An article was recently published in the Sydney Morning Herald titled ‘Buttrose says Millennials lack resilience, need hugging.’
The ABC chair was asked to reflect on what makes a good leader, and while she criticised the current political leaders, she said the biggest change and challenge was the makeup of the current workforce – in particular, Millennials. “Younger workers lack resilience and ‘almost need hugging’ for regular reassurance.” Whether you agree with the comments, studies have supported the view that resilience in young Australians is in decline.
Resilience is defined as the ability to bounce back from adversity. It is a necessary skill for coping with the ups and downs of life and one of the key ingredients of success. It is directly related to wellbeing; it is about having the ability to cope with and adapt to new situations. Being resilient and positive, with a sense of wellbeing, enables a person to approach other people and situations with confidence and optimism. This mindset is especially important for students given the enormous changes and challenges they are facing now, and of course, in the future.
As we navigate through uncertain times this year, our students have shown that the worst health crisis in memory is no match for this proud and active generation. When we get through this crisis, I am sure that history will show the world’s young people helped to build a bridge from fear to hope and from confusion to understanding. The courage and resilience of our students gives me confidence that young people can manifest the best in humanity – and that is a light that will shine for generations to come.
"By helping students to develop the skills to build resilience, we can minimise the effects of negative, stressful situations. These skills allow students to face challenges, learn from them, and develop ways to live a happy and healthy life."
— Mr Scott James, Headmaster
Available research suggests that close relationships between children and their parents are known to promote and support positive development and increase levels of resilience, especially for adolescents. Furthermore, positive interactions with teachers and a feeling of being valued and supported at school may also strengthen resilience.
Consequently, it is imperative that high-quality relationships and communication exists between school and home as both are critical aspects of a young person’s resilience.
Mr Scott James, Headmaster
15 October 2026
On Thursday 15 October, we welcomed parents, students and staff to the Great Hall for our Respectful Relationships Education community event, 'Growing Up in the Age of Algorithms'. The evening reflected the School’s commitment to partnering with families on some of the most significant issues facing young people today, creating space for informed discussion, shared learning and meaningful engagement around the challenges and opportunities of life in an increasingly connected digital world.
15 October 2026
Participants of the Knox Leader Development Program recently gathered in the Bryden Room to present their leadership projects and reflect on their development as leaders. It was an inspiring occasion, with staff sharing their vision and purpose, achievements and future goals, leadership journey, and key learnings gained through the process.
08 October 2026
Year 12 student Nathan represented Australia for the third time in the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), travelling to Uzbekistan in Term 3 to compete with hundreds of students from dozens of countries across the globe.
