The Resilience Project

Early Years Wellbeing Program

We partner with early learning services to help children build social and emotional wellbeing through simple, evidence-based strategies brought to life through play.

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Three children wearing paper sea-creature headbands, holding hands in an early learning room

Why wellbeing matters

By primary school, 1 in 4 students are already struggling with high levels of depression or anxiety. In the early years we have a unique opportunity to support children to understand their emotions, navigate new challenges and develop foundational skills that will last a lifetime.

Our program helps build these skills through playful, age-appropriate experiences, grounded in four evidence-based principles proven to support resilience and positive mental health: Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness (GEM) and Emotional Literacy.

The GEM superheroes — Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness and Emotional Literacy

What to expect from the program

We know there's already a lot happening in any early years service.

That's why the program has been designed by early years educators to be practical, flexible and easy to pick up and use. It's there to support the whole service community, building educator confidence and giving families simple ways to keep the wellbeing conversation going at home.

  • Professional development for educators to build capacity and support their own wellbeing.
  • Webinars for families to support their wellbeing at home and develop a shared language.

  • 20 fun session plans designed by early years educators and easily adapted to suit your service.
  • A suite of interactive and engaging videos for children.
  • An individual portfolio full of interactive activities for each child to document their journey throughout the program.

  • Our much loved Cozy Koala take-home initiative and his GEM Adventures Journal.
  • Termly community projects to help embed wellbeing in your service culture.

  • A dedicated Early Years Partnership Manager to provide assistance and support implementation in your service.
  • Access to an online teaching hub gives educators everything they need to confidently and effortlessly deliver the program.

Want to take a closer look?

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How we support service-to-home connection

Families are children's first and most important educators, so we've created multiple opportunities for wellbeing experiences to be shared at home.

Two children hugging a Cozy Koala soft toy in their early learning room

Meet Cozy Koala

100% recycled materials. 100% huggable.

Cozy is our much-loved service-to-home initiative, travelling home with children and inviting families to experience GEM together.

When Cozy returns, children can share their adventures with their peers, bringing those conversations and experiences back into your service.

A painted gratitude tree on a service wall, its leaves covered in handwritten thank-yous

Community Projects

Community projects are fun, meaningful activities designed to bring GEM to life while strengthening connection between your service and the wider community.

Children, educators, families and even familiar faces who visit your service can all get involved and contribute to something together. We provide everything you need to make each project happen.

Find out more about our program

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See the difference TRP can make

A child holding up a hand-decorated paper fan

Not only has the program visibly impacted the children's wellbeing, it has also made a huge impact on our families, educators and local community too!

Okeedokee Early Learning Centre

A child working through an activity book at a table

We are already seeing the positive impact of this program on the children’s social-emotional development. Their growing confidence in expressing emotions and seeking support is a testament to the power of this program.

Brunswick Kindergarten

A child making a face on a paper plate at a craft table

Through this program, we have been able to deepen our Centre’s sense of community by fostering genuine connections and active participation from the children, their families and our educators.

It is so gratifying that there is finally a resource out in the early childhood education community that actively supports children’s development of positive mental health outcomes.

Una Albany Creek Early Childhood Learning and Kindergarten

Children colouring in their workbooks

Taking Cozy Koala with the workbook home has created much excitement for the children. It is also wonderful that they can all share a different report with their peers, and this has kept it interesting.

Bentleigh West Kindergarten

Children sorting emotion cards on the floor

This initiative has made a meaningful impact on our young learners, helping them build confidence, emotional awareness, and the ability to bounce back from challenges.

We as adults have also learned a wealth of valuable knowledge and strategies to be able to support our little besties!

Hopetoun Preschool

Pricing and inclusions

Program and child components go hand in hand. Both are required as part of the program, working together to create meaningful impact in your service.

Program fee

$1,400 (+GST)

Digital presentations, professional development and community connection

Children

  • 4 x GEM TV episodes (short, high energy videos)
  • Cozy Koala take-home initiative

Staff

  • Access to the TRP Hub
  • 5 x Digital professional development videos and activities
  • Staff wellbeing webinar

Parent and carers

  • Parent and carer wellbeing webinar
  • Access to our online Parent and Carer Hub
  • Termly newsletter and try-at-home activities

Service

  • Access to Leading TRP (your training for the program)
  • Community projects to inspire your whole service community

Child fee

$21 per child (+GST)

Teaching and learning program

Teaching and learning program

  • An individual portfolio for each child with interactive activities
  • Dedicated Early Years Partnership Manager
  • GEM pack with supporting resources
  • The Resilience Project fence sign

20 brand new session plans containing

  • Core and boost sessions
  • Fun and culturally responsive activities and experiences
  • Play-based provocations
  • Prompts and GEM chats to support educator wellbeing
  • Links to EYLF for all sessions

Kindy Uplift (QLD) and School Readiness Funding (VIC) may be available for your service. Find out more

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Start building lifelong habits today

Join an info session

Come along to a live info session to learn more, meet our team and ask any questions. Can't make it live? You can also watch in your own time, with samples available to explore.

Register for an info session

Contact our team

Curious about how the program could work in your service? Send us an enquiry and a member of our early years team will be in touch soon!

Get in touch

More information

Author
The Resilience Project

The Resilience Project team

The Resilience Project is a leading Australian wellbeing organisation established in 2012. We’re trusted by over 1,100 schools and over 800 organisations, to help build resilience and positive mental health in their communities.

Our content is developed in line with Mindframe’s national guidelines for safe communication about mental health and wellbeing. Every page that discusses mental health includes pathways to professional support, including Lifeline (13 11 14) and Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).

Reviewed 6 May 2026

References

The research behind our GEM model — Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness and Emotional Literacy. See the full Evidence Base.

Mindfulness

Emotional Literacy

Support

This article is general wellbeing information, not a substitute for professional support.

The Resilience Project focuses on proactive and positive wellbeing, and is not a crisis or mental health support service. If you need additional support, we encourage you to speak with a qualified mental health professional via the links below, or visit our Further Support page to find the right support for you.

Emergency support

In the event of emergency mental health support and assistance.

Starting point

  • Head to health headtohealth.gov.au Head to Health is a great starting point to find help, either for yourself or for a loved one. You will find online resources, lists of phone and email contacts for immediate support and a tool called Sam the Chatbot if you don’t know where to begin.