STUDENT LEADERSHIP - WHOLE SCHOOL APPROACH
Real leadership. Run by your students.
A peer-led program trusted by more than 150 schools across Australia and overseas, and cited in the Federal Government’s Rapid Review into bullying prevention. A whole year level learns what shapes the culture around them, then a group of students train as SUP Leaders and teach it to younger peers, their teachers and their families. The culture shifts because of it.
Book 15 minutes with Dr Zach Greig to hear how the program runs at your year level, what your school provides, and whether it is the right fit. No obligation, and he will tell you if it isn't.
Included on state education department wellbeing and mental health program lists
Monash University research partner with an independent evaluation underway
150+ schools across Australia and internationally
99% of parents and teachers would recommend the program to others
Your students learn it, then they teach it to teachers, families and younger year levels.
How it works
Step 01
Whole-cohort session
The entire year level learns what bullying is and isn't, the drivers behind poor behaviour, and how to be a safe, effective Upstander.
Step 02
~20 students become SUP Leaders
Students volunteer, are trained, and design their own lesson plans. The content is theirs, not ours.
Step 03
The Leaders teach the adults
Students run the teacher session, then the family session. Yes, really. They present and they field the questions & give advice.
Step 04
Six weeks of practice
The Leaders embed what they've learned, then train the younger year levels themselves.
Step 05
Evaluation and recognition
Pre and post surveys, an outcomes report for your school, leadership certificates and letters of commendation.
Five in-person sessions. Everything you need to run it and report on it.
What's included
Delivered over two intensive days or spread across a month, to suit your calendar.
✓ Five in-person sessions, delivered onsite
✓ Whole-cohort launch session
✓ SUP Leader selection and training (~20 students)
✓ Teacher session and family session, both student-led
✓ Tailored, editable lesson plans and presentation materials
✓ End-of-program evaluation report for the school
✓ Leadership certificates and letters of commendation
Investment
$7,500
+ GST per cohort*
One price, whole cohort, all five sessions and all materials. No per-student fees and no add-ons.
Funding
Available via the Victorian mental health menu for eligible government schools. Also commonly funded from school wellbeing budgets and grants.
* Price is subject to change and may vary depending on the school’s needs and location.
Grade 5/6 and Years 9 to 11 cohorts.
Who it’s for
It is the student's program and the principal's win. Student leadership your school can point to, evidence you can report on, and an approach that lightens staff load rather than adding to it.
Most of our schools buy this as a leadership program. They thought they had bullying covered. What they did not have was 20 students who could stand in front of a room of teachers and teach them something.
Primary schools
Grade 5/6 students are selected as SUP Leaders and trained to deliver learning to younger students, families and teachers.
Secondary schools
Grade 9/10/11 students are selected as SUP Leaders and trained to deliver learning to younger students, families and teachers.
What it looks like a term later.
Success stories
“The teaching in the Year 1 classrooms was fantastic. A few of you came out afterwards and said, ‘I felt like a real teacher.’ You worked really well as a team, supported one another, and there were no arguments.”
Lead Teacher
Williamstown PS
“Younger students are now approaching us for help in the playground. The language of friendship fire, mean on purpose, and bullying was clear and useful.”
SUP Student Leaders
Ivanhoe East PS
“The session ran smoothly, was enjoyable and the kids genuinely got something out of it. It also gave them a sense of security and reminded them that they’re not alone.”
SUP Student Leaders
Peninsula Grammar
Dr Zach Greig, Founder and Director
Who you'll be talking to
Dr Zach Greig is an educator and academic. He founded The Stand Up Project to build positive school cultures through student voice, agency and leadership, he has worked with schools across Australia, and he still runs sessions himself.
His PhD research at Victoria University examined community development and power relationships, with particular attention to marginalised groups. That work shapes the program’s central idea: students are key stakeholders in school wellbeing, not an audience for it.
In practice, students name the behaviours they are seeing in their own school and design their own strategies to shift them. Schools across Australia have watched students step into leadership roles that make their environments safer and more inclusive.
He takes every intro call personally. There is no sales team to hand you to. If your school needs something other than this program, he will say so on the call.
15 minutes with Dr Zach Greig. No pitch deck, no pressure.
Book a call
Tell him what is happening in your school. He will tell you honestly if this is not a fit.
Before you take it further.
Questions we get asked
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Most of our schools do. This is a leadership program. The difference is that your students design and deliver the content to teachers, families and younger year levels. It gives your existing wellbeing work student ownership rather than duplicating it.
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The model is peer-led by design. One Lead Teacher coordinates logistics; the students carry the delivery. Schools consistently tell us it lightens load rather than adding to it.
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Eligible Victorian government schools can fund it through the mental health menu. Others use school wellbeing budgets, parent association contributions or grants. We can provide a quote formatted for internal approval.
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Five sessions, delivered either across two intensive days or spread over a month, whichever fits your calendar. The six weeks of Leader practice in between happens inside existing school time.
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Grade 5/6 in primary schools, and Years 9 to 11 in secondary. The cohort learns first, then teaches the year levels below them.
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An evaluation report with pre and post survey data, a trained group of ~20 SUP Leaders who keep running sessions, editable lesson plans and materials your staff own, plus certificates and letters of commendation for the Leaders.
Start with our free information pack.
Get the information pack, then share it with your colleagues. We reply within one school day, usually from Dr Zach Greig.
Free Information Pack
Contact us today and get your free information pack.
It covers the program overview, benefits and outcomes, the full schedule and what your school needs to provide.