How students are building confidence to talk about puberty
Friday, 15 May 2026
The conversation begins with curiosity, questions and, for many students, a few nervous laughs.
For Year 5 and 6 students preparing for the transition to high school, puberty is more than a topic of learning - it is a stage of development marked by rapid physical, emotional and social change, and a growing need for confidence, language and support to navigate it well.
At Mount Terry Public School, those early moments of uncertainty shifted quickly during a recent Talk About It session delivered by Life Ed NSW, as students were supported to explore puberty in a structured, age-appropriate and safe learning environment.
What began as hesitation soon became an open and engaged classroom discussion, with students asking considered questions, sharing reflections and building confidence in talking about the changes that come with growing up.
It’s made it easier to talk to other people about puberty… it’s just a normal thing, so there’s no need to be worried about it,
That sense of normalisation, reassurance and growing confidence sits at the centre of Life Ed NSW’s Talk About It program, which is designed specifically for upper primary students as they prepare for adolescence.
Delivered by specially trained Life Ed educators, the program provides a consistent, evidence-informed approach to puberty education, supporting students to build understanding of physical development, emotional changes and respectful relationships in a way that is age-appropriate, inclusive and grounded in real-world relevance.
Importantly, the program is designed not only to build knowledge, but to strengthen students’ confidence in discussing sensitive topics, helping to establish the foundations for positive communication with trusted adults, teachers and peers.
At Mount Terry Public School, students were encouraged to ask questions freely and without judgement, creating an environment where curiosity was supported and conversations around growing up were normalised.
The educator was really interactive and made things fun. If we needed a laugh, she let us have one,
This balance of warmth, expertise and structured learning is central to the program’s approach, enabling students to engage meaningfully with content that can sometimes feel unfamiliar or confronting, while building confidence to navigate it more openly.
Classroom teacher Matthew said the session played an important role in supporting students at a key stage of development.
The session definitely equipped students with the tools for learning about this time during puberty,
“It’s a perfect opportunity to present this information before they head to high school.”
He also highlighted the value of specialist delivery in supporting schools.
“Having an external provider for this session is very helpful,” Matthew said.
“It takes a lot of pressure off staff and gives us a great reference point to continue the conversation.”
Aligned to the NSW curriculum, Talk About It provides schools with a consistent, evidence-informed and developmentally appropriate approach to puberty education, supporting student wellbeing and strengthening schools’ ability to foster respectful, confident and informed conversations about growing up.
