If you’re a wellbeing coordinator, deputy principal, or stage supervisor searching for a Stage 3 resilience program for your Year 5 and Year 6 cohort, you’ve probably already sat through a few provider pitches that sounded impressive but light on substance. You need something that is genuinely curriculum-aligned, fits into a school day without a logistics headache, and actually gives students tools they’ll use, not just an hour of entertainment they’ll forget by lunchtime, or worse – an hour of boredom you have to endure without cringing too much.
This guide walks through what to check before you book a resilience incursion for your school, why Stage 3 students in particular benefit from explicit nervous system tools, and what a well-designed program should include.
What Wellbeing Coordinators Are Really Looking For
When schools search for a wellbeing incursion for Sydney primary schools, the brief is usually the same. A program needs to:
- Link clearly to NSW syllabus outcomes, so it can be reported on and justified to the executive team
- Be evidence-informed rather than generic motivational content
- Run as a single performer or small team, with minimal AV and staging requirements
- Fit within a normal timetable, with clear per-student pricing
- Leave teachers with something to reinforce afterwards, not just a one-off event
That last point matters more than it might seem. A one-off incursion with no follow-up rarely changes classroom behaviour. The strongest programs treat the incursion as the starting point, not the whole intervention.
Why Year 5 and Year 6 Need Explicit Resilience Tools
Stage 3 sits at a pressure point. Students are managing NAPLAN and selective school stress, shifting friendship dynamics, and the early anxiety of transitioning to high school, often all in the same year. Many haven’t yet been taught, in plain language, what is actually happening in their body and brain when they feel overwhelmed.
As a trained life coach and primary school teacher who has worked with hundreds of Sydney children and teenagers, I’ve found that most Stage 3 students can grasp nervous system regulation quickly when it’s explained through simple, concrete language rather than clinical terms. Concepts like the amygdala’s alarm response, the difference between a fight, flight, or freeze reaction, and the idea of moving from a dysregulated state back to a “calm and connected” one (drawing on polyvagal theory) give students a shared vocabulary they can use for years, not just on the day of the incursion.
The goal isn’t just to entertain students for an hour. It’s to leave them with tools they still have in Year 8.
What to Check Before You Book a Resilience Incursion
Not every incursion provider will meet the standard your school needs. Before booking, it’s worth checking the following.
- Syllabus alignment. Ask for the specific outcome codes. For Stage 3, look for alignment to the new PDHPE K-6 syllabus outcomes such as PH3-SMI-01 (self-management and interpersonal skills) and PH3-IHW-01 (identity, health and wellbeing), or the 2018 syllabus outcomes (PD3-1, PD3-9) if your school hasn’t yet transitioned.
- A real lesson plan document. Not a one-line summary. A genuine program provides a proper lesson plan with learning intentions, content, and follow-up activities your teachers can reference.
- Evidence-informed content. Ask what the program is based on. A credible resilience incursion should be able to explain the underlying framework, whether that’s polyvagal theory, social-emotional learning principles, or a recognised coaching methodology, rather than relying on generic “be resilient” messaging.
- Logistics simplicity. Confirm how many performers are involved, what AV and space is needed, and how many sessions can run in a single day.
- A practical takeaway. The strongest programs send students back to class with something concrete: a follow-up worksheet, a classroom poster, or a simple technique they can practise that week.
How Control Your Mind Incursions Works
Control Your Mind Incursions is a live, interactive wellbeing program I deliver to Stage 2 and Stage 3 classes across Sydney, including the Sutherland Shire, St George, and the broader metropolitan area. Each session is a standalone, curriculum-aligned performance built around practical nervous system regulation, not a lecture and not hypnotherapy.
The core sequence (Control Your Mind Parts 1 to 3) introduces students to how their brain and nervous system respond to big emotions, then builds toward specific coping tools they can use immediately. From there, schools can add topic-specific modules covering areas such as confidence, focus, friendships, or anxiety, depending on what your cohort needs most this term.
Every module maps to NSW PDHPE outcomes, comes with a teacher lesson plan and follow-up resource, and is designed to run within a standard school day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a resilience incursion and how does it work?
A resilience incursion is a live, in-school performance or workshop that teaches students practical emotional regulation and resilience skills, usually delivered by an outside specialist as a one-off session or short series, supported by classroom follow-up materials.
Is the program aligned with the NSW PDHPE syllabus?
Yes. Control Your Mind Incursions maps to Stage 3 outcomes including PH3-SMI-01, PH3-IHW-01, and PH3-CWT-01, with equivalent Stage 2 outcomes available for younger cohorts.
How much does a wellbeing incursion cost per student?
Pricing is charged per student and varies depending on the number of sessions and whether your school books a single incursion or a multi-session package. Because rates differ by term and cohort size, I share exact figures directly when a school enquires.
How long does each incursion session run?
Each session is designed to fit a standard timetabled period, between 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the school’s individual time frame.
Can our school book a single session or a full program?
Yes, you can book a one off single session, the 3 part resilience program or the 3 part + program, where you get the 3 signature resilience sessions plus choose from a range of extra modules. Many schools start with the Control Your Mind 3 Part core sequence and add topic-specific modules in later terms as their cohort’s needs change.
Booking a Resilience Program for Your School
If you’re comparing resilience and wellbeing providers for your Stage 3 cohort this term, I’d be glad to send through the full program overview and pricing guide, or jump on a short call to talk through what would suit your school. Book a free chat and I’ll get back to you within a day or two.
About the Author
Anna Ware is a Master NLP Practitioner and Master Life Coach registered with the NLP Association of Australia, and holds a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Theology. She runs Control Your Mind Incursions for Sydney primary schools and works one-on-one with anxious children and teenagers across the Sutherland Shire and Greater Sydney.