KidsMatter - Australian Primary Schools Health Initiative

A comprehensive evaluation of KidsMatter Primary was conducted by Flinders University of South Australia. The findings show KidsMatter Primary had a positive impact on schools, children, parents and carers. The Executive Summary provides an overview of the findings, and the Full Report  provides the full details. 

Key findings include:

• Improved student mental health and wellbeing such as optimism and coping skills
• Reduced mental health difficulties such as emotional symptoms, hyperactivity, conduct and peer problems
• Improvements in students’ school-work
• Improved teacher capacity to identify students experiencing mental health difficulties
• Improved teacher knowledge on how to improve students’ social and emotional skills
• Increased parent capacity to help children with social and emotional issues
• Facilitated the placement of mental health as an issue on schools’ agenda and provided a common language to address mental health and well-being issues