Mental Toughness at the 2025 Student-Led Wellbeing Conference

The conference began with a moving and entertaining address from author, athlete and motivational speaker Michael Crossland., Michael shared the challenges he had faced in his life, along with pearls of wisdom he gained along the way. He also spoke on the power of language, visualisation and perspective.

“Today for me is about sharing the power of hope,” said Michael. “Regardless of the adversity and challenges that we face in our life, it’s the mental state of mind that we get ourselves in that enable us to be able to get us through those challenges. Perspective is a key component.”

The core of the day was comprised of a valuable variety of engaging student-led workshops, including:

Bounce Back Stronger

“Our presentation Bounce Back Stronger is about resilience and hope,” said Hudson (Year 12). “And how you can use the combination of resilience, hope and tenacity to adapt and come back from difficult situations, which I think is important for youth lives nowadays.”

The key framework of this workshop was to ‘reflect, reframe, regroup, rebound and revitalise’.

The Teenage Brain: Rewiring to Break Free from Autopilot

This session introduced the different components of the human brain, with each participant creating colourful clay models of the frontal lobe, the motor cortex, the sensory cortex, the parietal lobe, the temporal lobe, and the occipital lobe.

The students presenting the workshop explained the neuroscience behind autopilot mode, and how to circuit-break and rewire the brain for mental growth and vitality. They showed how social media platforms are designed to reward autopilot mode expressed via passive scrolling (or ‘doom scrolling’), fast reactions, surface-level engagement, and the desire for instant gratification. They also spread awareness about the echo chamber environment the social media algorithms fabricate.

You can break free from this mode simply by putting down your phone and engaging with the physical world around you through all your senses, to focus on the present. Creating new experiences daily and regular self-reflection are also good approaches in living more mindfully.

Other workshops included:

• Emotional Mastery: Techniques to Stay Calm Under Pressure
• Strengths Unleashed: Using Your Strengths to Build Mental Toughness
• Staying the Course: The Power of Habits in Building Commitment
  

Key takeaways from students included:

• “Do something that your future self will be proud of.” - Arjun (Year 12), School Captain
• “The value of positive psychology in navigating life’s challenges. The idea that, ‘This too shall pass’.” - Micah (Year 12), Wellbeing Head Prefect
• “Sometimes our worst day is only a dream day for those less fortunate than us.” - Lachlan (Year 11)
• “Have hope in life. No matter what comes next, or what’s happening right now, it will pass. It really inspires me to push forward in life.” - Cyrus (Year 11)
• “Always show gratitude to everyone, especially during times you’re feeling down. Showing gratitude lifts yourself up and lifts up those around you.” - Christian (Year 11)
  
  

Professional learning stream

Teachers also had the opportunity to hear from world-renowned psychologist, Professor Barbara L. Fredrickson Ph.D.

In her keynote, Professor Fredrickson explored how shared positive emotions and connection in the classroom enhances students’ openness, cognitive flexibility and engagement. And so, when teachers foster a classroom environment that prioritises connection, it ultimately builds trust and improves learning outcomes.

Afterwards, students, staff and speakers had the opportunity to freely connect, with a vibrant array of Wellbeing Activation Stations, including chess games, book nooks, rowing machines, and the wall of affirming sticky notes.

The day concluded with collective reflection and appreciation for all the insights of Positive Psychology gained throughout the conference.

“I’ve had a great day, I’m so happy to be with such a great room of people,” said Harry (Year 11). “We are here by coincidence. And when you understand that coincidence, you can use it to be in the service of others. We’re never truly fulfilled unless we’re at the service of other people.”

“Having a healthy wellbeing culture is incredibly important,” said Declan (Year 12). “Especially in the upper years, Years 11 and 12, with the big exams.”

Thank you to all involved in making this year’s Knox Ravenswood Student-Led Wellbeing Conference a success.

We’re looking forward to the PESA National Wellbeing Education Conference in September, featuring Tania Linnertson (Head of Science of Wellbeing K-12) and Sam White (Deputy Headmaster 7-12 – Students). They’ll be presenting ‘Cultivating Culture: Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Shape Student Communities’. The presentation will explore how schools can intentionally create a culture of thriving student engagement, belonging, and wellbeing. Using a systems-thinking approach, delegates will gain practical tools to audit and transform student culture through data-driven strategies grounded in wellbeing science.