The Department of Education has developed and promoted strategies and resources for students, teachers, parents and carers to support the wellbeing of students as they have returned to full-time schooling. Strategies and resources to support the wellbeing of students have also been shared through a dedicated state-wide wellbeing virtual staffroom.

The learning and wellbeing of students is monitored in the classroom and through learning and support processes in schools. Considerable investment is being made in building capacity of staff to recognise and respond to signs of distress in students, including providing assistance to students presenting with anxiety and behavioural issues.

The Department has worked collaboratively with partners such as NSW Health, headspace and Black Dog Institute to provide counselling staff with additional resources to assist students manage COVID-19 related issues should they arise. These resources include information for students, parents and carers, for example, managing uncertainty, understanding reactions to crises and managing the exposure to negative media.

In addition, a comprehensive toolkit of resources to assist counselling staff support students with anxiety, including COVID-19 related anxiety, and depression has been developed in collaboration with Black Dog Institute.