“As I stand observing a teacher confidently guiding a student through a moment of anxiety, I can see firsthand how The Anxiety Project is transforming whole school communities. What began as a response to alarming statistics about childhood anxiety has evolved into a comprehensive whole-school approach that's changing the way we support student wellbeing across the country, and I could not be more proud of what we have achieved.”
Those are the words of Rob Walker, The Anxiety Project Lead, and participating school leader, as he sees the profound effect The Anxiety Project is having on students, teachers, and school communities.
Every instinct in us as parents and teachers when we see a child in emotional discomfort is to solve the problem for the child – when what is needed is for us to help the child solve the problem for themselves – as this is what builds confidence and resilience.
In 2019, the Australian Primary Principals Association survey revealed that 81% of principals considered children's anxiety a significant issue in their schools. A staggering 91% reported that anxiety places major time and resource pressures on schools, while 82% indicated insufficient resources to address the issue. And this was before the additional challenges brought by bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The statistics paint a concerning picture: anxiety leads to poor academic performance, with highly anxious children in Year 1 being ten times more likely to be in the bottom third of their class by Year 5. Even more concerning, 85% of depressed adolescents have a history of earlier childhood anxiety.
What makes The Anxiety Project unique is its comprehensive whole-school community approach. Rather than targeting only children already experiencing clinical anxiety, we've created a program that benefits the entire school ecosystem – students, teachers, leaders, and parents.
The project recognises that two-thirds of anxious behaviour is learned, which means it can be unlearned. We've adapted evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques – traditionally used only in clinical settings – and made them accessible for everyday classroom interactions.
"Students are now able to articulate their feelings and what's going on in their mind. They are able to discuss, and it helps them to improve."
— School Leader, The Anxiety Project
At the heart of our approach is enhancing teacher confidence and competence. The data now flowing in shows dramatic improvements in these areas. Between 70-80% of teachers now rate themselves as confident or extremely confident in recognizing and addressing child anxiety – a remarkable shift from baseline measurements when more than half felt only "somewhat" or "not at all" confident.
Through The Anxiety Project, school staff learn two powerful techniques: identifying cognitive distortions (such as 'all or nothing' thinking, catastrophising, and emotional reasoning) and helping children reframe these unhelpful thinking patterns through everyday conversations.
The Data Shows Real Impact
Our 2024-2025 Teacher Report results demonstrate consistent reduction in anxious behaviours among students:
School Anxiety Scale-Teacher Report (SAS-TR) data shows significantly lower scores after one year of participation
The percentage of students in non-clinical anxiety categories has increased and students in clinical and extreme anxiety categories have decreased across all measured scales
Most schools have closed the gap between their scores and those of their School Similar Group (SSG)
Teacher confidence to recognise child anxiety increased from a baseline of 43.8% to 66.4%, with more than 60% of teachers rating themselves as confident/extremely confident or competent/highly competent.
One of the most powerful aspects of the project is teaching school staff to use different approaches depending on the situation. In "hot" moments, when a child faces a stressful situation, staff use "serve and return" conversations – responsive interactions that acknowledge feelings without reinforcing avoidance. In "cold" moments, away from stressful events, students learn about how anxiety presents, the role of their amygdala, and practical techniques to manage their feelings.
This dual approach ensures children receive support in the moment while building long-term skills for self-regulation. Educational theory tells us that changes in teacher confidence and knowledge occur first, followed by changes in practice, with student outcomes improving as the final step – and this is exactly what we're seeing.
One school leader states, "The project has definitely made teachers more mindful, and they use more consistent language when dealing with behaviours linked to anxiety."
Parents are vital partners in addressing childhood anxiety. Our data shows that parent "accommodation" of children's anxious behaviours (which unintentionally reinforces anxiety) is decreasing. The Family Accommodation Scale data indicates significantly lower scores after parent participation in the project.
When parents learn the same language and techniques as school staff, children receive consistent support across all environments. This consistency is crucial for long-term behavioural change and anxiety management.
The Scale and Scope of Transformation
129 Schools Participating
46,000+ Students Impacted
5,000+ School Staff Trained
The Anxiety Project runs for a minimum of two years in each participating school, ensuring sustainable change in school culture and practices. This is not a short-term intervention but a comprehensive transformation of whole school communities.
One of the most encouraging aspects has been the universal benefit observed: "It's not just aimed at a small group of kids. It helps all students - which is great because everyone sometimes experiences anxiety."
A Personal Reflection
As a psychologist with over 30 years of experience working with children and families, I've seen the profound impact anxiety can have on a child's development, learning, and wellbeing. My work in child welfare, including preparing over 600 child welfare reports for the Family Court of Australia and the NSW Children's Court Clinic, has repeatedly shown that early intervention is critical.
What excites me most about The Anxiety Project is its ability to reach children before anxiety becomes entrenched. By equipping the significant adults in children's lives with practical, evidence-based techniques, we're preventing the trajectory toward anxiety disorders and setting children up for healthier emotional development.
One teacher's comment particularly resonates with me: "The Anxiety Project has made me a better teacher; I manage complications better and reduce problems." This transformation of professional practice is at the heart of our mission.
Looking Forward: Building on Success
As we prepare for our mid-year intake of new schools in 2025, I'm encouraged by the growing body of evidence supporting our approach. The Anxiety Project demonstrates that systematic, whole-school approaches to mental health and wellbeing can create lasting change.
The research component of the project continues to track long-term outcomes, with further data collection points planned. This commitment to evidence-based practice ensures we can continue refining and improving our approach.
Join The Anxiety Project
Schools interested in participating in the mid-year intake can submit expressions of interest until Monday, June 16, 2025, at 3:30 PM.
Visit: www.nswppa.org.au/the-anxiety-project
The Anxiety Project demonstrates that addressing student anxiety requires more than isolated interventions – it demands a transformation of the whole school community. By changing how teachers recognize and respond to anxiety, how students understand their emotions, and how parents support their children through challenges, we're creating resilient school communities where all children can thrive.
The data confirms what we see in classrooms every day: children better equipped to manage their emotions, teachers more confident in supporting student wellbeing, and parents more effectively guiding their children through moments of anxiety. Together, these changes create school environments where anxiety no longer limits potential.
This is the true power of The Anxiety Project – not just reducing anxiety, but transforming entire school communities to foster wellbeing, resilience, and success for every student.
For further information about The Anxiety Project, contact:
Hayley Cravigan (Project Manager): gm@parentshop.com.au, 0404 011 135
Rob Walker (Project Lead): rob.walker@det.nsw.edu.au
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