Mindfulness in schools: what local programs are available

Bendigo schools began rolling out dedicated mindfulness programs in early 2025 at two sites that now reach more than 400 students each week.

Parents and teachers report rising demand for these sessions after national data showed one in five Australian children aged 11 to 17 experienced high psychological distress last year. Local educators say the programs fit into existing timetables without adding cost to families and give children practical tools they can use during breaks or before exams.

Programs operating at Bendigo sites

At Bendigo Primary School on Napier Street, a ten-minute breathing exercise starts each morning for years three to six in the courtyard overlooking Rosalind Park. The school added the routine after staff noticed fewer behaviour referrals during term two. Further along Bendigo Creek, the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail now hosts a weekly after-school mindful walking group run in partnership with Bendigo Health campus outreach workers. Participants meet at the trailhead near the Bendigo Creek recreational trail entrance on Mondays and complete a 1.2-kilometre loop with short pauses for noticing sounds and body sensations.

Both programs draw on the same eight-week structure first piloted in Victorian state schools in 2023. Session notes show children practise a simple body scan on Mondays and a five-finger breathing technique on Wednesdays. No equipment is required and teachers received two hours of training through the Bendigo Health campus in February 2025.

Evidence and next steps for families

A 2024 evaluation by the Victorian Department of Education tracked 1,200 students across regional schools and recorded a 22 percent drop in self-reported anxiety scores after eight weeks of similar practice. In Bendigo the programs run at no extra charge to enrolled families, though the after-school trail group caps numbers at 25 per session to keep the groups small. Parents can ask classroom teachers for the current timetable or visit the Bendigo Health campus reception on Lucan Street for printed guides that include home versions of the exercises. Schools will hold an open morning at Rosalind Park on 22 July where families can try one of the short practices before the next term begins.