IMPACT is a flexible, scientifically-grounded capacity-building program – built to grow thriving people and communities.
IMPACT delivers locally meaningful outcomes through three core features.
This page is dedicated to unpacking the “three core features”, bringing focus to the following:
- IMPACT features (summary graphic).
- Feature 1: Meta-cognitive competency system.
- Feature 2: Flexible service suite.
- Feature 3: Authentic real-world strategies.
IMPACT Features
Detailed Summary Graphic
Click image to download pdf version.
Feature 1
Meta-Cognitive Competency System
At the heart of the IMPACT Program lies the Meta-Cognitive Competency System—the central hub where the foundational sciences of wellbeing, trauma, and intentional practice are mapped, integrated and organised into a cohesive, actionable framework.
This system represents the core intelligence of the IMPACT program. It brings together decades of best-practice science that guides the growth of (1) awareness, (2) skills and (3) mindsets across of the program.
By mapping and integrating best-practice science, the Meta-Cognitive Competency System serves as both:
The engine room for the Common Skills Framework.
The foundation for the 5-Tier Accreditation roadmap that that scaffolds trainee growth.
In practice, this means that every IMPACT strategy, tool and training experience is underpinned by a shared meta-cognitive foundation.
Common Skills Framework
All IMPACT content is deconstructed, clearly defined and aligned to a competency framework mapped to the seven core IMPACT meta-cognitive skills.
They underpin all IMPACT outcomes, drive the flexible service suite and guide contextualised strategies.
They also operationalise the program’s self-assessment and evaluation framework, representing the immediate growth intent for participants undertaking an accredited IMPACT workshop.
5-Tier Accreditation
IMPACT has a 5-Tier Accreditation system which is supported by a Learning Management System and resource portal titled: IMPACT Online.
1. IMPACT Trainee
Every trainee or participant who enrolls on IMPACT Online is automatically assigned this level.
There are no formal accreditation tasks for this level.
In 2026, this accreditation will be associated with resources linked to the Explorer service step.
2. IMPACT Foundations
This is the recommended baseline accreditation for any school, agency, program or community. It provides the foundational content on trauma, growth action planning, intentional practice, What-What-How® and how to grow and support others in a wellbeing and trauma-responsive manner.
It equips and empowers caregivers, educators, supporting adults, practitioners and leaders with the shared language, knowledge, skills, and methods to:
- Deliver trauma-informed, wellbeing-responsive support as a way of thinking and being.
- Understand client complexity and the underlying why of behaviour.
- Respond to client needs rather than react to surface behaviours.
- Intentionally grow client capacity in a personalised way.
- Provide intentional, moment-to-moment care and support.
- Apply side-by-side What-What-How® Growth Action Planning.
- Partner with clients, colleagues and others with shared intent.
There accreditation tasks are as follows:
- 1-Day IMPACT Foundations (workshop contextualised to community – see below).
- 90-minute coaching module: Grounded.
- 90-minute coaching module: Respond to Need.
- 90-minute coaching module: Growth Action Planning.
- 3-hour online self-paced workshop: Trauma-Responsive Practice as a Way of Thinking and Being.
All of the detailed accreditation tasks and competencies summarised on the Foundations service step.
**Where negotiated with the community, in some instances the 2-Day IMPACT Respond Rather Than React workshop is delivered in replacement of:
- 1-Day IMPACT Foundations.
- 90-minute coaching module: Grounded.
- 90-minute coaching module: Respond to Need.
- 90-minute coaching module: Growth Action Planning.
Trainees have increased level of online resources on IMPACT Online.
3. IMPACT Advanced
Participants develop the awareness to take the IMPACT content to advanced or more complex layers, and learn to apply intentional coaching conversations across their supporting adult role.
2-Day IMPACT Advanced (Intentional Coaching)
A two-day advanced IMPACT workshop held publicly in Adelaide or within a community location.
The learning competencies or growth intent is that trainees develop the awareness and skills to:
- Develop deeper ‘under the surface’ picture using the descriptors of (1) awareness, (2) skills and (3) mindsets.
- Develop a ‘growth intent’ using the building blocks descriptors of (1) feelings, (2) awareness, (3) skills and (4) mindsets.
- Conduct moment-to-moment trauma-responsive practices, and be able to articulate one’s intent within communication to others.
- Conduct intentional coaching conversations, drawing upon both implicit and explicit strategies.
- Independently develop a non-clinical Growth Action Plans (What-What-How®) that is personalised to a client’s individual needs and context.
- Take a leadership role in the development of a shared intent with both clients and others in growth or wellbeing planning and reflective practices.
Trainees have increased level of online resources on IMPACT Online.
4. IMPACT Coach
IMPACT Coaches are local community champions who are activators of growth and change within their community, supporting their community to intentionally apply IMPACT. They have key role for schools, programs, organisations and agencies embedding IMPACT content.
IMPACT Coach Self-Paced Online Process
A 4-5 hour self-paced online workshop (through IMPACT Online) that is designed to consolidate the Advanced IMPACT content into action.
The learning competencies or growth intent is that the community champion develops the awareness, skills and confidence to:
- Take a lead role in the design, review and implementation of a non-clinical Growth Action Plans within their community.
- Incrementally take more and more IMPACT content to the “apply-it” and “coach-it” roles.
- Conduct intentional coaching conversations, and drawing upon explicit resources and modules within the learning process.
- Be a local community champion in the intentional and incremental embedding of IMPACT content within the community.
IMPACT Coaches are local community champions who are activators of growth and change within their community.
They are trained and accredited to intentionally bring IMPACT into everyday coaching conversations and side-by-side support across their community.
IMPACT Coaches are local capacity builders, empowering communities to sustainable embed IMPACT as a shared way of thinking and being.
They have full access to an online resource hub of modules, tools, and resources that enable them to translate IMPACT into meaningful local action.
For further information, see IMPACT Coach manual.
5. IMPACT Trainers
IMPACT Trainers are accredited local members who formally train and coach others within their schools, agencies, programs or communities to achieve the IMPACT Foundations accreditation.
As recognised leaders and capacity builders, IMPACT Trainers play a vital role in leading and empowering communities to sustainably embed IMPACT as a shared way of thinking and being.
There are two accreditation tasks.
Pre-Workshop Reflection and Coaching
A 4-5 hour self-paced pre-workshop tasks that include the delivery of 2 x coaching modules to local community and a self-assessment.
1-Day Familiarisation Workshop
A one-day workshop in Adelaide or as arranged with community.
The learning competencies or growth intent is that the IMPACT Trainer develops the awareness, skills and confidence to:
- Deliver the 1-Day IMPACT Foundations workshops within their community, in a manner where they can make IMPACT content practical and translatable for their context.
- Lead and guide IMPACT capacity building processes in their community.
Progressing beyond the IMPACT Coach role, trainers gain access to an expanded suite of online resources, training materials and facilitation tools.
For further information, see IMPACT Trainer Manual.
Feature 2
Flexible Service Suite
IMPACT offers a flexible suite of services, supported by hybrid implementation model that blends online and face-to-face delivery. There are five elements of this service suite.
1. Accredited IMPACT Training
IMPACT is grounded in a competency-based accreditation framework that scaffolds both individual and collective growth. Participants progress through defined accreditation levels, moving from “learn it and live it” to “apply it and coach it.”
Each level builds capacity and confidence, empowering community members not only to apply IMPACT principles in their own practice but also to guide and coach others in embedding these strategies across teams and systems.
2. AI-Activated Embedding Tools (Launching 2026)
Beginning in 2026, a suite of AI-powered planning and content tools will provide new ways to embed IMPACT efficiently and intelligently. These tools will enable accredited community members to:
Quickly apply core IMPACT content to their context.
Access personalised prompts, planning aides and reflective tools.
Deepen understanding and strengthen the local impact of their work.
This innovation represents the next step in IMPACT’s ongoing evolution—merging technology with human oversight to make embedding faster and more efficient and contextual.
3. Resources and Curriculum
A continually expanding online resource library provides easy access to a wide range of implementation supports, including:
Fact sheets and templates.
Videos and practical tools.
Assessment aides and reflective exercises.
Coaching modules and case studies.
Each resource is mapped to accreditation levels and designed to assist local application, ensuring that teams can move confidently from learning to sustained practice.
4. Specialist Workshops and Coaching Modules
These targeted professional development activities respond directly to local needs, priorities and capacity. In the embedding service step their intent is co-designed with the community. They focus on introducing and deepening IMPACT content to specialist and advanced applications.
By working collaboratively, each community co-creates its own implementation pathway—ensuring alignment between IMPACT content and local goals.
5. Online Learning Management System (LMS)
The centralised IMPACT LMS, titled IMPACT Online, serves as the digital hub for all learning, accreditation and resource access. It enables trainees and community members to:
Track workshops and modules completed.
View next steps in their accreditation journey.
Access learning materials aligned with their level of training.
The LMS provides a seamless connection between learning, application and ongoing professional growth.
Feature 3
Authentic Real-World Strategies
IMPACT content and methods have been intentionally designed, refined and tested to ensure relevance and effectiveness across diverse real-world contexts. Every element—from program materials and workbooks to workshop design and delivery—has been carefully contextualised to align to different settings and communities.
A defining feature and point of difference of the IMPACT Program is its genuine embrace of complexity and contextualisation. It begins with a simple but profound understanding: every individual and community is unique, shaped by distinct histories, needs, strengths and circumstances. IMPACT is designed to meet people where they are, cultivating deep awareness of both individual and collective contexts as the foundation for meaningful growth. The What-What-How® and Learn-It, Live-It, Apply-It, Coach-It, Train-It capacity building cycle (see below) bring this alive in action.
Collectively, this enables the IMPACT Program to deliver authentic, locally meaningful outcomes across:
What-What-How®
The What-What-How® sits at the heart of the IMPACT Program, serving as the central mechanism through which authentic, real-world strategies are both developed and sustained. Throughout their IMPACT journey, trainees and communities are coached and resourced in the diverse ways the What-What-How® can be applied and embedded.
As a unifying strategy, it provides a consistent framework that enables the IMPACT approach to be implemented in ways that are both accessible and deeply sophisticated. Whether guiding individual reflection or driving systemic change, the What-What-How® ensures high awareness is brought to all work, including intent and actions.
Core Applications of the What-What-How®
The What-What-How® underpins several key tools and processes within the IMPACT Program:
Documented Growth Action Plan – a collaborative planning tool that empowers communities to establish a shared intent around growth and collective support. (Introduced and applied at the Foundations level.)
Wellbeing Tool – a reflective and decision-making framework that activates the core skills and competencies associated with wellbeing and self-regulation. (Introduced and applied at the Foundations level.)
Coaching Framework – a structured approach to guide the intent, process and outcomes of coaching conversations and strategic planning. (Applied and extended at the Advanced Accreditation level.)
Sustained Embedding and Impact
A key intent of the IMPACT Program is to enable each participating team, school, program, agency or community to identify a sustainable point of embedding for the What-What-How®. This ensures that the framework becomes a living scaffold for growth, supporting the incremental and authentic integration of deeper and more specialised layers of the IMPACT methodology over time.
Learn-It, Live-It, Apply-It, Coach-It, Train-It
The IMPACT Capacity-Building Cycle
A key element of IMPACT is the “Learn-It, Live-It, Apply-It, Coach-It, Train-It” capacity-building cycle. This cycle provides a clear and practical roadmap for how individuals and communities grow their capability and confidence over time. It reflects a gradual, supported shift from learning to ownership, and from understanding to sustained practice.
- Learn It – Community members are introduced to the core science and principles of wellbeing, resilience, growth, and trauma-responsive practice. They begin by building shared knowledge and language across the team or community.
- Live It – Individuals start to personalise and internalise the content—making sense of it in their own language, roles, and experiences. This phase is about walking the talk: applying the ideas to self and team before extending them to others.
- Apply It – Community members begin to use the IMPACT concepts and tools in their daily work—whether that’s in classrooms, leadership practice, family engagement, or service delivery. The focus is on consistent, visible application.
- Coach It – With growing confidence, participants start to intentionally coach others—students, colleagues, or families—through guided, side-by-side conversations. This helps strengthen relational practice and embed IMPACT principles more deeply.
- Train It – Finally, community members are able to explicitly train or lead others in the IMPACT approach, sharing expertise and supporting broader community reach and sustainability.
How the Cycle Guides Implementation
This cycle shapes the intent and focus of implementation either delivered by a LBI Community Lead or local IMPACT Coach or Trainer. It provides a shared framework to reflect on:
What is currently happening in the community’s learning and practice.
What is most important to focus on next to build momentum and confidence.
In practice, early capacity-building work focuses on the “Learn-It” and “Live-It” phases—helping individuals and teams to understand, own, and connect with the IMPACT content. Over time, communities progress into the “Apply-It” and “Coach-It” stages, where practice becomes more visible, shared, and intentional.
IMPACT and its Depth
IMPACT Intent and Outcomes
IMPACT Three Key Features
IMPACT Science and Development
IMPACT Point of Difference
Community Case Studies
