Are you looking for an inclusive approach to social and emotional learning?
One that helps students feel seen, understood and supported, while giving you practical concepts and tools to nurture belonging and relationships in the classroom?
Or perhaps you’re looking for an engaging, creative small-group program for students who are eager to dive deeper into emotions, relationships, communication, and understanding themselves and others.
Social Stencil
An evidence-based neuroaffirming social and emotional learning program for your school, delivered Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3 by your educators or education support staff.
What is Social Stencil?
Social Stencil is an Australian evidence-based social and emotional learning framework and curriculum, grounded in neurodiversity-affirming principles and informed by more than 15 years of research, development and co-design.
Created by Dr Connie Buckingham (PhD), psychologist and University of Melbourne research supervisor and lecturer, the program focuses on appreciating difference, belonging and connection. Social Stencil provides practical and engaging lesson plans and concepts that help students build a shared language and understanding of themselves and their peers.
Program structure
Social Stencil’s Original program is designed for students in Year 3 through to Year 8, while our Junior program supports students from Reception through to Year 2.
Tier 1 (whole class): weekly 50 to 60 minute sessions over 12 to 18 weeks.
Tier 2 (small group): individualised to the group, in 5 to 8 week blocks term by term, with a 4 to 6 week planning and student onboarding phase. Sessions can be Social Stencil-focused or interest-based with Social Stencil concepts woven in.
Tier 3 (individual): adapted to each student's needs and goals.
Facilitator training
In order to deliver the Social Stencil program in schools, all participating staff must undertake professional training. This ensures everyone facilitating the program feels confident, supported and equipped to deliver the program.
There are two training pathways:
Foundation training: 1.5 hour webinar + self-guided portal
$470 pp* (One portal - Original or Junior)
$777 pp* (Two portals - Original and Junior)
Comprehensive training: one-day workshop, in person or virtual, + self-guided portal
$1,003 pp* (One portal - Original or Junior)
$1,372 pp* (Two portals - Original and Junior)
*Team discounts: Receive 10% for 4 to 5 staff, 20% for 6 to 10 staff, 30% for 11 to 20 staff.
Both options include a 12 month facilitator licence with portal access (lesson plans, video training and downloadable resources), four extension PD webinars each year, and virtual consults with Dr Connie Buckingham as required, at no additional cost.
How to register
Click on the Training tab above, or email our team to discuss your school's training needs at hello@socialstencil.com.
Evidence-based, neurodiversity affirming social and emotional learning designed for Australian schools
Social Stencil is aligned with the Australian Curriculum (Version 9) and developed over 16 years through research, lived experience, and co-design. Social Stencil provides practical and engaging lesson plans and concepts that help students build a shared language and understanding of themselves and others.
Social Stencil supports educators to create safer, more inclusive, and more supported learning environments where everyone can feel understood, supported, and belong.
The Free Resource Share portal is a collection of free resources designed to help everyone learn more about the Social Stencil approach. You’ll find sample concepts, and discover practical strategies for classrooms and whole school communities.
Junior Social Stencil is for Reception/Prep to Grade 2 students or older students with intellectual disability. It addresses foundation social and emotional developmental needs. Themes include belonging, appreciating difference, interoception, emotions and strategies to help.
Social Stencil is for students in Grades 3–8, designed to help young people build awareness of themselves and others. Students learn listening styles, emotions, friendship concepts, why conflict happens, and strategies to support conflict management.
Dr Connie Buckingham PhD
Psychologist | Program Author | Researcher | Sessional Lecturer | Speaker
While completing her undergraduate Psychology studies, Connie worked as a Learning Support Officer supporting autistic students within a student-centred, arts-inspired school, an experience that strongly shaped her approach to pedagogy. She later worked as a school psychologist before founding a neuroaffirming multidisciplinary allied health practice supporting families and schools across Victoria for 15 years.
Connie first created Social Stencil in 2008 for an independent Sydney girls’ school to address toxic friendship dynamics and relational aggression. Following promising early outcomes, she commenced a PhD with the University of Melbourne. In 2021, Connie invited Australian neurodiversity-affirming advocates to critically review Social Stencil, leading to a significant redesign and the neurodiversity-affirming program it is today.
Connie continues her academic work with the University of Melbourne as a Research Supervisor and Sessional Lecturer. In 2025, she was awarded the University of Melbourne Arts Alumni Giving Award for bringing neurodiversity-affirming learning to the Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology and Clinical Psychology programs.
Connie works closely with Australian and international schools to further develop Social Stencil through facilitator feedback, co-design, and ongoing research. This process allows Social Stencil to continue evolving alongside schools, facilitators, and contemporary understandings of inclusion and wellbeing.
