Yarrilee School finalist for mental health award
Yarrilee State School has been named a finalist in the Queensland Mental Health Awards, recognised for its innovative, whole-school approach to student wellbeing.
The announcement comes as Australia enters Mental Health Awareness Month, highlighting the school’s commitment to nurturing not only academic growth but also social and emotional development for every student.
At the heart of Yarrilee’s approach is its Social Emotional Wellbeing (SEW) Team, which delivers a trauma-informed model shaping the school’s culture.
Leadership, educators, guidance officers, and psychologists work together to ensure students receive timely support, creating a safe and empowering learning environment.
The school’s iCare values—caring for ourselves, others, learning, and the environment—underpin every initiative.
By addressing mental health and wellbeing, Yarrilee helps students reach their full potential while fostering a connected and positive school community.
Yarrilee features dedicated spaces such as a Quiet Room for sensory decompression and an Emotional Regulation Room for supported re-engagement.
In classrooms, students participate in daily mindfulness, emotional check-ins, and brain breaks, complemented by programs like SEEK, SEAL, and Team Up, which build empathy, self-awareness, and positive decision-making.
Tiered interventions, including Playdough Emotions, LEGO Therapy, Veggie Vibe, and Cook Up, combine creativity with social-emotional skill development.
Student-led PULSEvents promote wellbeing awareness and strengthen peer connections, while peer mentoring and leadership programs reinforce a culture of shared care.
Practical supports such as Breakfast Club, made possible through partnerships with the Queensland Government, P&C, Helping Hands OSHC, and Hervey Bay RSL, provide students with nutrition, social interaction, and a positive start to the day.
Families are also engaged early, ensuring collaborative support around each child.
One success story involved a disengaged student who, through daily SEW check-ins and structured support, developed the skills to re-engage in learning, complete assessments, and build positive relationships with peers and teachers.
Being named a finalist confirms that Yarrilee’s proactive wellbeing programs are making a real difference.
The school looks forward to continuing to develop initiatives that support students’ academic, social, and emotional growth, setting the foundation for resilient, connected, and empowered young people.
The 2025 Queensland Mental Health Awards took place at Brisbane City Hall on October 10 at 7:30am
