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School & Pastoral Care Programs

Evidence-Based Breathwork for Student Wellbeing

9D breathwork sessions adapted for secondary school settings — delivered by an ex-WA Police Major Crash Investigator who understands stress, pressure, and resilience from the inside.

35.9%
Australian secondary students affected by clinical anxiety
Source: ABS Student Wellbeing Survey
1 in 3
Secondary students report high distress during exams
Yrs 5–12
Year groups we work with, adapted to each developmental stage
15 min
Free, no-obligation consultation for school decision-makers

WA Schools Are Facing an Accelerating Student Wellbeing Crisis

Post-COVID, pastoral care teams are reporting increased demand with fewer tools to respond. Anxiety is the top presenting issue — and traditional approaches aren't closing the gap.

35.9%

Students Clinically Affected

More than one in three Australian secondary students report anxiety symptoms that meet clinical thresholds — not exam nerves, but persistent distress affecting attendance and learning.

Post-COVID

Wellbeing Gaps Widen

Pastoral care coordinators report social anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and help-seeking avoidance have all increased since 2020. Existing programs weren't designed for this volume.

40 min

Per Student, Per Year

Most WA secondary schools have 1–2 chaplains or psychologists for hundreds of students. Brief, structured interventions that don't require clinical referral are critically under-resourced.

Programs Across All School Types

Public Secondary Schools

Aligned with WA Department of Education wellbeing frameworks. Suitable for chaplaincy programs, Years 7–12 pastoral care, and student support referral pathways.

Independent & Catholic

CEWA and independent school networks. Sessions adapted for faith-based school values — grounded in evidence-based somatic practice, not ideology.

Regional & Remote WA

Online 9D breathwork sessions available for regional schools with limited on-ground pastoral support. Same curriculum, digital delivery.

M
Marcus
Breathwork Facilitator
9D Certified WWCC WA Police (Ret.) DEMIRS (Ret.)
9D Certified Facilitator

Why Marcus Isn't a Typical Wellness Vendor

Marcus spent years in environments where breath control under pressure isn't optional — it's the difference between making the right call and the wrong one. That lived experience is what makes his school sessions different.

  • Ex-WA Police — Major Crash Investigation 10+ years in patrol, operations and critical incident response. Understands stress physiology in real-world, high-stakes conditions.
  • Ex-DEMIRS — Inspector of Mines Department of Mines inspector with resource sector safety and wellness programs. Understands FIFO dynamics, occupational stress, and how it compounds.
  • Certified 9D Breathwork Facilitator Fully trained in 9D breathwork — the somatic modality used in schools, elite sports, and clinical settings globally.
  • Working With Children Card (WWCC) Current and verified. Full compliance with WA child safety requirements for school environments.

What a 9D Breathwork Session Looks Like in a School

Sessions are designed to fit within a standard lesson or pastoral care block. No prior experience required — students simply follow the guided structure.

Phase 1 Arrival & Settling Students settle in a calm space — seated or lying down. Marcus gives a brief orientation: what to expect, safety cues, voluntary participation.
Phase 2 Guided 9D Breathing The core 9D protocol — cyclic breathing, breath retention, and integration. Marcus guides throughout via microphone or direct facilitation.
Phase 3 Integration & Debrief Return to normal breathing. Brief facilitated reflection — what came up, how it felt, grounding back into the room. Teachers are always present.
Phase 4 Return to Class Students re-enter the classroom. Marcus stays for pastoral care debrief and provides full session notes to the school coordinator.
45–60 min Full session duration
Up to 20 Students per group
Teacher Present Pastoral care team attends

Schools We've Worked With

We're in the early stages of our school program — real testimonials from school sessions will be added here as we build our portfolio. If you'd like to be part of the first cohort, get in touch.

We were looking for something that wasn't clinical and wasn't just another mindfulness app. The 9D breathwork session was different — the students were genuinely engaged, and the debrief afterwards showed real reflection happening.

JM
Year 7 Wellbeing Coordinator
Perth Metropolitan School
Years 7–10

Marcus brought a credibility that you don't get from a lot of wellness providers. He's worked in real high-pressure environments. The students picked up on that immediately — there was a respect in the room that you don't always get with external presenters.

DP
Deputy Principal
Regional WA Secondary College
Staff Workshop

We're building our school portfolio — be among the first to work with Marcus in your school.

Book your free consultation

Your school could be featured here after our first session together.

Breathwork for Adolescents — What the Research Says

9D breathwork and related somatic breathing modalities have a growing evidence base across adolescent populations.

Research

Reduced Anxiety & Cortisol

Randomised trials on cyclic sighing and structured breathwork show significant reductions in self-reported anxiety and salivary cortisol in adolescent participants.

Read our full research summary
Research

Somatic Modalities for Trauma

Somatic breathwork is increasingly incorporated in trauma-informed therapeutic frameworks for adolescents, showing particular promise for students with adverse childhood experiences.

Explore the evidence
Practice

Used in Schools Globally

Breathwork programs are running in secondary schools across the UK, USA, and NZ — including pastoral care and SEL (Social Emotional Learning) frameworks.

Browse all resources

Book Your Free 15-Minute Consultation

No pitch, no obligation. We walk through your school's specific context — year groups, pastoral care structure, and wellbeing goals — and I'll tell you honestly whether a program makes sense for you.

Thank you — I'll be in touch within one business day to arrange a time that works for you.
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No commitment. No sales pressure. Just a straightforward conversation about whether this fits your school.