Preparing the Child for the Road: Inside The Anxiety Project with Michael Hawton

In this episode of the NSWPPA Professional Learnings: Leading with Data series, host Drew Janetzki reconnects with psychologist and author Michael Hawton, Director of Parentshop, to explore the evolution of The Anxiety Project.Together they unpack how this whole-school initiative—now reaching more than 113 schools and 47,000 students—is transforming the way teachers, parents and children understand and respond to anxiety.Michael explains why resilience is learned through challenge, not avoidance, and how small, consistent language shifts in classrooms are changing culture and confidence across school communities.Featuring insights from the 2025 Student Wellbeing Seminar with Professor Patrick McGorry and Professor Terry Laidler, this episode shows why early intervention, collective practice and data-driven leadership are key to addressing Australia’s youth mental health crisis.A child refuses school, melts down, and gets a day at home with a device—short-term relief, long-term cost. We unpack how that accommodation cycle takes hold and share a practical, lay-led alternative that’s helping schools replace avoidance with agency.Psychologist and author Michael Hawton traces The Anxiety Project’s journey from a principal survey to a statewide culture shift built on shared language, quick scripts, and early intervention.We explore CBT-informed tools teachers can use in real time—how to “strike while the iron is hot” when a student catastrophises, and how to “strike while the iron is cold” through short lessons on brains, bodies, and self-talk. You’ll hear why “my amygdala threw a grenade” has become a powerful classroom phrase, how consistent staff language boosts engagement, and why fewer unhelpful accommodations can actually grow resilience.Michael connects the dots with Professor McGorry’s national findings on youth mental health, showing how unattended childhood anxiety can escalate in adolescence—and how schools can bend that curve without turning teachers into therapists.We also map a clear implementation pathway: align leadership, appoint a hands-on coach, train staff, teach students, and involve parents in non-blaming, tool-focused sessions. Along the way, we discuss phones and social media as amplifiers rather than root causes, and highlight measurable reductions in anxiety when entire school teams commit to the work.If you’re a principal, teacher or parent looking for a clear, practical model to help kids stay in the learning struggle—take a breath, grab the language, and start small.If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share with a colleague, and let us know which strategy you’ll try first.Learn more about The Anxiety Project and the research shaping this episode:NSWPPA – The Anxiety Project:https://www.nswppa.org.au/the-anxiety-projectParentshop (Michael Hawton):https://www.parentshop.com.auHilton Education Consulting (2023–2025):Independent evaluation of The Anxiety Project outcomes in NSW schoolsAustralian Mental Health Commission (2024):National Report Card 2024PDF LinkMurdoch Children’s Research Institute (2024):Almost three quarters of adolescents experience depression or anxietyRead hereBe You – National Mental Health in Education Report (2024):Links and References:To view  our Professional Learning Offerings, visit:https://www.nswppa.org.au/professional-learningTo view our latest offerings, visit: https://www.nswppa.org.au/catalogue