The mental health menu 2025
THE BIG SISTER EXPERIENCE IS NOW FEATURED ON THE SCHOOLS MENTAL HEALTH MENU
FOR YEAR 4 - 12 STUDENTS
The Big Sister Experience: Now Available on the Schools Mental Health Menu for 2025
We are excited to announce that The Big Sister Experience is now featured on the Schools Mental Health Menu! Victorian government schools can now use their allocated Schools Mental Health Funding to bring our comprehensive, evidence-based programs to their students and educators. These programs are designed to empower students, foster resilience, and provide social-emotional learning strategies that address mental health at the grassroots level.
The Big Sister Experience is tailored for Year 4 to Year 12 female-identifying and gender-diverse students. The program is inclusive of LGBTQIA+ students and uses gender-neutral language to ensure all students feel safe and supported.
what’s funded?
The Complete Big Sister Experience
Our program offers a holistic approach to mental health support for both students and educators, promoting help-seeking behaviours and empowering individuals with essential tools to navigate life’s challenges.
for students
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These structured, research-based workshops are conducted over 12-18 months with the same cohort to ensure continuity of care and foster strong connections. The sessions focus on early intervention, mental health support, and strategies to help students thrive.
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Each student receives materials covering a wide range of topics, including mental health, wellbeing, boundaries, consent, and support for female identifying and gender diverse students.
for EDUCATORS
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Additional professional development sessions aligned with the student workshops to reinforce a whole-school approach to wellbeing.
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Comprehensive resources for educators, including student workbooks, ensuring that learning continues beyond the workshops.
Key Program Themes
self love and body image
Helping students develop self-confidence and a positive body image.
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
Recognising signs of anxiety and managing moments of crisis.
boundary setting
Teaching students how to set and maintain healthy personal boundaries.
community and social inclusion
Fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging students to seek help when needed.
How to Access Funding for 2025
It’s easy to bring The Big Sister Experience to your school using the Schools Mental Health Funding.
Here’s how:
Book a Discovery Call: Discuss your school’s needs and explore how our program can enhance your wellbeing initiatives.
Explore Our Programs: Learn about our student workshops and educator training, designed to complement your school’s current wellbeing program.
Get Started: Once the paperwork is completed, your school can implement the program and report the funding as required. We’ll be with you every step of the way to ensure everything runs smoothly.
MEASURING IMPACT
Our program collects pre- and post-survey data to measure its impact on student wellbeing. Independent evaluations by La Trobe University have shown that The Big Sister Experience has a positive and lasting effect on students’ mental health, and we are currently partnering with them for a full longitudinal study to be completed in 2025.
Curriculum alignment
The Big Sister Experience integrates with the curriculum, supporting key learning outcomes in:
Health and Physical Education
Creative and Critical Thinking
Personal and Social Capability
Our program addresses significant mental health trends, helping schools meet the wellbeing needs of students in a practical, data-driven way.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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In recognition of the important role schools play in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, the Victorian government has created the Schools Mental Health Fund and evidence-based Schools Mental Health Menu.
The Menu is a list of endorsed programs, staff and resources that can support schools to improve the mental health and wellbeing of their students in line with their established priorities. The Menu helps schools to make informed choices on how to spend their funding.
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All Victorian government schools receive the Fund from 2025 - 2027.
ready to begin?
Take the first step toward enhancing your school’s wellbeing program
The openness and honesty of the program is so positive. Creating a safe space for our young girls. Time allocation is brilliant; engaging ratio of lesson, activity, brain and breaks. This is why we engage the BSE for ALL our Year 9 students, every year.
– Loyola Secondary College
