DHARAWAL COUNTRY
Our Innovation Projects: CAMPBELLTOWN NSW
BUILD & BELONG
Big Yellow Umbrella codesigned the Build & Belong project with middle years young people from Campbellfield Public School. The project aims to create a safe and welcoming space where children can thrive.
Build & Belong launched in August 2026 at Ron Moore Community Centre in Minto, providing a safe space where middle years young people in Campbelltown can come to meet friends, learn new skills, study and learn about what to expect in High School.
The Stronger, Smarter Approach provides an evidence‑based framework that strengthens the project’s culture, relationships, and outcomes. The project’s emphasis on positive identity development is based in the Stronger, Smarter principle of affirming cultural, personal, and community identities. This approach fosters confidence, belonging, and motivation - key protective factors for wellbeing and engagement.
This year, middle years young people will create a mascot that represents their voice in Campbelltown, and create a plan to advocate for others about transitioning and wellbeing. Build & Belong will continue to build on the current strengths of middle years young people and community, and provide practical skills that can be taken into the teenage years and beyond.
THE NEST
Middle years young people have The NEST in them, they can reflect and identify what it is in The NEST
that supports them to thrive. Middle years young people can articulate strategies to take with them on their journey.
The NEST is a project codesigned with middle years young people at Minto Public School. Trusted local community organisation, Big Yellow Umbrella, will work with middle years young people and their families to create a safe and welcoming space where children can thrive. The NEST will support middle years young people to come together in a familiar setting to learn new strategies to advocate for their needs, codesign a space they can enjoy with their peers and have fun learning new skills along the way.
"Big Yellow Umbrella’s vision “Connecting Community. Everyone. Everywhere” underpins The NEST project
by ensuring everyone connected to the middle years young people will be involved in the process of
creating a wonderful new safe space within the school."
Embedding ARACY’s The Nest framework and Common Approach practices at its core, The NEST will be a safe, inclusive space where middle years young people can go for relaxation, enjoyment, information and skill building.
Ignite Your Path
Middle years and young people are supported and thriving through key transitions.
Ignite Your Path is an exciting new project developed by Robert Townson Public School, alongside their middle years’ cohort. This innovative project is designed to help students in the middle years to feel safe, valued, and supported as they prepare for the move into high school and beyond. Recognising that the transition can be both exciting and challenging, the project provides a holistic framework that addresses students’ social, emotional and academic needs. Through partnerships with educators, families and community organisations, the project delivers targeted workshops, mentoring programs and peer support networks to build resilience and foster a sense of belonging.
The project is built around three key pillars, providing Year 5 and 6 students at Robert Townson Public School with opportunities to develop their confidence, strengthen connections and build essential skills as they prepare for high school. Students will have the opportunity to engage in the development of a school-based podcast that amplifies student voice, as well as a series of regular workshops aimed at building skills and confidence across a wide range of academic and wellbeing domains. The project will culminate in a signature event where students will connect with high school peers and community organisations through a day of fun, engaging and challenging tasks, continuing to build on the work done in groups and workshops.
“Preparing students for high school is about so much more than academics. Through Ignite Your Path, we're giving students a voice, helping them recognise their strengths, build confidence and develop meaningful connections. We want every student to feel a sense of belonging, know they have a network of people supporting them and feel empowered to embrace new experiences and navigate whatever comes next. ”
This initiative strives to ensure every student feels safe, valued and ready to embrace new opportunities.
