Anna Ware is recognised as one of Australia’s leading kids anxiety coaches. She combines her background as a primary teacher with advanced training in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) to help children and teenagers manage anxiety in practical and lasting ways. Through her coaching and interactive school incursions she gives children the tools to understand their emotions, calm their minds, and take control of their state.
When children feel anxious in class, on the playground or when refusing to go to school, it is not just about bad mornings. These are signs of something real. Australia is seeing a sharp rise in school refusal and general anxiety among children. Between 2021 and 2022, school attendance rates dropped from about 91 percent to 86.5 percent. The share of students whose attendance was 90 percent or more dropped from 71.2 percent to 49.9 percent. That kind of change makes it clear, many young people are struggling. Read more here.
In addition, a 2024 survey of over 140,000 students across Australia found 27.4 percent of primary school students and 35.9 percent of secondary students, reported high levels of anxiety or depression or both. See full report. These statistics show that anxiety in the school environment is more than occasional worry. It often interrupts learning, damages wellbeing and affects not only children but families and schools.
Anna Ware’s qualifications and experience
Anna Ware is a registered primary teacher who knows how children think, learn, and behave in school. Her experience in classrooms means she understands the pressures children face, from noisy playgrounds to the challenge of sitting still under stress. She also trained as a Master NLP Life Coach through Life Beyond Limits.
NLP or Neuro Linguistic Programming works at the unconscious level to help rewire thinking and emotional response patterns. This is life-changing for many students, as anxiety need not define their classroom behaviour, their willingness to join classmates at recess or their decision to miss school. The limiting beliefs that are shifted through NLP and the confidence and calm that are installed in the unconscious mind mean that the benefits are not limited to specific situation, but carry into friendships, exams, transitions between grades, and even home life, making Anna’s work extremely effective. Her unique combination of skills and qualifications make her the perfect ally to partner with should your child be experiencing anxiety of any kind.
Coaching for kids as a new way forward
Anna Ware offers specialised child anxiety coaching in Australia, supporting children and teenagers who struggle with worry, overwhelm, or school refusal. She works closely with schools and families to deliver personalised one-on-one coaching sessions either online or in person in Sydney, Australia. Each session is about identifying the root cause of a problem and working at the unconscious level to create new neural pathways to form in the brain, which builds confidence and calm at the same time as removing feelings of fear, shame and guilt. Families often notice results quickly, with children showing an improved self-esteem, higher levels of resilience and the ability to handle challenges that once felt overwhelming. Coaching with Anna is not just about reducing anxiety in the moment, but about creating long-lasting change by rewiring patterns at the unconscious level.
Anna also offers powerful one-hour incursions for primary schools that combine education and entertainment in an interactive performance format. These incursions are designed to capture students’ attention while teaching them about what anxiety feels like in the body and how to take charge of their emotional state. Students not only learn to recognise early signs of stress but also practise a variety of calming techniques during the session itself. Teachers appreciate that the incursion links directly to new NSW PDHPE syllabus outcomes while giving students memorable tools they can use immediately. The sessions create a ripple effect, transforming classrooms into calmer, more focused learning environments where children feel empowered to take responsibility for themselves and their emotions.
If you are a parent or educator who has seen the signs of anxiety in a child — in the classroom, on the playground or in the struggle to attend school — it may be time to explore coaching as a support. Anna Ware helps families and schools overcome anxiety with performance incursions and child anxiety coaching. Her unique background as a primary teacher and Master NLP Life Coach gives you fast, practical tools for change. Discover whether coaching could be a strong step for your child calmer, more confident. If you would like to learn more about how she helps schools and families, contact Anna today by booking in a free Strategy Session here.