elping schools, parents and teachers work together to reduce disruptive student behaviour and improve wellbeing
School Parent-Child Interaction Therapy( PCIT)
Helping schools, parents and teachers work together to reduce disruptive student behaviour and improve wellbeing
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Research Project
Challenge
Disruptive behaviour consumes more than 15 % of classroom time, undermining learning, lowering student literacy and numeracy outcomes, and increasing teacher stress, burnout and workforce shortages. Existing interventions rarely coordinate strategies between home and school or reach the most challenging students – only one in four children get the help they need.
Solution
School PCIT adapts the most effective evidence-based child mental health intervention for the school setting. Delivered through school-based clinic hubs, it combines real-time coaching for parents and teachers alongside universal teacher training. Aligning home and classroom strategies improves student behaviour, strengthens adult-child relationships, and equips parents and educators with practical skills that work.
School PCIT has a 90 % success rate, transforming futures for the most at-risk students.
Target customers / end-users
• teachers and schools seeking to improve classroom learning environments
• primary school students with disruptive behaviour
• parents seeking support to manage behaviour at home.
Progress
• secured ~ AU $ 1m in funding from NHMRC MRFF, and AU $ 770k in philanthropic support
• hubs built at Ingleburn, Condell Park and Albury North public schools
• 120 / 724 students enrolled / screened, 60 % completed / active, 90 % success rate.
Validated( real-world setting)
Multidisciplinary team
Healthy Living
School PCIT, co-developed with NSW schools, brings parents and teachers together to address disruptive behaviour early. Delivered in schoolbased clinic hubs, it combines real-time coaching and teacher training, improving student behaviour, increasing teacher confidence, and strengthening collaboration between home and school.
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