This program is for children who are 8 to 11 years old.

Aussie Optimism - Positive Thinking Skills (PTS), a school-based program, is designed to prevent depression and anxiety in children and strengthen their social and emotional competence.

A randomized trial of the enhanced Aussie Optimism-PTS program failed to find significant intervention effects at posttest for child-reported emotion knowledge and recognition or parent-reported internalizing and externalizing problems. That is, there was no benefit to children who had participated in Aussie Optimism-PTS compared to those in the comparison condition (i.e., regular health-education curriculum). Longer-term follow-up assessments and analysis of larger groups of youth participating in the trial are planned.

Aussie Optimism-PTS intends to build social and emotional competence in children. Classroom teachers lead the following sessions and use group discussions, role-plays, and skills-practice sessions to help children develop new skills.

• Session 1: Introduction and Planning for fun activities - Present the program to participants, have children create lists of activities they enjoy, and help children understand the benefits of engaging in these activities regularly.
• Session 2: Identifying my feelings - Learn to identify a range of emotions.
• Session 3: Comfortable and uncomfortable feelings - Recognize body cues that indicate different emotions.
• Session 4: Feelings and situations - Explore how situations influence feelings and behaviors.
• Session 5: Catching your thoughts - Identify the connection between thoughts and feelings, and notice self-talk.
• Session 6: Being Brave - Develop skills to face challenging situations and overcome fears.
• Session 7: Thought-feeling connection - Understand how thoughts and feelings relate to behavior, and begin to evaluate the truth of one's thoughts.
• Session 8: Helpful and unhelpful thinking - Become familiar with types of unhelpful thoughts and their impact(s).
• Session 9: Looking for evidence to change your thoughts - Search for evidence, and create alternative thoughts.
• Session 10: Self-esteem and being brave - Share with others how fears and challenges were faced using the skills taught.

Beyond the initial evaluation of the enhanced version of this program, which included over 600 youth in Western Australia from 2010 to 2012, the extent to which this program has been implemented is unclear.

Teachers generally facilitate this program. A 6-hour on-site or off-site (held at Curtin University, Australia) training workshop is required in order to gain accreditation. Please use details in the Contact section for more information.

Considerations for implementing this program include acquiring school administration and teacher buy-in, ensuring facilitators receive training, and finding time to incorporate sessions into an existing school curriculum.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing Aussie Optimism-PTS, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!  
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Aussie Optimism-PTS is delivered in 10-weekly, 1-hour sessions.

Teachers receive a Teachers’ Resource Kit at the training workshop. This kit includes a Teacher Resource and a Student Booklet. After receiving accreditation, teachers are able to order additional resources for students and parents. Please visit https://aussieoptimism.com.au/resources/ for more information.

To move Aussie Optimism-PTS to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one peer-reviewed evaluation should demonstrate positive effects lasting at least six months from program completion.

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu

You may also contact Aussie Optimism by phone +61 8 9266 2465, email Aussie.Optimism@curtin.edu.au, or visit https://aussieoptimism.com.au/

https://aussieoptimism.com.au/ and Myles-Pallister, Hassan, Rooney, and Kane (2014).