- Tier: Tier 1: Positive mental health promotion
- Category of intervention: Peer support programs
- Strength of evidence: Level 3: Foundation and emerging evidence for program
- Geographic location: This program is not available in Mallee (North West region), Outer Gippsland (South East region) or Wimmera South West (South West region).
Program description
The Big Sister Experience aims to create safe environments where students feel comfortable discussing the challenges of life and planning new ways to improve mental wellbeing. Workshops facilitate conversations and activities around:
- self-love
- self-confidence
- body image
- mental health and resilience
- social inclusion and community.
The program also offers professional development for school staff, providing tools and strategies to foster connection with students and create a sense of belonging, to help students to become capable, resilient, and empowered individuals.
Intended outcomes
- Stronger connection with self and others
- Improved body image
- Improved emotional literacy
- Improved understanding of boundaries
- Increased confidence
- Increased help seeking
- Stronger sense of belonging
- Improved mental wellbeing
- Greater educator empowerment
Program details
| Target audience |
|
|---|---|
| Program provider | The Big Sister Experience |
| Delivery mode | Combination of face-to-face and online |
Implementation considerations
- Target population: Year 5 – Year 12 female-identifying and LGBTIQA+ students, as well as educators and school Health and Wellbeing staff.
- Program adaptability: Program content can be adapted to suit the school setting. It is available to diverse student cohorts including LGBTIQA+ students, neurodivergent students and students with a disability.
- Staffing: Schools will not be required to have backfill for participating staff unless the professional development component of the program is run during school hours.
- Training requirements: No prior training is required for schools before implementing the program. Schools will need IT access to view the teacher professional learning webinars, and a screen will be necessary to display content during the student sessions.
- Factors to consider: Student workshops are designed to be flexible, taking place over 12–18 months with the same cohort to ensure continuity and impact. There is no minimum participant requirement. After each session, teachers receive a comprehensive resource pack to support ongoing learning and development. Schools can reach out for ongoing support via phone or email at no extra cost.
- Australian context: This program has been developed and applied in Australia.
Cost
Item cost
$5,000+
Detailed cost
The total cost for the Complete Big Sister Experience is $14,740 (including GST), which includes:
- 3 x 5-hour student workshops ($3,740 including GST each) completed by the same cohort over 12–18 months
- module resources for students provided during each workshop, which they can take away for ongoing learning
- 3 pre-recorded, on demand, one hour educator professional learning sessions, designed to complement the student sessions. The option of having this presented live may be offered to schools subject to location and availability.
- a comprehensive Teacher Resource pack with detailed materials on wellbeing, mental health, consent, boundaries, LGBTQIA+ topics, and more covering the content of all 3 workshops.
Cohorts larger than 45 students, will incur a second or third workshop fee depending on total number participating.
For schools within metro Melbourne, travel costs are absorbed by the program, while schools outside a 66 km radius of Metro Melbourne will incur travel rates and overnight loading where applicable.
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