The Goanna Difference

At the centre of everything we do is The Yarning Circle—a place of listening, sharing, and walking alongside community. It reflects our belief that mental health support works best when it's grounded in culture, connection, and lived experience.

Everything we do is designed with care, backed by evidence, and driven by a deep commitment to community. That's our difference—and it's one we're proud to share.

The Goanna Difference - Yarning Circle Diagram

Our Programs

Goanna Academy MindED Presentation in school assembly hall

School Programs

MindED is Goanna Academy’s main mental health program for schools. It helps students overcome stigma around mental health and teaches practical skills for resilience and self-care. Launched in 2020 with the NSW Department of Education, Sarah Redfern High School, Minto, and headspace, it fits the NSW curriculum and addresses growing mental health concerns in young people. Since then, MindED has grown to schools across NSW, Queensland, and beyond.

Goanna Academy is quality assured by the NSW Department of Education to provide wellbeing programs in schools.

MindED offers flexible options—from single visits to full five-part programs—for students and families. All sessions are led by trained Goanna Academy Ambassadors and facilitator who bring real experience and cultural understanding.

Learn More

Community Clinics

Goanna Academy’s Community Clinics are community-led, constant, and co-created programs that use sport as a gateway to mental health in vulnerable communities, including young people at risk.

By combining footy and fun, we deliver accessible mental health messages and build lasting connections across regional Australia.

Our whole-of-community approach strengthens social capacity and links people to local health services and discussions with adults. Program impact is evaluated in partnership with the University of Newcastle and The Wollotuka Institute.

Learn More

Goanna Academy Community Clinic rugby session on-field

Goanna Academy WorkWELL corporate workshop presentation

Corporate Programs

Goanna Academy’s WorkWELL programs equip leaders and teams with practical tools to support both staff and their own wellbeing. Our programs are designed to build internal capacity by offering actionable strategies to manage and reduce psychosocial risks in the workplace.

WorkWELL helps employers foster a resilient, mentally healthy workforce.

With a whole-of-organisation approach, the program engages all levels of staff to build a culture of trust, support, and open conversations around mental health and psychosocial wellbeing.

Learn More

MobweLL

Goanna Academy’s MobWELL Programs are community-led, constant, and co-created programs that use culture, connection, and community as a gateway to mental health and wellbeing in regional and remote areas, including young people at risk.

By combining culture, sport, and community connection, we deliver culturally safe mental health messages and build lasting support networks across regional Australia.

Our whole-of-community approach strengthens social capacity and links people to local health services and discussions with Elders. Program impact is evaluated in partnership with the University of Newcastle and The Wollotuka Institute.

Learn More

Culture Awareness Program

CultureAWARE (for HR & Leadership Teams) and UpholdCULTURE (for First Nations and/or CALD employees) are Goanna Academy’s Cultural Awareness Training programs, designed to be delivered responsibly and in culturally appropriate ways. These programs explore:

Culture and identity
Celebrating culture in the workplace with respect, inclusivity, and meaning
Walking in Two Worlds – navigating cultural identity and obligations while maintaining employment

The training encourages participants to value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and foster mutual respect across their workplaces and personal lives. Mental health strategies are integrated throughout, offering practical tools and resources to support both individual and organisational wellbeing. All discussions take place in yarning circles, creating a culturally safe space for storytelling, reflection, and learning.

Learn More

Work Place Talks

Greg is an experienced speaker in corporate settings, leading discussions with small and large businesses across multiple industries. Open, honest, and relatable, Greg has an innate ability to connect with people from all walks of life. His speaking topics include mental health and wellbeing, coping with change, and strategies for stress management.

Learn More

Indigenous Mentoring

Indigenous mentoring plays a vital role in empowering individuals and strengthening communities. It provides guidance, support, and inspiration—helping Indigenous youth and adults navigate the unique challenges they face today. As a proud Indigenous leader, athlete, and mentor, Greg is deeply committed to creating positive change. He has worked with organisations such as Glencore, Indigenous All Stars, NRL Indigenous Youth Camp, NSWRL, FOGS, and QRL, becoming a driving force in Indigenous mentoring across sport, education, and community development.

Learn More

Goanna Academy Student Impact Diagram - Amplifying Voices, Student Wellbeing, Challenging Stigma, Creating Shared Stories

Evidence Backed Change

Goanna Academy partnered with The Wollotuka Institute to establish a new evaluation design which considers cultural competency, and incorporates people, place and community at the heart of the design. The evaluation comprises a range of activities to provide a more holistic picture of student engagement and benefit, balanced by reflecting on demand, planning, pricing and delivery.

Goanna Academy benchmark against the relevant Education Jurisdiction frameworks, National Closing Gap targets and UNICEF evidence-based decision-making practices.

Programs measure the below, which all link to the Premier’s Priorities for reducing suicide rate towards zero suicides:

Increase in Attendance
Increase in the sense of belonging
Increase health-seeking behaviours
Increase in school engagement

We’re creating programs that educate, empower, and drive lasting outcomes.

The Results

91%

increase in attendance

76%

of students now have the tools to better look after their mental health

71%

of students understand that help is available to them and their peers

62%

of students display an understanding of self care and steps to look after their mental health

83%

of students can articulate how to set SMART goals, 62% of students actively working on their goals after finishing the program

Through Their Words

“I just wanted to say a massive thank you for the work you are doing. My son attended your workshop today at school & thoroughly enjoyed the experience. He has come home and passed on what he learnt and took from today to his younger brothers.”

- Parent of High School student.

“Working with the Goanna Academy as been an exceptional experience, they are a professional and passionate organisation with the view of improving mental health with young people across the state. The youth within Oxley Police district had an amazing experience interacting and listening to Greg’s story about his mental health journey and making positive choices.”

- Oxley Police District

“We recently partnered with Greg Inglis' Goanna Academy and it was an outstanding experience. The staff communicated clearly and with thorough consultation in planning sessions and throughout the program. It was expertly tailored to our students' needs and the facilitators quickkly and easily built a warm rapport with them. Their dedications and professionalism was evident throughout, creating a highly impactful and positive experience.”

- Indigenous Education Leader, PLC

“In 4 years at BYDC this is the first time I have witnessed 100% engagement and participation from 100% of the group. The group were genuinely listening and asking questions of Greg and Jakiya. Greg's story was massively empowering and his honesty resonated with the youth.”

- Cultural Unit, BYDC

“Your openness and willingness to connect with them on such a meaningful level will have a lasting impact. As a team, we were particularly impressed by the engagement from the young people it was truly amazing to witness.”

- Cultural Unit, BYDC

“It was fantastic to see our students so engaged across the two-day clinic. The feedback from both students and staff has been very positive, and we appreciate the time and energy your team invested in working with our young people. Programs such as this play an important role in supporting student wellbeing, resilience and positive connections within our school community. Opportunities for students to learn from and interact with strong role models are incredibly valuable, particularly in a regional community like Gunnedah.”

- Principal, Gunnedah High School

“A sincere thank you also goes to the Goanna Academy team for continuing to lead with purpose and heart. Your ability to guide honest conversations about mental health, resilience and identity, while grounding everything in culture, gave students permission to speak openly and without fear. Mental health matters, and the way you approached it today I feel will make a real difference. Your collective efforts helped our young people not just participate, but truly believe in themselves. Today reinforced that when we centre culture, connection, honesty and relationships, our students rise to the moment and see what is possible for their future.”

- CEO, Strategic Initiatives, NSW Department of Education