Primary School Wellbeing Program
Program Overview
You Can Sit With Me – Primary Wellbeing Program is aligned with the Australian Curriculum (Kindergarten–Year 6), including the learning areas of Health and Physical Education (HPE), Personal and Social Capability, Ethical Understanding and Civics and Citizenship.
The program is designed to nurture kindness, inclusion, empathy and positivity from an early age by empowering students to help create school environments where every child belongs and feels welcome, safe and connected.
These modules are designed as a guide rather than a script. Teachers are encouraged to adapt activities, discussions and examples to suit the developmental stage of their students, their school context and individual classroom needs.
Some sessions may be extended through classroom discussions, while others may be shortened to suit available teaching time. The focus is on creating meaningful opportunities for students to practise kindness, develop friendships and build a strong sense of belonging.
The program supports schools in embedding positive wellbeing practices into everyday school life while empowering children to become role models through simple acts of kindness and inclusion.
The central message of the program is:
Everyone deserves to belong.
The phrase “You Can Sit With Me” represents much more than offering someone a seat.
It represents choosing:
kindness over exclusion
friendship over loneliness
courage over standing by
belonging over isolation.
Target Group
Students: Kindergarten –Year 6
The program has been designed to support students across three developmental stages.
Kindergarten–Year 2
Students begin developing:
friendship skills
recognising emotions
kindness and empathy
learning how to include others
asking trusted adults for help
Years 3–4
Students strengthen:
respectful communication
teamwork
conflict resolution
confidence
responsibility within their classroom and playground
Years 5–6
Students develop:
leadership skills
mentoring younger students
positive role modelling
peer support
planning wellbeing initiatives
preparing for transition to secondary school
Program Duration
Recommended delivery
8–10 weeks
Weekly sessions
30–45 minutes
The program can be delivered through:
Health and Physical Education
Personal and Social Capability
Wellbeing lessons
Class meetings
Leadership groups
Student Representative Council
Buddy Programs
Program Aims
Students will:
Develop empathy and kindness.
Build positive friendships.
Understand inclusion and belonging.
Strengthen communication skills.
Develop confidence.
Learn respectful ways to solve problems.
Recognise trusted adults and support networks.
Demonstrate positive leadership.
Contribute to a caring school culture.
Student Expectations
Students participating in the program agree to:
Welcome others.
Include children in games and activities.
Speak respectfully.
Listen kindly.
Help others feel safe.
Model school values.
Wear their You Can Sit With Me wristband responsibly.
Tell a trusted adult when someone needs extra help.
Remember that their role is to be a friend—not a counsellor.
Teacher Role
Teachers will:
Facilitate learning experiences.
Encourage student voice.
Model respectful behaviour.
Create safe classroom discussions.
Support student wellbeing.
Guide student leadership opportunities.
Reinforce help-seeking behaviours.
Program Structure
MODULE 1
What Does It Mean to Be Kind?
Purpose
Students explore how kindness helps people feel safe, included and valued.
Australian Curriculum Links
HPE: ACPPS005, ACPPS017
Personal and Social Capability
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
recognise acts of kindness
understand how kindness affects others
identify their own strengths
Activity 1
Kindness Detectives
Students search around the classroom or playground for examples of kindness.
Examples:
helping someone
sharing
inviting others to play
encouraging a friend
Reflection
How did kindness make someone feel?
Activity 2
My Kindness Goal
Students complete:
This week I will…
invite someone to play
help someone
smile at someone
use kind words
Reflection
What happened?
How did it feel?
MODULE 2
Everyone Belongs
Purpose
Students learn that everyone deserves to feel included.
Curriculum Links
ACPPS019
ACPPS033
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
understand belonging
identify exclusion
practise inclusion
Activity 1
Circle of Belonging
Students discuss:
When do you feel included?
When have you helped someone belong?
Activity 2
Playground Scenarios
Examples:
A new student arrives.
Someone has nobody to play with.
Someone is left out of a game.
Students discuss:
What could you do?
What would kindness look like?
When should you tell an adult?
MODULE 3
Being a Good Friend
Purpose
Students develop friendship skills.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
practise listening
use kind communication
build friendships
Activity 1
Friendship Interviews
Students ask:
What’s your favourite game?
What makes a good friend?
What makes you laugh?
Activity 2
Friendship Toolbox
Students create a toolbox of friendship skills.
Examples
listening
sharing
encouraging
taking turns
apologising
MODULE 4
Looking After Ourselves and Others
Purpose
Students understand wellbeing and trusted support.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
recognise emotions
identify trusted adults
understand help-seeking
Activity 1
Feelings Thermometer
Students identify:
happy
worried
sad
angry
excited
Discussion
Who can help?
Activity 2
My Trusted Team
Students draw their support network.
Examples:
Teacher
Parent
School Counsellor
Principal
Grandparent
MODULE 5
Wearing the Wristband with Pride
Purpose
Students understand the responsibility of becoming a You Can Sit With Me Ambassador.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
understand the purpose of the wristband
know their responsibilities
understand their leadership boundaries
Activity 1
What Does My Wristband Say?
Students brainstorm what the wristband communicates.
Examples
You are welcome.
You are safe.
You belong.
You can join us.
Activity 2
Ready to Wear It?
Students reflect:
Am I ready today?
Can I welcome anyone?
Can I ask an adult for help if needed?
MODULE 6
Choosing Kindness Every Day
Purpose
Students discover that small actions make a big difference.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
identify everyday acts of kindness
understand the ripple effect
Activity 1
Kindness Ripple
Students draw how one kind act spreads through the school.
Activity 2
Seven-Day Kindness Challenge
Day 1 — Smile
Day 2 — Say hello
Day 3 — Invite someone
Day 4 — Help someone
Day 5 — Thank someone
Day 6 — Encourage someone
Day 7 — Reflect
MODULE 7
Making Our School Better
Purpose
Students become active leaders by planning a simple wellbeing initiative.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
identify a need
work together
contribute to school wellbeing
Activity
Kindness Project Planner
Students design a class project.
Examples:
Friendship Bench
Welcome Week
Playground Buddy Day
Kindness Wall
Thank You Cards
Gratitude Tree
Lunchtime Games
Reflection
Who did this help?
What changed?
MODULE 8
I Am a Leader
Purpose
Students celebrate their learning and commit to continuing acts of kindness.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
reflect on personal growth
identify future leadership goals
celebrate achievements
Activity 1
My Leadership Reflection
Students complete:
Before this program I thought kindness was…
Now I know…
I am proud that…
My next goal is…
Activity 2
Leadership Promise
Students complete:
I promise to…
include others
be kind
speak respectfully
help people feel welcome
ask adults for help when someone needs it
make my school a place where everyone belongs
Assessment and Evidence of Learning
Students demonstrate growth through:
Reflection journals
Classroom discussions
Teacher observations
Student leadership portfolios
Kindness challenges
Wellbeing projects
Peer feedback
Program Success Indicators
Students:
✓ Demonstrate kindness and empathy
✓ Include others in learning and play
✓ Build positive friendships
✓ Show confidence in welcoming new students
✓ Recognise when adult help is needed
✓ Demonstrate positive leadership behaviours
✓ Promote belonging across the school
✓ Model school values
Program Vision
The You Can Sit With Me Primary Wellbeing Leadership Program empowers children to discover that leadership begins with simple everyday choices.
To smile.
To notice.
To include.
To welcome.
To care.
Because one small act of kindness can change someone’s whole day—and sometimes, their whole school experience.
© You Can Sit With Me.