For schools
We don't have time for a new wellbeing program. How does Start Where You Are fit?
Start Where You Are isn't a new program to roll out. It's one book with free, ready-to-teach lessons that slot into the pastoral care, homeroom or wellbeing time your school already runs, so you can start with a single lesson this term.
Why it isn't another program
Most new programs ask for a launch, training days and a timetable change. Start Where You Are asks for none of that. It's a short book of 12 chapters, and each chapter stands on its own. The book itself tells readers to start with whichever chapter matches what they're dealing with right now, so a class doesn't have to work through it in order.
What teachers get
- A classroom curriculum of 14 units and 26 ready-to-teach lessons, two for every chapter
- Lessons of about 50 minutes, built for Years 9 to 12 and linked to the Australian Curriculum
- Each lesson grounded in the real stories, ideas and tools from the book
- No training needed, and students don't need their own copy to take part
- Free for registered educators
Where it fits in a school week
- Pastoral care or homeroom: one chapter idea and one small action, in the time you already have
- Wellbeing lessons: use the full 50 minute lesson for that chapter
- Key moments in the year: Chapter 11, "You Make Your Own Path", sits naturally alongside subject selection and conversations about life after school. Chapter 8, "Failure Isn't Final", suits the weeks after exams.
Start small
You don't need a whole-school decision to try it. Pick one chapter that matches what your students are facing, teach one lesson and see how it lands. Every chapter ends with a small action, and some take as little as 60 seconds.
What it costs
The curriculum is free for registered educators. If you'd like copies for a class, the book is $25 each, $22.50 each for 10 to 24 copies, and $20 each for 25 or more. Shipping is free in Australia and New Zealand on orders of four or more.
Quick answers
Do teachers need training?
No. The lessons are ready to teach, with no training needed.
Do students need their own copy of the book?
No. Students can take part in the lessons without their own copy.
Which year levels is it for?
Years 9 to 12.
How long is each lesson?
About 50 minutes.
Is it free?
Yes. The classroom curriculum is free for registered educators.
Related questions
Why people trust Start Where You Are
- Written by Ash Manuel, a former PE teacher and founder of Growing With Gratitude, which has reached more than 1 million young people across 1,205 schools in 80 countries.
- Foreword by Dr Phil Cummins of the University of Sydney and the Sydney Character Initiative.
- Shaped by conversations with young people about what they actually wanted from a book like this.
- Published by Amba Press and featured on 9News Adelaide.