mindfulness in schools: what local programs are available

Several Gold Coast primary schools began offering weekly mindfulness classes in Term 2 this year, with sessions now running at Broadbeach State School on Alexandra Avenue and at Miami State School near the Gold Coast Highway.

Parents and teachers have pushed for these additions after local reports showed increased anxiety referrals among students aged eight to twelve. The programs fit into a wider push for wellness activities that already draw on the region’s surf clubs and hinterland trails, where families often seek outdoor calm.

Local programs now active

Broadbeach State School launched its eight-week block in May, using a 15-minute daily breathing routine led by classroom teachers trained through the state education department. Miami State School partnered with a local surf life saving group based at Kurrawa Beach to run outdoor sessions that combine short meditation walks with simple focus exercises. Both schools hold the classes before lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays, open to all year levels from three to six.

Neighbourhoods around Southport and Robina have started similar pilots, with one group meeting at the community hall on Scarborough Street. These efforts build on existing Gold Coast wellness scenes that include hiking loops near Lamington National Park and beach volleyball courts at Kurrawa, where instructors already teach short breathing resets between games.

Numbers and next steps

A 2025 Gold Coast regional education summary recorded 1,450 students across twelve schools taking part in at least one mindfulness block, with average session costs listed at $18 per child for the term. Schools report that 62 percent of participants showed improved focus scores on internal checklists by the end of the eight weeks.

Families wanting to join can contact their child’s school office directly or check the Gold Coast Education website for updated term dates. Local GPs on the coast also hold lists of after-school mindfulness groups that continue the same breathing practices introduced in class.