This is a Petition to increase funding from the NSW Government for Life Coaching/Mentoring organisations to go into schools and help students with the pressures of school, life and any other problems which they face. The people who will provide the life coaching/mentoring will participate in training conducted by psychologists and councilors, so the life coaches/mentors will be equipped to help the students with any issues, such as anxiety. Once deeper issues have been identified, for example, if a student has suicide tendencies, the life coaching body will contact the relevant body who can provide specific help and treatment for that person. The main life coaching/mentoring body will be in partnerships with other services, which will be able to deal with issues such as: • Bullying • Mental help • Stress & Anxiety • Exclusion • Verbal Abuse • Cyber Bullying • Lack of educational support • Physical violence • Drug abuse • Anger issues This will become an integrated network where all the services will be able to identify a common goal of helping to relieve these factors from students. This program would also cover coaching for aboriginal, Torres Strait islander and refugees. A survey was conducted by the Lake Macquarie Youth Development Officer in 2010 about the issues that young people from years 7- 11 face in Lake Macquarie. 376 students across years 7, 9 & 11 were selected at random to complete the Youth Development Survey. Year 7 totalled 114 students comprising 56 Males and 58 Females. Year 9 totalled 169 students comprising 85 Males and 84 Females. Year 11 totalled 93 students comprising 51 Males and 24 Females. This gave a total of 376 students comprising 192 Males and 184 Females. Some of the main issues faced by the students across all years were: • Bullying 70% • Verbal abuse 68% • Stress & Anxiety 44% • Exclusion 40% • Physical violence 32% • Cyber bullying 33% • Anger issues 29% • Depression and Mental Health 25% It is evident from these figures that this proposed plan needs to be implemented in our schooling systems, to help reduce these figures and provide a better future for our students. I ask for you support.