Resilience Project

Wellbeing at NPS

Hello families,

My name is Natalie Dean, and I’m excited to introduce myself in my new role this year. I have been part of the Northcote Primary School community for the past three years, teaching Prep and Grade 1, as well as working within the leadership team as a Learning Specialist, with a focus on Literacy and curriculum. It has been such a privilege to work alongside our students, staff and families during this time.

In 2026, I will continue in my Learning Specialist role with a new focus on Wellbeing and Inclusion. I will be working part-time on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, supporting students, staff and families to strengthen inclusive practices and wellbeing across our school community. My core work will be as Disability and Inclusion coordinator and Mental Health and Wellbeing leader. 

Please feel free to reach out to me via email (Natalie.dean@education.vic.gov.au), at school pick-up/drop-off on my 3 work days or via phone (through the school office) if there’s anything you would like to discuss.

The Resilience Project at NPS 

As you may have heard, Northcote Primary School is partnering with The Resilience Project to implement a whole-school wellbeing program. The Resilience Project is grounded in strong, evidence-based research and has been independently evaluated by both the University of Adelaide and the University of Melbourne, showing measurable improvements in students’ emotional wellbeing and positive behaviour. The program is built around the key principles of Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness (GEM) and Emotional Literacy, and supports students to develop lifelong skills to manage challenges, build resilience and thrive.

We know that when schools and families work together and share a common language around wellbeing, children benefit enormously. I’m very much looking forward to working closely with our school community this year as we continue to prioritise student wellbeing, inclusion and belonging at Northcote Primary. 

I have attached some further information around TRP’s GEM+ model that we will be using in our SEL lessons, along with some Frequency Asked Questions about the program. 

I have also attached a flyer for you to access The Resilience Project Family Hub at home. There are a range on inspirational videos you can watch to learn more about the key principles in the GEM model, along with activities you can complete as a family to help strengthen the connection between what your child is learning in the classroom and how you support them in life. Simply scan the QR code to access the hub, there are no logon details required. 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like any further information about this program. I will send out further resources and tips to support TRP at home as the year progresses. 

I’m excited to start this journey with you all! 

Thank you, 

Natalie