How does Highlands support anxious kids?

It’s no secret that today’s young people are facing unprecedented mental health challenges. In fact, according to Beyond Blue, one in seven Australians aged 4–17 experience a mental health condition in any given year. Anxiety is one of the most common struggles, often quietly shaping a student’s school experience long before anyone else notices.

As parents, you want to know that your child’s school is more than just academically sound. You want to know that they’re seen, supported, and nurtured.

At Highlands, we believe wellbeing is just as vital as academic excellence. Our holistic, faith-based approach integrates wellbeing into every layer of school life, because great human beings, not just great grades, are the goal.

Wellbeing grounded in Christ-like care

We recognise that resilience doesn’t come naturally to all students, but it can be taught, modelled, and supported. One of the attributes of a Highlander is grit – the strength to persevere in the face of difficulty. We intentionally foster this quality through a dedicated and compassionate Wellbeing team, equipped to support the real emotional and psychological needs of our students.

Our team includes:

• A Director of Wellbeing, overseeing proactive care across the College
• A full-time social worker, available to support students one-on-one
• A dedicated Wellbeing support team, working closely with teaching staff and families

The Wellbeing space

In response to student feedback and evolving wellbeing research, we recently unveiled our newly renovated Wellbeing Space, a calming environment on Campus designed for students to pause, reset, and engage with therapeutic tools.

Inside, students will find sensory resources to help self-regulate during heightened emotional states, quiet areas for reflective time, and wellbeing activities that promote mindfulness, calm, and resilience.

This space is especially important for children experiencing anxiety, sensory overload, or other emotional stresses during the school day.

Support that extends to the whole family

We know that a child’s wellbeing is deeply connected to their home environment. That’s why we go beyond student care, offering support services to parents and caregivers through parenting seminars, one-on-one counselling, and access to resources tailored for raising emotionally healthy, spiritually-grounded children.

These services are offered freely as part of enrolment, because we believe strong families build strong students. The world may be changing, but our foundation is not.

At Highlands, our Christian ethos calls us to walk with families in love, truth, and wisdom. Whether your child is thriving or struggling, anxious or adventurous, they will find support here.

Ready to find out more about our Wellbeing Programs? Reach out to us and discover how we partner with families to nurture faith, resilience, and purpose in every Highlander.