Revamp the Australian Curriculum: Prepare Students for the Real World, Not Just the Classroom

My name is Brooke Bottrell, and I’m a mother of children who’ve been severely bullied — to the point of suicidal thoughts. I’ve seen firsthand the devastating consequences when schools are unequipped to support children's emotional well-being.

We are in a youth mental health crisis.

1 in 4 young Australians experience mental health challenges

Bullying continues to rise, online and in person

Social media is reshaping identities and self-worth

Students are unprepared for the digital future and real-world life skills

Our education system is outdated. It was built for a different world — one without smartphones, social media, skyrocketing housing costs, or the rising influence of toxic online behaviours.

That’s why I’m calling on Federal and State Education Ministers and the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) to implement urgent, systemic curriculum reform.

We must:

Embed mental health, resilience, and emotional regulation into the core curriculum

Make digital safety, social media literacy, and inclusive behaviour non-negotiable

Teach confidence, self-worth, and recognising unhealthy relationships — including how to spot narcissistic or coercive behaviour

Equip kids with life strategies — how to navigate adulthood, employment, housing stress, and financial pressures

Acknowledge that their futures will be digital, and they need the skills to lead in that world

Integrate evidence-based wellbeing programs like The Resilient Rockstar Show into every school

We need to give our kids more than textbooks. We need to give them real tools to survive and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Please sign this petition to demand meaningful change.

👉 Our kids deserve an education system that prepares them for  a future they are prepared for, not just exams.

🔗 Learn more about The Resilient Rockstar Show: https://resilientrockstar.com