Following a successful pilot in 2024, the innovative Pulse Wellbeing platform has expanded to even more West Auckland schools, helping students and staff take a proactive approach to mental and emotional health.
Developed by the digital safety company Linewize, Pulse gives students a simple, private way to check in on their wellbeing. By answering five quick questions, they can reflect on how they’re feeling and request help from trusted teachers or school leaders. For schools, the platform provides real-time insights into student wellbeing, enabling early intervention and tailored support before small issues become bigger challenges.
The pilot, funded through a $71,000 grant from The Trusts’ Your West Innovation Fund, proved a success. ‘Schools have recognised that Pulse is highly efficient, easy to deploy and support,’ says Andrew Sylvester, School Wellbeing Specialist and Partnership Manager at Linewize. ‘Word spread quickly, and other West Auckland schools were keen to get involved.’ Now, thanks to a further $108,498 from the 2025 Your West Innovation Fund, 28 more schools across the region have joined the programme. ‘With this funding, we’re now reaching close to 50% of all schools and students in West Auckland,’ Andrew reports.
Pulse is also evolving to meet the needs of the whole school community. Staff Pulse allows teachers to complete their own wellbeing check-ins, something many schools had requested. Linewize has also developed online safety hubs for each participating school, giving families access to expert advice and practical tools to support digital wellbeing at home. ‘Parents need education and resources to help guide their children’s digital journeys,’ says Andrew. The results have been impressive.
One school reported identifying 20 students at risk who might otherwise have gone unnoticed. And while managing emotions remains the biggest challenge for many students, participating schools have seen a 12% improvement in how young people rate this area. ‘Rangatahi and tamariki engage well with the programme, which leads to earlier detection of issues and deeper insights into wellbeing across the school,’ Andrew notes.
Linewize continues to refine Pulse based on feedback from schools, including developing new questions designed to better reflect the experiences of Māori and Pacific students. The expansion marks an essential step towards more connected, caring school communities, where wellbeing conversations happen early, and support reaches those who need it most.
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