Connection is Key — But So Are the Tools — National Education Summit

Written by Kelly Longworth, VIC School Partnership Manager, Kelly Longworth

When I first joined Toolbox Education, what struck me wasn’t just the depth of the psychology, but it was how human it all felt.

Yes, we teach mental health skills. But what makes them stick is how we deliver them and in a way that cuts through, connects, and lands with students.

That’s what Toolbox is all about.

We work preventatively. That means we show up before things get too big. Teaching students’ practical tools from psychology that they can use in real life. Think CBT, DBT and ACT, made relevant for Years 1 to 12.

Our workshops are short (50-60 mins), interactive and built to engage. We cover real topics like anxiety, overthinking, friendships and motivation and show students how to work through them in the moment, not just learn about them.

And we don’t do it alone. Our facilitators are psychology students aspiring psychologists who speak fluent Gen Z. They’re trained to connect and make big ideas feel relatable.

We also make sure teachers aren't left with extra work. Every workshop comes with follow-up resources and short useful activities you can use after we’re gone.

Here’s what we’re hearing from teachers:

“The workshops helped start conversations we’ve been trying to have for months.”

“Our students connected straight away with the facilitator, it just landed.”

Toolbox was founded by Ben Scholl and a clincial psychologist, David Berlinski who saw too many students waiting too long for help. They thought, what if we flipped the system and started earlier? What if we gave kids tools before they needed them?

Since then, we’ve worked with over 200 schools across VIC, NSW and ACT. We’re proud to sit in the space between education and psychology, backing schools with practical, preventative mental health support that feels doable.

We’re also growing. Toolbox Clinic recently opened in Bentleigh, with a team of psychologists offering assessments and therapy for families who need more support. It means we can support schools both in the classroom and beyond.

Planning Term 4 or looking ahead to 2026?

We’d love to be part of the chat. You can find us in ACER’s National Wellbeing Directory or just reach out directly.