In Australian schools today, the conversation around staff and student wellbeing is louder than ever – and for good reason. Burnout, disengagement, and staff turnover are real and growing concerns.
But what happens when wellbeing becomes more than a buzzword? What if it becomes a shared language, a daily practice, and a school-wide leadership focus?
That’s exactly what Dare to Be a Rockstar, a wellbeing and leadership program developed by Beyond the Classroom Australia, set out to explore. Over three years, the program was implemented across several rural and regional schools. Now, the newly released 2024 evaluation report offers clear insights into what works – and what’s possible – when schools commit to real culture change.
A whole-school approach to wellbeing and leadership
From 2023 to 2025, Dare to Be a Rockstar was embedded into school communities across a rural Catholic diocese, supporting both educators and students. The program focuses on five key areas: emotional resilience, shared language, leadership development, practical stress management, and team culture.
Unlike traditional Professional Development or one-off wellbeing days, Dare to Be a Rockstar is a long-term, embedded framework tailored specifically to the realities of rural and remote schools.
Working alongside Dr Venesser Fernandes, Associate Head of the School of Education, Culture and Society at Monash University, Beyond the Classroom used a combination of CASEL 5-aligned surveys, qualitative data, and longitudinal case studies to track change over time.
All tools and research methods were approved under ethics protocols, and data collection was designed to measure growth in social and emotional competencies among both staff and students – while protecting confidentiality and participant wellbeing.
What the data tells us
Across multiple school sites, staff and students demonstrated meaningful personal and professional growth:
Educator outcomes:
- Increased self-awareness, emotional regulation, and personal resilience
- Stronger collegial relationships and more effective conflict resolution
- Greater ownership of team culture and workplace wellbeing
Student outcomes:
- Growth in emotional vocabulary, self-expression, and peer collaboration
- A shift from emotion regulation in 2024 to peer leadership in 2025
- Stronger connections with teachers and higher overall confidence
School-wide themes:
- Wellbeing became a shared language across staff and student groups
- Leadership teams embraced goal-setting and collective reflection
- Progress continued even with staff turnover, thanks to embedded practices
One school’s journey illustrates this progression clearly:
- 2023: Staff wellbeing goals focused on individual self-care
- 2024: Emphasis shifted to managing stress in high-pressure situations
- 2025: Despite significant staffing changes, the school maintained momentum by prioritising social awareness and relationship skills at the leadership level
“It was especially rewarding to witness sustained growth within a school community over a full three-year period,” says Ms Jeppesen. “Culture change isn’t instant – but it’s absolutely possible when the tools are practical, consistent, and inclusive.”
A Program that fits the rural context
Unlike many off-the-shelf programs, Dare to Be a Rockstar is grounded in the realities of regional education. Schools in rural areas face unique challenges – from isolation to staffing constraints – and this program was built with those exact contexts in mind.
“This isn’t just theory. We’ve designed something that fits into real school days, with all the noise, stress, and pressure that entails,” Ms Jeppesen says. “It’s not about adding more. It’s about doing what you’re already doing – more intentionally, with the right tools and language.”
Educators who have completed the program consistently describe it as refreshingly honest, practical, and empowering.
“This gave our staff the confidence to talk about wellbeing without fear of judgement. It helped us find common ground – and it stuck.” Rural principal, 2024
Why schools are saying yes
Educators across the diocese were clear: this is not another ‘tick-a-box’ initiative. Here’s why it’s working:
- Built for busy educators: Tools are immediately usable – no extra prep required
- Culturally relevant: Designed specifically for the dynamics of rural and remote schools
- Whole-team focus: Everyone learns the same concepts and strategies, creating shared language
- Sustainable: Designed to build habits and long-term culture, not just awareness
Ms Jeppesen says the program helps staff draw emotional boundaries, support one another more effectively, and manage stress without guilt. “It’s not about being perfect – it’s about making progress, as a team.”
Invitation: 2026 pilot program for rural and remote schools
Following the success of the program and the strong evidence base from the 2024 report, Beyond the Classroom Australia and Monash University are now inviting 10 rural or remote schools to participate in a fully supported pilot of Dare to Be a Rockstar in 2026.
Schools will have the opportunity to:
- Implement a research-backed wellbeing and leadership framework
- Receive ongoing support and coaching
- Contribute to national research and influence future education policy
- Build sustainable wellbeing culture across staff and student teams
This is a unique opportunity to lead from within, trial an established model, and help shape the future of school wellbeing in Australia.
“Wellbeing became embedded in how we operated, not just a one-off focus. And that’s what made the real difference.” Deputy principal, 2025
Progress, not perfection
The success of Dare to Be a Rockstar lies in its authenticity. It doesn’t promise easy fixes. Instead, it offers practical tools, consistent reflection, and a framework that allows wellbeing to grow into a whole-school value – one conversation, one strategy, one team at a time.
If your school is ready to explore new approaches to wellbeing, leadership, and culture – and if you’re serious about building habits that stick – Beyond the Classroom wants to hear from you.
Interested in being part of the 2026 pilot?
Contact Peta Jeppesen here to learn more about joining this transformative initiative.
