Mindfulness in schools: what local programs are available

Several Perth schools added weekly mindfulness classes this term, with sessions held in classrooms along streets such as Rokeby Road in Subiaco and near the Swan River foreshore in Victoria Park.

The addition comes as families juggle school demands with outdoor activities like Saturday parkrun at Kings Park and weekday swims at Cottesloe Beach. Parents report children face packed schedules that leave little room for quiet focus, prompting schools to test short breathing exercises and guided attention practices during the school day.

Programs now running in two suburbs

Subiaco Primary School introduced a ten-minute morning mindfulness block for years three to six in March 2026. The program uses simple body scans and attention to breath, delivered by classroom teachers after a one-day training course run by a local provider. Victoria Park Secondary School started a similar initiative in April, scheduling sessions before afternoon sport on the oval that borders the Swan River. Both schools tie the work to existing WACHS mental health referral pathways for students who need extra support.

Each program costs the school roughly $85 per class set of printed guides and audio tracks, with no direct charge to families. A 2025 Western Australian education department survey found 18 percent of metropolitan primary schools already ran some form of structured mindfulness, up from 9 percent in 2023.

How families can find out more

Parents interested in the sessions can contact their school office directly or check the term calendar posted on the school website. Staff at both Subiaco Primary and Victoria Park Secondary hold optional information evenings in the library on the first Tuesday of each month. Anyone seeking personal advice on meditation or related practices should consult a local medical professional or accredited counsellor before making changes to routines.