Knox Science of Wellbeing

A major highlight of the year was the fifth annual Knox and Ravenswood School for Girls Student-Led Wellbeing Conference. More than 350 student leader delegates from across Australia gathered for a day designed by students, for students, centred on the theme ‘Mental Toughness: The Key to Unlocking Potential’. After five months of planning, student leaders from both schools produced an exceptional program grounded in positive education and the science of human flourishing. The result was more than an event; it was a cultural statement that student voice is strategic, powerful and capable of inspiring genuine cultural change.

A significant focus for 2025 was the development of the Knox Staff Total Fitness framework, a central element of the staff wellbeing plan within the current Strategic Direction. Designed to capture the holistic cognitive, social-emotional, spiritual, and physical wellbeing of each staff member, the framework operates in synergy with the Knox Total Fitness Action Model for students. It provides a shared language and practical guidance for embedding wellbeing science into professional life, and importantly, it actualises wellbeing as a shared responsibility, uniting individual habits with workplace culture to help staff both feel good and function well.

Staff professional learning continued to advance The Knox Effect – a commitment to embedding wellbeing theory and practice into pedagogy, sport, and co-curricular programs. This included contributing to the Senior School review of the teaching and learning framework to strengthen wellbeing integration and beginning the development of ‘Knox Norms’; a suite of consistent, research-aligned classroom practices that enhance emotional safety, engagement and belonging.

Beyond Knox, the SoW Institute made a substantial contribution to the broader educational landscape. The team was a major contributor to the University of NSW and International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) research project ‘Building Agency: Strengthening Student Motivation in Boys’ Education’, sharing insights from Knox’s wellbeing and culture initiatives. Staff also presented at the Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia (PESA) conference in Adelaide on using systems thinking to enhance student culture, participated in the Australian International Boys’ Schools Coalition conference, and led professional learning for school leaders at the NSW PESA event focused on developing a whole of school approach to staff wellbeing.

Looking ahead, the SoW Institute remains committed to innovation, research translation, and building the conditions in which every student, staff member, and family can thrive.

Editor's note: This article was first published in The Thistle – Headmaster's Review 2025.

We look forward to our annual Student-Led Wellbeing Conference, which will be held at Knox Grammar on Friday 5 June. This vibrant conference is in collaboration with Ravenswood School for Girls.