More than half a million Australian children attend school aged care (SAC) programs each year, yet access to structured wellbeing and mental health support remains inconsistent, particularly in rural and under-resourced areas.
A new collaborative research initiative with Digital Health CRC (DHCRC), the University of Sydney, and Uniting NSW.ACT aims to change that by evaluating a prototype of the Connect, Promote and Protect (CP3) Digital Platform, a world-first wellbeing and social connection program designed specifically for school aged care settings.
The CP3 Digital Platform translates the proven, face-to-face CP3 program into an engaging, accessible, and scalable digital format. The platform has been co-designed with children, educators, families, and mental health experts to ensure it reflects the voices and needs of those who use it most.
The project will conduct a formative evaluation of the CP3 Digital Platform prototype, assessing its usability, feasibility, and potential to strengthen wellbeing outcomes for children across diverse SAC contexts, from metropolitan centres to regional and remote communities.
DHCRC CEO, Annette Schmiede, said ensuring children in all communities have access to the same quality of wellbeing support is critical for future generations.
“This project demonstrates how collaboration between research, service delivery and digital innovation can create scalable solutions that address real needs in the community,” Ms Schmiede said.
“By evaluating and refining the CP3 Digital Platform, we’re building the evidence base to scale practical, effective wellbeing programs – creating a sustainable, evidence-based approach to supporting children’s wellbeing across Australia.”
Originally developed by the University of Sydney in partnership with Uniting NSW.ACT, a major provider of before and after school care in NSW and the ACT, the CP3 program is grounded in child co-design, educator collaboration, and implementation science. Previous research has shown CP3’s effectiveness in improving children’s social wellbeing, reducing peer problems, and increasing prosocial behaviours.
Associate Professor Alyssa Milton from the University of Sydney, and Director of Knowledge Transfer for the Life Course Centre, said, “The CP3 Digital Platform represents an important step in translating evidence-based wellbeing research into practical, scalable solutions.”
“By digitising CP3, we are reducing delivery barriers while ensuring the program remains engaging, inclusive and evidence-driven,” said Professor Milton.
For Uniting NSW.ACT, the project is an opportunity to lead the sector in providing equitable access to wellbeing programs for children nationwide.
“School aged care plays a vital role in supporting children’s development, connection, and confidence,” said Nadia Petrovski, Head of Early Learning with Uniting NSW.ACT.
“Digitising CP3 will equip educators around Australia to deliver proven wellbeing activities in a flexible, sustainable way, helping every child feel safe and supported to thrive, no matter where they live.”
The evaluation findings will provide critical evidence on how digital wellbeing tools can be effectively implemented in school aged care settings. This will guide future planning and support the national scale-up of the CP3 Digital Platform, strengthening quality of care and wellbeing outcomes for the half a million Australian children who attend these services each year.
