Schools across Australia are facing rapidly evolving challenges when it comes to student health and wellbeing. Vaping, alcohol, emerging drugs, mental health, respectful relationships, social media and digital overload are now everyday concerns for young people, families and the educators supporting them.
In 2026, health and wellbeing education must be evidence-based, easy for teachers to deliver, engaging for students, and fully aligned with the Australian Curriculum. It must also speak to the realities of young people today: their experiences, their pressures, and their voices.
At OurFutures Institute, we believe prevention is Australia’s strongest defence against harmful behaviours. When students receive the right education at the right time, they are empowered to make safer, healthier choices that last long after they leave the classroom.
How schools can implement OurFutures programs across 2026
Below is a suggested overview of how secondary schools can roll out OurFutures programs across the PDHPE and wellbeing calendar in 2026.
Term 1 – Start the year strong
- Year 7 and 8 – Health4Life
Ensure students who are starting high school are empowered with the skills and knowledge to navigate the emerging challenges that come with a new school and playground.
Equip them with the best health and wellbeing education, empowering them with the skills and knowledge that cover diet, physical activity, sleep, screen time, mental health, drugs, nicotine and alcohol in one comprehensive program.
Aligns with PDHPE topics on health behaviours, decision-making and risk.
Pairs perfectly with youth awareness days such as:
- Safer Internet Day (10 February)
- National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence (20 March)
- Harmony Week (16 – 22 March)
Term 2 – Students get the facts
- Year 7 and 8 – Vaping Prevention Program
- Year 9, 10 and 11 – Cannabis and Psychostimulants
With Vaping and Cannabis becoming more visible in youth culture and online spaces, students need credible, non-judgemental information. Our programs counter misinformation and normalisation, providing harm-minimisation strategies and real-world refusal skills.
All programs are LGBTQIA+ inclusive, with diverse characters that reflect modern Australian classrooms.
Curriculum aligned with units on drug education, personal safety and community wellbeing.
Link to awareness in the term days:
- World Health Day (7 April)
- Youth Week (16 – 26 April)
- IDAHOBIT (May)
Term 3 – Alcohol and Drug Prevention for the whole school
- Year 7 – Alcohol Prevention Program
- Year 8 and 9 – Alcohol and Cannabis
- Year 10 and 11 – MDMA and Emerging Drugs
Supports student health and wellbeing through comprehensive prevention education. It’s age appropriate, with storylines that engage students and speak their language.
Aligns with:
- Wear It Purple Day (28 Aug)
- International Overdose Awareness Day (31 Aug)
- R U OK? Day (10 Sept)
Term 4 – Mental Health Month
- Year 8, 9 and 10 – Mental Health
Perfect to help students manage the stress of exams and end-of-year assignments. Enables students to put their mental health first. Helps students increase knowledge of depression and anxiety and gain practical strategies to cope with stress and the everyday pressures of being a teen.
Strong with alignment to the mental health PDHPE curriculum.
Aligns with:
- Mental Health Month (October)
- World Mental Health Day (10 October)
- World Kindness Day (13 November)
Why schools choose OurFutures programs
- Clinically tested and backed by world-leading university research
- Co-designed with students and teachers to ensure relevant and engaging learning
- Teacher-friendly with minimal preparation and built-in activities
- Mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- Proven to reduce student risk-taking behaviours across Vaping, Alcohol and Cannabis programs
Most importantly: students enjoy the learning and engage deeply with the content. Teachers consistently report fewer classroom behaviour issues during OurFutures lessons.
Register your school today
Want to strengthen your school’s health and wellbeing curriculum in 2026?
Speak with an OurFutures consultant about how we can support your school, wellbeing leaders and whole-school approach.
The OurFutures Vaping Prevention Program is federally funded and free for all Australian schools until mid-2028.
All other OurFutures programs start from as little as $5 per student, ensuring accessible, high-impact learning for every school.
Our team can help you:
- Plan your 2026 wellbeing curriculum and schedule
- Provide personal development to staff through OurFutures Masterclass
- Onboard and engage with teachers who are delivering the program
- Empower and equip your school and students with the tools and resources to make healthier choices
