Mindfulness in schools: what local programs are available

Gold Coast primary schools added twice-weekly mindfulness blocks to their timetables from the start of Term 2 in 2026.

Student wellbeing data collected by Queensland Education shows rising reports of anxiety and sleep disruption among children aged eight to twelve on the coast. Local teachers say the short guided practices fit between existing sport and literacy blocks without cutting into core subjects.

Named programs at two schools

At Surfers Paradise State School on Gold Coast Highway, staff run a ten-minute breathing and body-scan session each Tuesday and Thursday morning in the undercover area near the library. The same school links one session a month to a short walk along Kurrawa Beach for students in Years 4 and 5. Further south, Robina State High School introduced a six-week pilot called Mindful Hinterland that takes Year 8 classes on a supervised trail walk in the Lamington foothills once a fortnight, followed by seated reflection back at the school oval.

Numbers and costs

Queensland Education figures released in May 2026 list 14 Gold Coast state schools now running at least one mindfulness program, up from four in 2024. Each participating school received a $2,800 starter kit that covers training for two teachers and printed student journals. A University of Queensland study tracking 320 students across similar programs reported an average 18 per cent drop in self-reported stress scores after eight weeks.

Parents can book a classroom observation by emailing the school office or by checking the Gold Coast regional education portal for the current term calendar. Several Surf Life Saving clubs near Broadbeach also offer free parent-and-child breathing workshops on Sunday mornings at 8 am that align with school content.