Right Now

Episode 11 | Leaders Who Are Well Lead Well | Aimee Presnall

“Leaders feel like they’re doing a million and one things and none of it well.” Aimee shares this is the theme of 2026 when she speaks with school leaders. There’s a grounded honesty in this conversation with Aimee Presnall as she explores what it looks like to lead in schools today. She keeps returning to a simple idea: many of the challenges in education are not about effort or care, but about clarity, capacity and whether leaders have the time to think. Aimee founded Well-Nest after 16+ years in classrooms and leadership roles across Australia and internationally, driven by watching exceptional school leaders burn out. Through her work, she focuses on dismantling the conditions that create burnout and building leadership cultures where sustainability is possible. Aimee unpacks how schools are operating in a state of constant change while leaders are still expected to hold direction, culture and people at the centre. Throughout the conversation, there’s a tension between doing more and doing what matters. She challenges the reflex to add initiatives in response to problems, rather than stepping back to see patterns. Amy also emphasises the relational side of leadership as the foundation of everything that happens in schools. Whether it’s staff, students or parents, the quality of connection shapes culture, trust and learning. We explore: • why schools have more data than ever, yet leaders need more clarity than ever • why thinking time and resisting the urge to add initiatives are essential • why “buy-in” matters, but real ownership is critical for sustainable school change Aimee poses this question: What if the wellbeing of a school depends on the wellbeing of its leaders? I’m incredibly grateful for the honesty, clarity and insight Aimee brings to this conversation. To learn more about her work: https://well-nest.com.au/ [https://well-nest.com.au/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimee-parkinson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimee-parkinson/] TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjGM4esebQU [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjGM4esebQU]

Episode 10 | Relational School Cultures | Kristy Elliott

“Connection is one of the strongest protective factors for wellbeing, and it relies on our ability to build and sustain relational skills.” Today, I’m joined by Kristy Elliott, an international educator and founder of Restorative Pathways, who has spent over two decades working alongside schools to create inclusive cultures centred on dignity, connection and accountability. This conversation sits right at the heart of what so many schools are navigating right now. Kristy speaks to what many educators have been noticing: that both young people and adults are arriving in our spaces carrying heightened levels of stress, overwhelm and dysregulation. And her message is clear: lasting change doesn’t come from punishment alone, but from environments where high expectations sit alongside high care. Kristy shares what a restorative, whole-school approach actually looks like in practice, moving beyond individual classrooms into a shared culture. In this kind of environment, values are not just words on a wall, but lived, visible and consistent across every part of the school day. We explore: • What a restorative conversation is, and just as importantly, what it’s not • What becomes possible when we shift toward a more relational understanding of human development • Why schools have a responsibility to teach young people about relationships just as intentionally as any other area of learning At the heart of Kristy’s work is empathic curiosity. Seeing behaviour as a moment for teaching and learning, not control or correction. What emerges is a powerful reminder that when we intentionally prioritise relationships in schools, the impact extends far beyond the classroom - shaping not just learners, but the kind of society we are contributing to. To learn more about Kristy's inspiring work, visit: https://restorativepathways.com.au/ [https://restorativepathways.com.au/] LinkedIn: @Kristy Elliott

Episode 9 | Growing Humans | Lael Stone

“The children are reflecting back to us that it’s not working.” There’s something both affirming and deeply honest in the way Lael speaks.  She invites us to step back and consider the system we are asking young people to learn in and whether it is truly serving their development, wellbeing and curiosity. Lael challenges us to reflect on what we prioritise in schools - what we keep, what we might need to strip back and what learning could look like if we held space for both academic outcomes and the real-world and emotional skills young people need. Throughout the conversation, there is a strong thread that this isn’t about blame or polarised views, but curiosity, experimentation and a willingness to rethink what we’ve always done. We explore: • What success really means and how we nurture the strengths of each young person • What shifts for children when connection is present in their learning  • The growing reality that many students and educators are not thriving and what might need to change At its heart, this is a conversation about what school is for. Not lowering expectations or abandoning structure, but examining it honestly and considering what might need to shift so young people can learn with greater curiosity, connection and purpose. And how we support educators, leaders and families alongside them. I’m so grateful to Lael for the honesty and depth she brings to this conversation. You can find out more about her work at:  http://www.laelstone.com.au/ [http://www.laelstone.com.au/]  https://www.facebook.com/laelstone/ [https://www.facebook.com/laelstone/] https://www.instagram.com/laelstone/ [https://www.instagram.com/laelstone/]  https://www.woodlineprimary.com.au/ [https://www.woodlineprimary.com.au/]  https://www.aboutbirth.com.au/ [https://www.aboutbirth.com.au/]  Humans, Being Podcast - https://humansbeing.au/ [https://humansbeing.au/] TedX Talk - How to Raise Emotionally Intelligent Children - with over 3 million views Books: Raising Resilient and Compassionate Children Own Your Story

Episode 8 | Ferocious Warmth | Tracey Ezard

“When you’ve got a really strong, collective learning culture, anything is possible.” There’s something powerful about walking into a school where you can feel the energy straight away: a sense of purpose, connection and possibility. Tracey Ezard has spent years observing what creates that kind of environment, and she has a unique ability to articulate the patterns she sees. In this conversation, Tracey invites us to think deeply about the kind of learning cultures we are creating, not just for students but for every adult in the system. Because when a culture of growth, trust and collaboration is strong, people feel seen, valued and inspired to keep learning. Known for her ‘Ferocious Warmth’ leadership approach, Tracey brings both head and heart to this work. She challenges us to hold high expectations while deeply caring for the people around us and to recognise that thriving schools are built on both. We explore: • the purpose of education - how we grow great humans alongside strong learners • the patterns seen in schools that have that unmistakable ‘buzz’ • why human connection sits at the centre of positive learning cultures Throughout the conversation, there is a sense of hope and optimism. A belief that education can be different. More innovative, more connected and more joyful. Tracey encourages us to question the status quo, to push boundaries and to follow the passions and curiosities that make learning meaningful. Not just asking what we are teaching, but why and what it truly means for the young people in our care. I’m incredibly grateful to Tracey for leaning into this conversation with both head and heart, wisdom and warmth. Tracey is the author of Ferocious Warmth, Glue and The Buzz, supporting education leaders to create cultures where people and learning thrive. To learn more about Tracey’s work: LinkedIn: Tracey Ezard www.traceyezard.com [http://www.traceyezard.com] www.thebuzz.academy [http://www.thebuzz.academy]

Episode 7 | Releasing the Pressure | Meg Durham

“How are the humans going?” When talking about schools, Meg brings such a human lens that resonates at every level of my being as an educator.  It’s part of why I started this podcast. Over the past decade there has been a huge focus on student wellbeing - and there should be. But if we want schools to truly flourish, we need to focus on every human in education. That means supporting the educators, leaders, administration, support staff and families who guide our young people each day - people who are doing deeply important work in increasingly complex environments. As a Teacher Wellbeing Specialist and host of The School of Wellbeing podcast, Meg shares insights into what she consistently sees in educators who are uplifted in their work and truly thriving.  We explore: • the importance of tone and creating opportunities for staff to connect, share, laugh and reflect on how they are going • why student and staff wellbeing are inseparable • how meaningful change in schools can grow from inspiration rather than desperation Meg speaks about schools that are flourishing and how you can just feel it when you walk into them. There is a sense of humanness, emotional congruence and belonging. People know each other’s strengths and struggles, and there is a quiet confidence that someone has your back. Meg's hope is for schools that are not merely surviving, but thriving. There’s more fun, lightness and laughter. In this episode, she shares the small but powerful shifts that make it possible. To learn more about Meg's work, visit: https://www.megdurham.com/ [https://www.megdurham.com/] Listen to 'The School of Wellbeing' podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-school-of-wellbeing-with-meg-durham/id1586749038 [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-school-of-wellbeing-with-meg-durham/id1586749038]