High School Wellbeing Leadership Program
Program Overview
Purpose
The You Can Sit With Me Wellbeing Leadership Program is a student leadership initiative designed to develop compassionate, inclusive and responsible student leaders who actively contribute to a positive school culture.
These modules are designed as a guideline, not a script. We encourage facilitators to bring their own personality, experience and creativity into each session. Please feel free to adapt activities, adjust timing, add your own examples, include local school context, and modify content to best suit your students and community.
Some sessions may work best when expanded with deeper discussion, while others may be shortened to fit your timetable, student needs or available resources. The most important goal is creating meaningful conversations and opportunities for students to practise kindness, inclusion and connection.
We value the experience and insight of our facilitators. We welcome suggestions, ideas, reflections and recommendations about what worked well, what could be improved, and what additional resources would support your delivery.
Together, we can continue building a program that empowers young people to create welcoming spaces where everyone belongs.
The program empowers students from Years 7–12 to become visible role models who promote belonging, connection and kindness across the school community.
The program is based on the belief that leadership is not defined by a title, position or popularity. Leadership is demonstrated through everyday actions that help others feel respected, included and valued.
The central message of the program is:
Everyone deserves to feel like they belong.
The phrase “You Can Sit With Me” represents more than inviting someone to sit at a table. It represents choosing inclusion over exclusion, connection over isolation and kindness over judgement.
Target Group
Students: Years 7–12
The program is designed to support:
Year 7 Students
Developing confidence and connection during the transition into high school.
Learning how to create welcoming environments.
Building foundational leadership skills.
Years 8–10 Students
Strengthening peer relationships.
Developing empathy and communication skills.
Becoming positive influences within their friendship groups.
Years 11–12 Students
Taking on mentoring and role-model responsibilities.
Leading wellbeing initiatives.
Supporting younger students and contributing to whole-school culture.
Program Duration
Recommended delivery:
8–10 weeks
Weekly sessions:
45–60 minutes
The program can be delivered through:
Wellbeing lessons
Pastoral care sessions
Leadership programs
Student representative programs
Peer mentoring programs
Program Aims
Students will:
Understand the role of positive leadership.
Develop empathy and emotional intelligence.
Promote inclusion and belonging.
Strengthen communication skills.
Build confidence in supporting peers.
Recognise wellbeing concerns and appropriate support pathways.
Understand leadership boundaries.
Develop and implement student-led wellbeing initiatives.
Become positive role models across the school.
Student Leadership Expectations
Students participating in the program commit to:
Modelling respectful behaviour.
Creating welcoming environments.
Including others.
Listening without judgement.
Encouraging positive relationships.
Promoting kindness and connection.
Maintaining confidentiality while understanding when information must be shared with trusted adults.
Seeking support when a situation requires adult involvement.
Actively contributing to school wellbeing initiatives.
Teacher Role
Teachers supporting the program will:
Facilitate discussions and activities.
Create a safe environment for student voice.
Encourage student reflection.
Model respectful communication.
Support students in developing leadership skills.
Guide student-led projects.
Provide appropriate wellbeing pathways.
Students are not expected to act as counselors or solve other students’ problems. Their role is to notice, connect, include and encourage help-seeking.
Program Structure
MODULE 1
What Makes a Leader?
Purpose
Students explore the meaning of leadership and recognise that leadership is demonstrated through actions, not titles.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
Identify qualities of effective leaders.
Understand different leadership styles.
Recognise their own leadership strengths.
Set personal leadership goals.
Activity 1: Leadership Mythbusters
Time:
20–30 minutes
Instructions:
Students respond to leadership statements:
Leaders are always confident.
Leaders need to be the loudest person.
Only students with titles can be leaders.
Good leaders listen.
Anyone can demonstrate leadership.
Students discuss their responses.
Reflection:
Students complete:
“A leader I admire is __________ because __________.”
“One leadership quality I want to develop is __________.”
Activity 2: Everyday Leadership Challenge
Time:
15 minutes plus ongoing reflection
Students choose one leadership action to practise during the week.
Examples:
Welcome someone new.
Invite someone into a group.
Encourage someone.
Show respect during disagreement.
Reflection:
What did I do?
What impact did it have?
What did I learn?
MODULE 2
Belonging and Inclusion
Purpose
Students understand the importance of belonging and develop strategies to ensure others feel included.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
Recognise barriers to belonging.
Develop empathy.
Identify ways to create inclusive environments.
Activity 1: The Invisible Backpack
Time:
30 minutes
Students explore the idea that everyone carries unseen experiences.
Examples:
Moving schools
Friendship challenges
Family changes
Academic pressure
Personal strengths
Discussion:
Why should we avoid assumptions?
How can leaders support belonging?
Key Message:
Good leaders notice people, not just situations.
Activity 2: Inclusion Scenarios
Time:
40 minutes
Students discuss scenarios:
Scenario:
A Year 7 student is sitting alone at lunch.
Students explore:
What could you do?
What would make the situation worse?
How could you help?
Other scenarios:
A student is regularly excluded.
Someone experiences negative online behaviour.
A student appears withdrawn.
Students identify:
Helpful actions.
Unsafe responses.
When adult support is needed.
MODULE 3
Communication That Connects
Purpose
Students develop communication skills that strengthen relationships.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
Practise active listening.
Develop respectful conversations.
Build confidence connecting with others.
Activity 1: Listening Challenge
Time:
25 minutes
Students work in pairs.
One student shares for two minutes about:
Something they enjoy.
Something they are proud of.
Something they are looking forward to.
The listener practises:
Eye contact.
Not interrupting.
Asking questions.
Summarising.
Reflection:
How did it feel to be listened to?
What makes people feel valued?
Activity 2: Conversation Starters
Students develop ways to start positive conversations:
Examples:
“How are you going today?”
“Do you want to join us?”
“How are you finding school?”
“What are you interested in?”
Students practise different situations.
MODULE 4
Understanding Wellbeing and Support
Purpose
Students understand wellbeing and their role as peer supporters.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
Understand wellbeing factors.
Recognise when someone needs support.
Know appropriate referral pathways.
Activity 1: Wellbeing Wheel
Students explore:
Physical wellbeing
Emotional wellbeing
Social wellbeing
Academic wellbeing
Digital wellbeing
Belonging
Students identify:
“What helps students thrive?”
“What challenges wellbeing?”
Activity 2: Support Pathways
Students create a map of trusted supports:
Examples:
Teachers
Year Coordinators
Wellbeing Staff
Leadership Team
Families
Discussion:
“When should a student leader involve an adult?”
MODULE 5
Leading Through Kindness
Purpose
Students understand the impact of small positive actions.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
Recognise opportunities to demonstrate kindness.
Understand the ripple effect of positive actions.
Activity 1: Kindness Ripple Effect
Students map:
One kind action →
Someone feels valued →
They become more connected →
They include someone else.
Activity 2: Seven-Day Kindness Challenge
Students complete:
Day 1: Welcome someone
Day 2: Thank someone
Day 3: Encourage someone
Day 4: Include someone
Day 5: Help someone
Day 6: Recognise someone
Day 7: Reflect
MODULE 6
Building Positive Relationships
Purpose
Students develop teamwork and conflict-resolution skills.
Activity 1: Conflict Compass
Students explore respectful responses.
Avoid:
Assumptions
Blame
Public conflict
Use:
Listening
Calm communication
Finding solutions
Seeking support
Activity 2: Team Challenge
Students complete a group challenge.
Reflection:
Who demonstrated leadership?
How did the group communicate?
What helped the team succeed?
MODULE 7
Leading a Wellbeing Initiative
Purpose
Students apply leadership skills by creating positive change.
Activity: Wellbeing Project Planner
Students develop a school initiative.
Students identify:
The Need
What wellbeing issue do we want to support?
The Goal
What change do we want to create?
The Audience
Who will benefit?
The Plan
What activities will we run?
Responsibilities
Who will do what?
Evaluation
How will we know it worked?
Project Examples
Year 7 transition support
Lunchtime connection activities
Kindness campaigns
Student appreciation initiatives
Wellbeing awareness events
Peer connection activities
MODULE 8
Reflection and Future Leadership
Purpose
Students reflect on their growth and commitment as leaders.
Activity 1: Leadership Reflection Portfolio
Students complete:
Before this program, I thought leadership was:
Now I understand leadership is:
My leadership strengths are:
My next leadership goal is:
Activity 2: Leadership Commitment
Students complete:
“I commit to being a leader who…”
Examples:
Includes others.
Shows kindness.
Uses my voice positively.
Helps others feel valued.
Creates a school where everyone belongs.
Assessment and Evidence of Learning
Students demonstrate growth through:
Reflection journals
Participation in activities
Leadership portfolios
Peer feedback
Wellbeing projects
Teacher observations
Program Success Indicators
Students:
✓ Demonstrate inclusive behaviours
✓ Build positive peer connections
✓ Use respectful communication
✓ Recognise when support is needed
✓ Promote belonging
✓ Lead positive wellbeing activities
✓ Model school values
Program Vision
The You Can Sit With Me Wellbeing Leadership Program develops students who understand that leadership begins with a simple choice:
To notice.
To include.
To connect.
To care.
Because sometimes the smallest action can make the biggest difference.
You can sit with me.
© You Can Sit With Me.