School Organiser Kit

Everything you need to grow Wait Mate at your school, ready to copy and paste.

Welcome, and thank you

You've committed to waiting until at least Year 7 before giving your child a smartphone. By picking up this kit, you're doing something bigger again: helping other families at your school feel able to do the same.

You don't need to be a campaigner or a confident public speaker. You just need to be a parent or carer willing to make the choice visible and invite others in. This kit gives you the words, the timing and the materials, so your energy goes into people rather than working out what to say.

Everything here is a suggestion. Use your own voice and make it fit your school.

The one idea that makes this work: Strength in Numbers

Most parents and carers who wait on a smartphone don't hold back because they've changed their mind. They hold back because they worry their child will be the only one without a phone.

That worry is what Wait Mate exists to fix. Once families can see others waiting too, being the odd one out stops being the fear, and the choice gets easier for everyone. Every family that commits makes it a little easier for the next.

What families are committing to

Joining Wait Mate means committing to delay a smartphone until at least Year 7. Some families know the exact year they're aiming for. Others want to wait longer but haven't landed on a final year, and that's what still deciding is for: you join now, lock in waiting until at least Year 7, and settle the rest later.

Make one thing clear to your community: still deciding isn't a maybe. Everyone who joins has committed to at least Year 7, still deciding included, and they all count towards your milestones.

Each year group has milestones, so progress is visible:

• Strength in Numbers (20%): one in five families have committed. No family is doing this alone anymore.
• Tipping Point (25%): a quarter have committed. Waiting starts to feel like the norm at your school rather than the exception.

Your role

As an organiser, you have three jobs.

1. Make it visible. Let families know that waiting is a real, backed choice at your school, and that others are already doing it.
2. Make it easy. Share the link, remind people that joining means waiting until at least Year 7, and answer the odd question.
3. Celebrate progress. When your year group hits a milestone, say so. Progress is what pulls others in.

A few notes on tone, which matters more than anything:

• Keep it warm and pressure-free. Still deciding counts the same as any other commitment.
• Talk as a parent, not an advocate. Your own experience is your best argument.
• Celebrate families and milestones, not just numbers.
• Never name or chase families who haven't joined.
• Let the numbers do the persuading.

A simple plan to grow Wait Mate at your school

You don't have to do all of this, or do it at once. Treat it as a path.

1. Start with the allies you already have.

When you committed, Wait Mate connected you with other families in your child's year group who'd committed too. That's your starting group, ready before you've posted anywhere. Say hello. Even a couple of connected families is enough to plan your first move. If someone's hesitant, that helps as well: it tells you which concerns to speak to later.

2. Begin in your own year.

Your class or year group chat is the place to start. Those are the families whose choices most affect your child, and yours affect theirs.

3. Make it easy to say yes.

Share the link and explain that joining means waiting until at least Year 7, with still deciding there for anyone unsure of the exact year.

4. Make progress visible.

Share your school's progress page so people can watch the numbers build.

5. Celebrate every milestone.

Strength in Numbers and Tipping Point posts are the ones people love to share, and they bring in more families than any amount of persuading.

6. Bring in your reps and P&C or P&F.

Once you've got some momentum, class reps and the parent body can help you reach past your own year group.

7. Set the tone for new families.

A warm welcome to incoming families keeps the culture going year on year.

8. (Outside South Australia) Ask your school to host a session.

If there's appetite, raise a Wait Mate information session with your school leadership. There's a ready-to-send email below.

Tailor your message to the year group

What families care about shifts as kids get older, so a tailored message lands better than one size fits all. In the early years, it's about setting a norm before the pressure starts. In upper primary, it's holding the line as the first phones appear. The move from Year 6 to Year 7 is the big one: it's when most families feel the pull to hand over a phone, and where a visible group of committed families counts most. Save your clearest push for the year groups near that transition.

Reaching families beyond the group chats

Chats do most of the work, but plenty of families aren't in them. A few ways to reach further:

Start a dedicated Wait Mate group. The families you were connected with when you committed are the natural seed. Once a few are on board, a separate chat keeps things from getting lost in the class group and gives the movement its own home. See our WhatsApp group guide!

Show up where families gather. A small table at a fete, open day, parents' night or orientation reaches people no message will. Bring the flyer and a QR code to your progress page. You're at these events anyway, so a poster and a friendly chat is enough.

Ask the school to help you be seen. A line in the newsletter, a mention at assembly, or a note in the orientation pack carries weight because it comes from the school, and it's an easy yes to give.

Share it with your own circles. A quick post on your socials or LinkedIn about why your family is waiting can reach parents at other schools. Tag Wait Mate and they can reshare.

Optional, light touch: some organisers find a little friendly encouragement between nearby schools motivating, like noticing when a neighbouring school hits a milestone. Keep it warm rather than competitive. The point is to show this is happening everywhere, not to make waiting a scoreboard.

If you hit a wall

Not every school or parent body will come on board at once, and not everyone will say yes. That's normal, and it's not a sign it won't work. If official channels stall, start with the people you know and let them reach their own circles. What surprises most organisers is how often a quiet message is met with relief, some version of "thank you, I'm so glad I'm not the only one." Those are the families you're doing this for.

Copy-and-paste resources

Placeholders are in [square brackets]. Swap them for your details before sending.

1. Introduce Wait Mate to your class or year group chat

Hi everyone 👋 A few of you know we've decided to wait before giving our kids a smartphone, and we've joined Wait Mate. It's a lot easier to wait when you know other families are too.

Joining means committing to wait until at least Year 7. Want to wait but not sure which year you're aiming for? Join as "still deciding" and lock it in while you make up your mind. Either way, you're in: [link]

Even a handful of us makes a real difference for the whole [Year X] group. Happy to answer any questions.

2. Gentle follow-up (about a fortnight later)

Quick one on Wait Mate 🙂 We're now at [X%] of [Year X] families committed to waiting until at least Year 7. If you've been meaning to and haven't yet, here's the link again: [link]

Not sure which year you're aiming for? Join now as "still deciding" and settle it later.

3. Email to other parents in your year group

Chats reach families who are active in them; an email reaches the whole year group. If you have a class list or directory, this is one of the quickest ways to build early numbers. Keep it short and warm.

Subject: A simple way we're supporting each other on smartphones

Hi everyone,

I'm [your name], parent of [child] in [Year X]. A few of us have joined something called Wait Mate. It helps families support each other to wait before giving our kids a smartphone, by committing to wait until at least Year 7 and seeing how many of us are doing the same.

It's much easier to wait when you know you're not the only one. When you join, you're connected straight away with other [Year X] families who've committed.

To add your family, or to join as "still deciding" if you're unsure of the exact year, here's the link: [link]. You can see how our year group is tracking here: [school progress page link].

No pressure at all, and happy to answer any questions.

Thanks, [Your name]

Privacy note: only use contact details people have agreed to share, and BCC everyone so you're not exposing addresses. No class list? Ask your class reps or parent body to forward it for you.

4. Email to school leadership (to request a parent session)

Especially useful outside South Australia, where sessions are parent-led.

Subject: A quick idea from a parent: supporting families to delay smartphones

Dear [Principal / Deputy name],

I'm a parent at [School Name] ([your child's year group]), writing with a small idea that could support our school community.

A growing number of families here are choosing to delay a smartphone for their kids, and many more say they'd like to wait but worry their child will be the only one. A national initiative called Wait Mate helps school communities support each other to do this, by letting families make a shared commitment and see they're not alone. It could support student wellbeing alongside the school's own efforts, and it stays entirely parent-led.

Would [School Name] be open to hosting a Wait Mate information session for interested parents and carers? It's free. Wait Mate welcomes a donation from schools that can contribute, with no expectation where that isn't possible.

It's low-effort for the school. Sessions can run in person (which works best) or online, or a parent from our community can present using slides and notes Wait Mate provides. I'm happy to coordinate whichever suits.

Could we have a quick chat about it? I'll work around whatever suits the school.

Warm regards, [Your name] [Your child's year group or class] [Contact details]

5. Message to your P&C / P&F or class reps

Hi all, flagging something a few of us have started at [School Name]. It's called Wait Mate, and it helps families support each other to wait before giving kids a smartphone. Families add a commitment (or mark still deciding) and we can watch our school's progress build.

We're at [X%] in [Year X] so far. If any of you would share it in your own year group chats, I'd really appreciate it. Here's the link: [link], and our progress page: [school progress page link]. Happy to send wording if that helps.

6. Regular progress update

👋 [Year X] Wait Mate update: we're at [X%] of families committed to waiting until at least Year 7. Thanks to everyone who's joined. Not yet? Here's the link: [link] (and if you're keen but unsure which year, join as "still deciding").

See how the whole school is tracking here: [school progress page link]

7. Milestone celebration messages

Strength in Numbers (20%)

🎉 Big moment: [Year X] at [School Name] has reached Strength in Numbers! One in five families in our year group have committed to waiting until at least Year 7.

This is the whole point of Wait Mate: no family is doing this alone anymore. To join them: [link] (choose "still deciding" if you're unsure of the exact year).

Tipping Point (25%)

🚀 [Year X] has reached the Tipping Point! A quarter of our families are now committed to waiting until at least Year 7.

At this level, waiting starts to feel like the norm rather than the exception, and the whole year group benefits. Thank you, [Year X] families 💙 Here's the link if you'd still like to add yours: [link]

8. Welcome message for new families

Welcome to [School Name]! One thing you'll notice: a lot of our families are choosing to wait until at least Year 7 before giving their kids a smartphone, and we back each other to do it through Wait Mate.

No pressure at all, but if it's something you've been thinking about, you're in good company. Find out more and see our school's progress here: [link]

9. Responding to hesitation

Some families will be unsure, and that's fine. You don't need to win a debate; a warm, honest reply beats a perfect argument. A few to adapt:

"But my child needs a phone to contact me."

Totally get it, safety matters. The commitment is about smartphones specifically, not staying in touch. Plenty of families here use a basic phone or a smartwatch for calls and messages. Happy to share what's worked for others.

"Isn't it too late, my child already has one?"

Not at all, and you're very welcome. Some families use Wait Mate as a moment to reset how a phone's used, others commit for a younger sibling. Wherever you're at, being part of the group still helps shift things for everyone.

"I don't want my child to be left out."

That's the exact worry Wait Mate is built for. The more of us who wait together, the less any one child is the odd one out. That's why watching our numbers grow matters.

"I'm not sure I can commit to Year 7."

No need to have it all worked out. Join as "still deciding", which locks in waiting until at least Year 7 while you take your time on the exact year. You're still part of the group and still count towards our milestones.

Acknowledge the concern first, share what's worked for other families, and never make anyone feel judged for where they're at.

Recommended communication cadence

The most common mistake is messaging too often; peer groups switch off fast. Fewer, warmer, well-timed messages beat a steady stream.

A rhythm that works:

• When you start: one clear intro message, and share your progress page.
• First few weeks: one gentle follow-up, about a fortnight on.
• Ongoing: a light update once a month is plenty.
• Milestones: celebrate every Strength in Numbers and Tipping Point. These are the messages people enjoy, so don't hold back.
• Start of term: a brief "here's where we're at" to keep it front of mind.
• Enrolment and orientation season (Term 4 into Term 1): send the welcome message to new families so the culture carries over.

If in doubt, send less, and make what you send warm and specific.

Setting the tone for a lasting culture

The aim isn't a burst of sign-ups. It's a school where waiting on smartphones feels ordinary, and where each new cohort inherits that.

Two habits do most of the work:

Keep sharing your progress page. Visible, growing numbers are the most persuasive thing you have. Put the link in your monthly update, your milestone posts and your welcomes, and let people watch it build.

Welcome every new family. New families won't know waiting is "the done thing" here unless someone tells them, warmly and without pressure. One friendly message at orientation or the start of the year beats months of persuading later. Use the welcome message above, and ask your class reps to send it to families new to their year group.

Printable assets

Copy the wording below into your flyer and poster templates, or pass it to whoever handles your printed materials. Add your school's Wait Mate link and a QR code where marked.

Flyer copy

Waiting on a smartphone? You're not alone. Families at [School Name] are choosing to wait, together.

It can feel hard to delay giving your child a smartphone when it seems like everyone else has one. Wait Mate helps families at our school support each other to wait until at least Year 7, by making a shared commitment and seeing how many others are doing the same. The more families who join, the easier it is for all of us.

How it works:

1. Visit [link] or scan the code
2. Commit to waiting until at least Year 7 (or choose "still deciding" if you're not yet sure exactly which year)
3. Watch our school's progress grow

No pressure, no judgement. Just families backing each other in. [QR code] · [link]

Or download a ready-made A5 flyer below.

Promo tiles

These can be shared via WhatsApp, email or in your school newsletter.

Poster copy

Wait, together.

Delaying smartphones is easier when we do it as a community.

Commit to waiting until at least Year 7 at [School Name]. Scan to join, or to see how our school is tracking.

[QR code]

Not sure exactly which year? Join as "still deciding". Every family counts. Wait Mate

Or download a ready-made A4 poster below.

A4 Wait Mate flyer - green background.

A4 Wait Mate flyer - white background.

Hosting a Wait Mate parent session

In South Australia, Wait Mate reaches all parents and carers of school-aged children through a government-funded rollout. Everywhere else, it grows because parents and carers like you lead it in their own schools. That gives you one extra move: a Wait Mate parent session. It reaches families who aren't in the class chats and shows that the school backs the choice.

Sessions are free. Wait Mate welcomes a donation from schools that can contribute, with no expectation where that isn't possible.

Three ways to run one, whichever suits your school:

• In person (preferred). The most effective format, and the easiest for building connection and answering questions in the room.
• Online. A good option when getting everyone together in person is hard. More flexible, still worthwhile.
• Parent presents. Want to lead it yourself? Wait Mate provides slides and speaking notes so you can present with confidence, no experience needed.

Whichever format you choose, it's worth pairing the session with a wellbeing voice. Many schools have a psychologist or wellbeing team who can talk about healthy technology habits, and Wait Mate can then introduce the community side as a practical way for families to act together. It makes for a warmer evening and takes some load off you.

Use the leadership email above (resource 4) to open the conversation. Keep the ask easy for the school, offer to coordinate the details, and note that the session is free and flexible on format.

Not ready for a session yet? No problem. The year group and class chat approach on its own is plenty to reach a tipping point.

If you're presenting it yourself

What makes a parent-led session work:

• Keep it personal. Your own reasons for waiting beat any slide. Lead with why this matters to your family.
• Let other parents talk. The best moments come from families sharing their own experience, not from you presenting at them.
• Keep it short and warm. A quick walk through the idea, a look at your progress page, and time for questions is plenty.
• A small turnout is still a win. Even a few families leaving with shared purpose sets off momentum in the chats afterwards.
• Stick to what the evidence says. The Wait Mate slides and notes are written to be honest about the research. Follow them rather than reaching for bigger claims. Warm and credible beats alarming.

Questions, or after more support? Get in touch.