It was an incredible weekend at Greenwich College in Adelaide, joining over 75 educators for the English Australia PD Fest SA. Following doing the same session in Brisbane last month, it’s clear that the “invisible weight” of ELICOS—balancing regulatory stress, classroom complexity, and pastoral care—is a shared challenge that needs a new approach. Thanks to everyone at English Australia and the team at Greenwich College, as well as the awesome teachers that showed up for professional development on a Saturday!
The 3M Framework
We explored how to move beyond burnout using the 3Ms:
Metaxis: Learning the art of “de-roling” to separate your professional identity from your true self.
Metacognition: Developing the distance to observe your thought patterns rather than being consumed by them.
Meta-emotion: Navigating the “second layer” of feelings—like the shame or frustration we often feel about our own stress.
Take the Work Home
Sustainable well-being isn’t a quick fix; it’s a practice. To help you integrate these concepts into your daily work routine, we’ve made the full presentation available for you to dive deeper into the data and strategies.
Missed the Plenary? Listen to the Deep Dive!
If you couldn’t make it to the opening session or want to revisit the frameworks we discussed, check out this fantastic summary from the hosts of The Deep Dive Project. Elena and Julian break down the science of “The 3Ms” (Metaxis, Metacognition, and Meta-emotion) and how we can structurally support mental health in the classroom.
Listen to the Deep Dive: For those who prefer audio, we’ve created a Deep Dive Podcast exploring these frameworks in detail. A quick heads-up: Elena and Julian are actually AI personalities, not human hosts! They don’t need coffee or rest—they’re just programmed with a relentless curiosity and the ability to provide rapid insights into intricate social and psychological challenges!
What’s Next?
This work is the foundation of The Coolum Institute, launching in August 2026. We are building a space specifically for educators to find clinical rigour and human warmth through psychotherapy, coaching, and retreats.
Remember: You cannot pour from an empty vessel—but you can learn to return to the source. Ready to set a new boundary?
Join our community and be the first to know when we open our doors.
