With the support of the Purple Hands Foundations major partner AKG, the Goals aHead program will be expanding its reach to double the number of schools in 2026.
AKG has refocused it's funding to make this possible, ensuring young people can access the tools, strategies, and support they need.
The Purple Hands Foundation’s Goals aHead program is an in-school mental health and wellbeing initiative designed to support young people before challenges escalate.
Delivered directly in classrooms, the 8-week program helps students build confidence, resilience, and the practical skills they need to look after their mental health and support their peers.
The need for this work has never been more urgent. Across Australia, teachers are seeing growing levels of anxiety, social withdrawal, and disengagement among young people.
Early intervention, provided in a place where students already feel safe and connected, is one of the most effective ways to strengthen wellbeing and prevent issues from becoming crises.
That’s why the Purple Hands Foundation is so focused on what comes next.
This increased investment in Goals aHead means:
- Respond to the growing number of schools seeking preventative mental health support
- Bring the program to communities that have previously been on a waitlist
- Strengthen delivery quality and deepen the impact for students
- Build a more consistent, long-term wellbeing presence across key school communities
- As always, the evolution of the program is shaped by the voices of those who it serves. Feedback from students, teachers, and school leaders continues to guide every improvement, making the program more practical, more culturally responsive, and more relevant to the challenges young people are facing today.
Delivered with mental health partner Youth Focus, the impact so far has been clear.
Students report feeling more confident, more equipped to recognise mental health challenges, and more willing to reach out for help when they need it.
Teachers feedback details how they are seeing improvements in engagement, social connectedness, and overall wellbeing in their students who participate in the program.
This is exactly why the Purple Hands Foundation and AKG are committed to growing Goals aHead in 2026 and beyond.
Purple Hands Program Coordinator Amber Vandam says the expansion is a powerful step forward for young people across Perth.
“We know schools are carrying a significant load when it comes to student wellbeing,” Vandam said.
“By growing Goals aHead, we’re able to walk alongside more teachers and provide students with meaningful, practical tools that genuinely make a difference.
“We’re incredibly grateful to AKG for recognising the importance of this work and helping us reach even more young people in 2026.”
AKG Managing Director Darren Hooper says supporting early intervention is central to their commitment to young people and their futures.
“At AKG, we believe every young person deserves the chance to feel supported, capable and connected,”Hooper said.
“Expanding Goals aHead means more students will have access to early, proactive wellbeing support that can change the course of their lives.
"We’re incredibly proud to stand behind a program that empowers students, strengthens school communities and helps create a foundation for healthier futures.
"This work is an investment in young people today - and the adults, leaders and community members they will become tomorrow.”
Youth Focus CEO Derry Simpson highlighted how collaboration strengthens preventative mental health support in schools.
“Youth Focus is proud to partner with the Purple Hands Foundation to deliver the Goals aHead program. Being able to deliver mental health literacy and education together with tips and experience from AFL and AFLW athletes adds a completely new level of engagement and relatability for young people,” Simpson said.
“By partnering with schools and the Purple Hands Foundation, we can equip more young people with lifelong skills and practical strategies to support their mental health in a way that feels accessible, connected, and genuinely supported."
The Purple Hands Foundation is excited to partner with even more schools in 2026 ensuring young people across Perth have the confidence, knowledge, and support they need to thrive.
