The Resilience Project K-12 at The McDonald College
As part of our commitment to student wellbeing, The McDonald College is implementing The Resilience Project from Kindergarten through to Year 12. This is a progressive, developmentally appropriate program built around the core principles of GEM – Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness.
- Gratitude helps students notice and appreciate the positives in their lives, helping build optimism and emotional balance.
- Empathy develops students’ capacity to understand others’ perspectives, strengthen relationships, and respond with kindness and respect.
- Mindfulness teaches students how to be present, regulate emotions, and manage stress, worry, and big feelings more effectively.
The program is sequential, meaning concepts introduced in the early years are revisited and deepened as students grow. From Kindy, students begin learning simple language and strategies around emotions and self-regulation, which gradually evolve into more complex skills such as reflection, resilience, emotional literacy, and help-seeking in the senior years.
The Resilience Project is grounded in positive psychology research and has demonstrated evidence-based outcomes in improving emotional regulation, wellbeing, coping skills, and resilience in young people. Schools have reported a decrease in student depression and anxiety, with students reporting an overall increase in happiness. By providing a shared framework and language across all year levels, GEM allows students to consistently practise skills that support mental health, respectful relationships, and long-term wellbeing.
Our aim is to equip students not only to manage challenges while at school, but to carry these skills with them throughout their lives.
As a side note, you may be interested in reading ‘The Resilience Project’ by Hugh van Cuylenberg or tuning into the Podcast, “The Imperfects’ for more information.
