Mindfulness in schools: what local programs are available

Three Hobart schools began offering weekly mindfulness classes in Term 2 this year, with sessions held in classrooms on Monday mornings before regular lessons start.

The shift follows growing local interest in student wellbeing after reports of rising anxiety levels among children aged eight to twelve in southern Tasmania. Parents and teachers have pressed for practical tools that fit inside existing school hours rather than after-school add-ons.

Programs running in Hobart and nearby

At Battery Point Primary on Hampden Road, students in Years 3 to 6 complete ten-minute guided breathing exercises each Monday using audio tracks recorded by University of Tasmania researchers. The same school runs a shorter five-minute version on Wednesday afternoons in the library overlooking the Derwent. Further north, Mount Stuart Primary near the foothills of kunanyi/Mt Wellington introduced a 15-minute movement-based mindfulness block on Tuesdays that incorporates simple stretches drawn from local walking tracks.

Both programs operate at no extra cost to families and use existing classroom time rather than pulling students from core subjects.

Evidence and next steps for families

A 2025 University of Tasmania survey of 340 students across five southern schools found that those attending mindfulness sessions reported a 22 percent drop in self-rated stress scores after eight weeks. The same study recorded average session attendance above 85 percent. Sessions run for a ten-week block and restart in Term 3 on 20 July.

Families wanting to try similar practices at home can join the free Saturday morning mindfulness walk organised by UTAS at the Hobart Waterfront parkrun start point on Morrison Street, which begins at 8:30 am and finishes with five minutes of seated breathing. Parents should speak with their child’s school office to confirm current enrolment details before the next term begins.