and parts of South-East Asia. Comparable frameworks were discussed alongside programs from Mental Health Foundation (UK), Kidscape, and community initiatives funded by the World Bank and regional health alliances. Collaborative research connections extended to institutions such as University College London, University of Auckland, and Nanyang Technological University where school-based mental health frameworks were compared and adapted for local policy contexts.
Category:Mental health in Australia Category:Child and adolescent psychiatry Category:Educational programs