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Raising Healthy Minds app

An app for parents and caregivers, and health professionals and educators to help support a child’s social and emotional wellbeing from 0 to 12 years of age.
It is intended for an Australian audience but is useful for New Zealand whānau too.

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Raising Healthy Minds app	By Raising Children Network
	Features Reminders. Introductory video. Notifications, reminders and practical tips tailored to the age of the child. Parenting toolbox. Education and information.
Country of origin	Australia
Clinical review	Read a clinical review below.
Security and privacy	Does the app: Collect medical information?No Require a login? Yes Have password protection? Yes Have a privacy policy? Yes Require internet access to use? Yes Read more about safety and security when using apps. Brochures: Tips to improve your privacy and security [PDF, 65 KB] Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ Staying safe online(external link) Netsafe, NZ
Cost	Free
Advertisements	This app contains no ads.
How to get the app	(external link) (external link) (external link)

This app provides free, reliable up-to-date and independent information to help support a child’s (0-12 years) social and emotional wellbeing from birth to pre-teen. It covers topics about child wellbeing, emotions and behaviours and how a family can play a positive role in their child’s development. It also has information about how parents can look after themselves.

The app has a short video explaining how to get the most out of the app (read, watch, listen, explore, and tips).
By adding a child’s profile, you can get notifications of information, reminders and practical tips tailored to the age of the child.
There is a search bar to connect you to the topics you want to see.
There is also a browse to explore function at the bottom of the screen.
The app addresses 5 main areas – child wellbeing, emotions, behaviour, you and your family and a parenting toolbox link to support available in your state (Australia).
Users can add favourites and save information pages to the section: 'my reading list area'.

For the complete app description go to the app website(external link), Google Play(external link), App Store(external link) or, for a more detailed review, see reviews below.

PROS	CONS
✔ This mental health app has an extensive list of information topics you can explore. They're listed in alphabetical order under each of the 5 areas (with a small motif design) including child wellbeing, emotions, behaviour, you and your family, and a parenting toolbox link to support available in your (Australian) state. ✔ Basic home screen page with ability to ask questions, swipe to see more information, a reading list section and how to use this app link. At the bottom of the home page are the tabs for home, explore and more. ✔ When exploring a topic such as holidays with children, there is a written explanation of the topic and some related topics and areas to explore further. On the left-hand side of the other topics is a small motif that shows which of the five areas it relates too. In this instance the options are you and your family, or emotions. By clicking on the emotion option, the gift of gratitude progresses onto a short, animated video and opportunities and ideas or practical tips to try. ✔ Information is categorised into an age range, eg, 3 to 5, 5 to 8, 9 to 12. ✔ There are links to support services and numbers in Australia. ✔ There is a feedback option for the information provided, indicating whether it was helpful or not. ✔ There are links to related topics, for example in exploring holidays with children you can click on a motif to access information about wellbeing or you and your family.	✘ The limitation for New Zealand is that the app is designed for an Australian audience and support number links and toolbox links relate to Australia. ✘ There is a lot of static information to navigate through and limited interactive content. ✘ It may not look visually appealing with large areas of white in the background. ✘ It takes time to set up an account and login.

PROS

CONS

✔ This mental health app has an extensive list of information topics you can explore. They're listed in alphabetical order under each of the 5 areas (with a small motif design) including child wellbeing, emotions, behaviour, you and your family, and a parenting toolbox link to support available in your (Australian) state.

✔ Basic home screen page with ability to ask questions, swipe to see more information, a reading list section and how to use this app link. At the bottom of the home page are the tabs for home, explore and more.

✔ When exploring a topic such as holidays with children, there is a written explanation of the topic and some related topics and areas to explore further. On the left-hand side of the other topics is a small motif that shows which of the five areas it relates too. In this instance the options are you and your family, or emotions. By clicking on the emotion option, the gift of gratitude progresses onto a short, animated video and opportunities and ideas or practical tips to try.

✔ Information is categorised into an age range, eg, 3 to 5, 5 to 8, 9 to 12.

✔ There are links to support services and numbers in Australia.

✔ There is a feedback option for the information provided, indicating whether it was helpful or not.

✔ There are links to related topics, for example in exploring holidays with children you can click on a motif to access information about wellbeing or you and your family.

✘ The limitation for New Zealand is that the app is designed for an Australian audience and support number links and toolbox links relate to Australia.

✘ There is a lot of static information to navigate through and limited interactive content.

✘ It may not look visually appealing with large areas of white in the background.

✘ It takes time to set up an account and login.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Frances King, Tuturu Consultancy Ltd, Tairawhiti
Date of review: January 2025
Platform: Android. It is available on Apple and has a QR Code on the website to download the app.
Comments: Raising Healthy Minds is a useful app for parents and caregivers, and health professionals and educators to help support a child’s (0-12 years) social and emotional wellbeing from birth to pre-teen. Although the app is intended for an Australian audience, there are many elements and features that are useful for a New Zealand audience. The app has an extensive list of information topics you can explore. These are listed in alphabetical order under each of the 5 areas (with a small motif design) including child wellbeing, emotions, behaviour, you and your family and a parenting toolbox link to support available in your state. Information is categorised into an age range, eg, 3 to 5, 5 to 8, 9 to 12 years.

Overall the app is a great pocket resource with an ability to ask questions or type in your thoughts, or you can explore topics to support a child’s social and emotional wellbeing.

Safety concerns: No, there is an extensive statement of intent, terms and conditions and privacy policy of the app. It includes the collection of data, sharing of data, links with third parties, and closing of accounts information held in the app.
This app has been developed with parents for parents (80 families across Australia) with the help of subject matter experts and list of contributors including named:
topic advisory experts

a steering group
an advisory reference group
and consumer organisations and a consumer reference group.

You need an email address to create an account, this is also used for communication from the Raising Children Network.
New Zealand relevance: The limitation for New Zealand is that the app is designed for an Australian audience and support number links and toolbox links relate to Australia.

Consumer guide – how to choose a health app
Clinicians guide – how to choose a health app
Mental health apps for teenagers and young people
New Zealand-based apps
NZ Health App Library

Disclaimer: The NZ Health App Library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly.