As 2025 draws to a close, the Rabbitohs Wellbeing Program continues to play a vital role in supporting the physical, mental and social health of young Australians at a time when the need has never been greater. Young people today are facing some of the most significant health challenges of any generation, with rising rates of anxiety and depression, declining physical activity levels, poor sleep, unhealthy eating habits and a growing sense of social disconnection.
The long-term implications of these trends remain concerning. Currently, 34 per cent of Australian children are overweight or obese, with this figure forecast to rise to 50 per cent by 2050. Half of all adult mental health challenges emerge before the age of 14, while one in four children and young people report being bullied, including one in five experiencing bullying online. These realities reinforce the importance of early, proactive health education.
Throughout 2025, the Rabbitohs Wellbeing Program delivered curriculum-aligned, in-school workshops that used the power of sport and positive role models to engage students in meaningful conversations about health and wellbeing. Through evidence-based education and inclusive physical activity sessions, young people built practical life skills, improved health literacy and gained confidence to make positive choices in their everyday lives.
A cornerstone of the program is equity of access. Health education should never be dictated by financial status, which is why all Rabbitohs Wellbeing Programs continued to be delivered free of charge to schools and students, ensuring young people from all backgrounds could participate.
The impact of this approach was evident across the country in 2025. The program reached 31,489 students, including 13,486 students in regional communities, with the team visiting schools in Perth, across NSW’s Central Coast and North Coast, and throughout the Central West, including the towns of Dubbo, Wellington and Mudgee.
Banora Point Primary School Principal
“Visits like these are really important – to have elite athletes visit our school and impart positive messages on the importance of health and wellbeing is wonderful. You could see the excitement from the kids today and the engagement in the messaging. As a regional area, it’s brilliant to have access to these programs backed by such a recognisable sporting organisation.”
Steven Marcos, Acting Deputy Principal at Alexandria Park Community School
“This program was fantastic, no doubt. Our students gained valuable, real-life skills and knowledge that is needed. Your visit always has a positive impact on our community and promotes engagement and confidence in our students,”
Rabbitohs Wellbeing Program Coordinator Erin Geddes said the year’s outcomes highlight the importance of engaging young people early.
Rabbitohs Wellbeing Program Coordinator Erin Geddes
“By meeting students where they are and giving them practical, relatable tools, we’re helping them understand how everyday choices around movement, nutrition, sleep and relationships shape their long-term health. These are foundations that can influence wellbeing well into adulthood.”
As the Rabbitohs Wellbeing Program looks ahead to 2026, it remains committed to empowering young Australians with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to build healthier futures, strengthening individuals, schools and communities along the way.
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