My Mission
To support schools to lead with wellbeing in mind by strengthening consultation, shared responsibility and strategic decision-making.
My mission is to help leaders create environments where staff feel heard, supported and clear about their role in building a healthy workplace. When wellbeing becomes part of how a school leads, works and communicates, culture shifts in sustainable and meaningful ways.
With a focus on people AND pedagogy, it's my aim to help school staff thrive in both their professional and personal lives, going on to contribute to a positive school culture and influence student outcomes.
The Problem
Schools today are navigating increasing expectations, complex change and rising psychosocial pressures. Leaders are asked to respond to staff wellbeing while also meeting strategic goals, compliance requirements and performance demands.
Without a clear, structured approach, wellbeing can become reactive, fragmented or misunderstood. Staff feel overwhelmed, leaders feel responsible for fixing everything, and meaningful progress becomes difficult to sustain.
Stressed
Unhappy
Burnt Out
Disengaged
The Solution
We put our people first. The solution is not another initiative. It is a more strategic way of leading.
My approach integrates psychosocial safety, leadership practice and staff wellbeing into one clear process. By gathering meaningful staff voice, strengthening shared understanding and prioritising the right actions, schools can reduce preventable stressors while building trust, clarity and sustainable cultural change.
When wellbeing is embedded into everyday leadership, it stops feeling like an extra task and starts becoming part of how a school operates.
My Story
Earlier in my career as a teacher and school leader, I experienced the pressure, overwhelm and expectations that many educators quietly carry.
On the surface everything appeared successful, yet behind the scenes I was navigating chronic stress and burnout.
That period became a turning point. Through my own recovery and professional growth, I began to question the way schools approach wellbeing. I realised that while personal strategies matter, many of the pressures educators face are systemic and require a more strategic response.
This insight transformed the way I led. Instead of focusing only on individual wellbeing, I began embedding consultation, shared responsibility and culture into leadership practice.
The results were powerful. Staff burnout reduced, they felt more engaged and satisfied, collaboration strengthened and wellbeing became part of everyday school life rather than a separate initiative.
Today, I bring that lived experience together with research, data and strategic frameworks to help schools across Australia lead wellbeing differently.
The Stats
Saying I change lives is one thing. Showing you with quantifiable results, is another.
75+
Schools have worked with us in 2022-2026 as part of our School Partnerships and Staff Wellbeing Survey & Data Analysis Projects
8 Years
Of professional health & wellness coaching and consultancy experience in schools
16 Years
Working in Education as a consultant, school leader and/or teacher
Meet the Team
Adrienne Hornby
Director & Wellbeing Consultant
School Leader and Teacher
M.Ed (Leadership) Current, B.Ed (Primary) 2010
Livv Bessant
Executive Assistant
B.A. Sports Science, 2023
Elisa DiRito
Content Manager
B.A.Psychology
Kate Parker
Data Assistant
Teacher
B.Ed (Primary) 2010
Muhammad Abdullah
Data Analyst
M.Sc. - Data Science
Rob Lans
Contributing Wellbeing Consultant
School Principal
B.Ed
BOOK A CALL
Kickstart your school's improvement journey today
Fast-track your schools journey to improving staff wellbeing, school culture and student outcomes with tailored school wellbeing consulting.
Why choose me?
Let’s face the facts. There are a lot of the people out there that call themselves health and wellness consultants. Here’s why I’m different.
Walked the walk
I’m not an external commentator on schools. I’ve lived the pressures of teaching and leadership firsthand. This lived experience allows me to approach psychosocial safety and wellbeing with authenticity, empathy and practical insight grounded in real school contexts.
Actionable advice
My work integrates Positive Psychology, educational leadership research and Safe Work Australia guidance on psychosocial risk management. Schools receive strategic, evidence-informed support that strengthens culture rather than adding surface-level initiatives.
First-hand Experience
As a school leader, I saw how unclear expectations, workload pressures and reactive decision-making impacted staff morale and culture. My approach focuses on better work design, consultation and shared leadership so schools can reduce preventable stressors and build healthier workplaces.
Data-Backed Results
We capture data before and after partnering with schools. The proof is in the numbers - schools who follow our recommendations see lowered reports of burnout, increased perceptions of morale, satisfaction and engagement and improved school culture and endorsement rates.
From Our Clients
A snapshot of just some of the lives I’ve helped turn around.
“The entire staff were engaged in the process and the results and insights were both fascinating and extremely useful to understand and implement.”
“I have had an excellent experience working with Adrienne!
I found the Staff Wellbeing Survey to be a very detailed and a broad-based tool providing staff input on their health and wellness needs.
The entire staff were engaged in the process and the results and insights were both fascinating and extremely useful to understand and implement. The data analysis was extremely insightful, responsive, professional and accommodating.
Not only did it give results but provided realistic recommendations for the development of a solid Wellbeing Action Plan which takes into consideration the unique needs of the staff.”
Val Ciuffetelli
- Assistant Principal, ACT
Adrienne’s survey tools, follow-up reporting, staff workshops and leadership development have opened a whole new perspective, for both my staff and I, on staff wellbeing as being the responsibility of the collective. Adrienne has facilitated the development of a ‘Wellbeing Action Plan’, that is tailored to our staff in our school context, through getting to know and understand how we work and using the PERMA(H) model. Her independent and empathetic ear, partnered with her research, expertise and on-the-ground awareness has been embraced by the entire staff. Our return survey results evidenced growth way beyond my expectations over a 12-month period.
Without reservation, I would highly recommend Adrienne’s Consultancy and guidance. It takes the pressure off the principal to be the one and only. ‘Us and Them’ is now a thing of the past.
Anne
- School Principal
I attended a high quality presentation related to staff wellbeing which Adrienne presented over two days at a conference. She provided a wealth of research-based findings and evidence-backed advice about how to improve schools’ productivity through assisting staff. I highly recommend her as a capable consultant who listens well and walks the talk.
Peter
School Principal
Without a doubt, the most powerful learning staff have done this term.
Adrienne shared her personal journey and supported staff to reflect on ways in which they can change themselves, make wiser choices and harness their potential to improve the quality of their lives and, in turn, those of our students.
It was an incredibly powerful session.
Kate
Deputy Principal, ACT
Our staff were fully engaged in Adrienne’s enjoyable, thought provoking and practical presentation. They each found different things to take away and help them and Adrienne shared a variety of aspects to cater for everyone. Setting her apart were the stories of her own life and how she has overcome many obstacles. Throughout her personal struggles, she found things that worked to keep her positive and she communicated these well. We are excited to explore some of these in more depth with Adrienne throughout next year.
Deb
Principal - Theodore Primary School, ACT
“Adrienne’s manner, organisation, professionalism, knowledge and understanding of staff wellbeing has allowed for positive change in our school community. I have found it the most useful to discuss with staff about big issues and possible actions and solutions for addressing these. These sessions have been so useful in moving forward and meeting the needs of our school. I am looking forward to where our staff wellbeing action plan takes our staff and school.”
Kristy
School Leader, St Clare of Assisi Primary School, ACT
Adrienne has been a blessing in my life. She is always listening and responding, prompting me to think and act in new ways and encourages self-reflection. She sees things from a mature and experienced point of view and backs up her suggestions with evidence and results. I highly recommend Adrienne to those who need advice on any aspect of their health and wellbeing.
Tori
Executive Teacher
Adrienne has worked with our leaders and staff in the professional development space. She is extremely informative and motivating. Her presentations are practical and hands on. I look forward to working with Adrienne again in the near future. I highly recommend her for your individual self or workplace.
Christina H
Deputy Principal, Barmedman Primary School, NSW
Thank you for your friendly and approachable facilitation of our whole school scan. We felt the timing of the session was appropriate and encouraged feedback from each member. The session gives us an overview of feedback to date with time and support to unpack the information for our context. It was so useful to compare our data with other schools to see where we are on our journey. I liked the guidance received to review our data and make connections.
Yvette
Deputy Principal
Adrienne is an excellent facilitator. Her background in Education was evident and very relevant. The gallery walk was an excellent way to unite all staff. It was the best PD I have been to in 10 years! I will be recommending Adrienne’s workshops to my friends in leadership roles.
Chanelle
Teacher
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