Meet the 2025 winners of the Five Ways to Wellbeing Creative Students Project
We are delighted to today announce the winners of this popular art prize that celebrates wellbeing and Mental Health Month in October! We received a record number of entries this year - 301, making it the most successful year of the competition so far!
Congratulations and well done to the winners and highly commended in each category:
Early Stage One:
Winner: Dexter Oldfield, from Tahmoor Public School Support Unit.
Highly Commended: Tyler Reid, Picton Public School.
Stage One:
Winner: Cooper Gooden, Picton Public School.
Highly Commended: Kabir Kadiyala, Bardia Public School.
Stage Two:
Winner: Jason David, Bardia Public School.
Highly Commended: Scarlett Loyola, Mawarra Public School and Saanvi Kafle, Bardia Public School.
Stage Three:
Winner: Ellena Lay, Canley Heights Public School.
Highly Commended: Claudia Moffat, Moss Vale Public School; Lexi Meehan, Moss Vale Public School and Afiyah Farid Ansari, Lakemba Public School.
Stage Four:
Winner: Maria Halloum, Liverpool Girls High School.
Highly Commended: Horia Jalali, Liverpool Girls High School.
All Abilities Primary:
Winner: Monique Gialouris, Tahmoor Public School Support Unit.
Thanks to everyone who entered the competition!
Register for the 2026 competition!
To register, ask a question or learn more, email the Health Promotion Mental Wellbeing team at SWSLHD-Wellbeing@Health.nsw.gov.au
About the competition:
The annual art prize celebrates October's Mental Health Month and key messages of wellbeing, self-care and resilience. It helps students from Kindergarten to Year 12 learn about the Five Ways to Wellbeing. They create an artwork based on one of the five ways - Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give.
In 2025, the competition is in its sixth year. To learn more scan the QR Code (below) or email the Health Promotion Mental Wellbeing team at SWSLHD-Wellbeing@Health.nsw.gov.au
Steps to enter:
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Complete an Expression Of Interest (EOI) – someone from the HPS will be in contact to organise a collection date for artworks and answer any questions you may have.
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Optional: Use a session plan to conduct a session on wellbeing.
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Allow time for students to create artworks- this may be an in-class activity, project or lunch time activity.
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Each artwork must be accompanied by a Student Entry Form. The 2026 form will be available early that year.
Download the Teachers Guide for information on:
- Artwork requirements
- Judging
- Individual and school prizes
- Artwork collection
- Application of the Five Ways to Wellbeing in schools.
Professional Learning Opportunities
During the competition, we offer free online professional learning sessions in partnership with Be You. These sessions explore practical strategies to boost mental health and resilience in your schools and classrooms.
Events for 2026 will be announced next year.
To learn more, email SWSLHD-Wellbeing@health.nsw.gov.au
Toolkit to guide you
Our Mental Wellbeing team has created a toolkit of classroom resources and downloadable tiles to help you and your school enter the art competition. The toolkit (below) includes a diary activity, mindfulness poster, scavenger hunt and banners.
Recommended lessons
Optional lessons
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Let's talk about it
Lesson resources
Downloadable poster
Email us to learn more: SWSLHD-Wellbeing@health.nsw.gov.au
Past winners - 2024 and 2023
Check out all of the amazing winners from 2024 and 2023. Click here!
Get inspired by these winners works and enter this year's competition to support the mental health and wellbeing of school children across south west Sydney.
Our 2024 winners
Check out all of the amazing artworks in our online gallery!
Mental health is important for the healthy development and well-being of your child.
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