Hugh van Cuylenburg: Founder of The Resilience Project

Hugh van Cuylenburg is an educator, public speaker, bestselling author, and the co-founder of The Resilience Project, an Australian initiative focused on gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness. For over 17 years, he worked in schools around Australia, teaching students in primary and secondary schools. After a fulfilling teaching career, he launched his wellbeing program, which has since reached more than 100,000 students, as well as elite sporting teams and major corporations nationwide. In this article, we explore Hugh’s journey, The Resilience Project, and why so many Aussies connect with his work.

The trip to India that changed everything

It all started with a life-transforming trip to India. Culturally immersed in the colours and contrasts, the journey offered a new lens—changing mindsets, sparking inspiration, and leading to the kernel of what would become a transformational journey. That single trip wasn’t just memories; it changed purpose and direction permanently.

The birth of The Resilience Project

Launched in 2010, The Resilience Project has become one of the top wellbeing education programs in Australia, reaching over 500,000 students a year, as well as parents, educators, and elite athletes.

The three pillars of The Resilience Project:

• Gratitude – Helping people focus on what they have rather than what they don’t.
• Empathy – Developing emotional intelligence through kindness and compassion.
• Mindfulness – Training the mind to be present, reducing stress, and increasing calm.

The program combines psychology research and medical research with storytelling to engage its intended audience, presented in a way that is useful in classrooms, sports clubs, or workplaces. Hugh has been able to achieve a framework that sticks, especially for the Australian culture, where simplicity and authenticity are important values. 

Why Australians connect with Hugh van Cuylenburg 

Hugh speaks with a genuine, down-to-earth Aussie voice. He is open, sharing the struggles of people in his life – his sister with anorexia, his mental health issues – and does not attempt to have all the answers. This vulnerability makes him relatable.

He also delivers humour into his presentations, enabling the audience to stay engaged while discussing heavy topics. It is this same mix of insight and humility that makes his podcast, The Imperfects, one of Australia’s most listened-to mental health podcasts. 

Hugh’s impact and achievements

• Founder of The Resilience Project: Hugh van Cuylenburg started this unique mental health program to educate about simple and effective strategies regarding gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness (GEM).
• Worked with thousands of schools: His educational program has been implemented in over 1,000 schools across Australia so that students, teachers, and staff can develop emotional literacy and resilience.
• Work with professional sports teams: Hugh has delivered programs to hundreds of first-class elite teams in the AFL, NRL, and cricket in Australia, including the Australian cricket team, to demonstrate how mental fitness can improve performance.
• Bestselling author: His books, The Resilience Project and Let Go, are instant best sellers, selling out quickly. Each book offers practical tools to build resilience using the art of storytelling and personalisation.
• Popular speaker and podcaster: Hugh launched the podcast The Imperfects with his mates Josh and Ryan, where they explore vulnerability and the process of growth through conversations with guests from all corners of Aussie life, helping mental health become part of everyday yarns.

Hugh’s influence on Australian education

Hugh van Cuylenburg has made a significant impact on Australian schools through his work with The Resilience Project, which encourages emotional literacy, gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness. As a result of Hugh’s engaging presentations and school programs, thousands of students have been able to improve their mental health and well-being. This work has empowered teachers and students alike to develop resilience, manage stress, and create more positive learning environments all across Australia. 

The success of The Imperfects podcast

Outside of his live presentations and books, Hugh joins his brother Josh and comedian Ryan Shelton in hosting The Imperfects—a candid, often cheeky podcast that Aussies have wholeheartedly embraced. The podcast comprises raw conversations with prominent Australians, including athletes, comedians, and entrepreneurs, where guests discuss their own battles with a range of mental health issues.

The authenticity of their conversations has contributed to normalising that nobody has it all together – and that no one has nailed the perfect human experience. It’s grown into one of the country’s favourite go-to podcasts for honest convos around mental health. 

Personal life and public transparency

Hugh lives in Melbourne with his wife and two children. He has openly shared personal experiences, including parenting a child with autism and his decision to quit alcohol and reduce screen time. These candid reflections have resonated with many Australians and sparked important conversations about modern parenthood and mental health.

While his openness has received praise, it has also prompted discussion in neurodiverse communities, especially around how autism is framed in public narratives. Nevertheless, Hugh continues to advocate for honest, respectful dialogue.

How to engage with the resilience project 

If you are in Australia and want to embrace Hugh’s message or put The Resilience Project into action, here are a few ways to support work: 

• For schools: Access the Education Program that includes curriculum resources, student journals, and teacher support.
• For workplaces: Book keynote sessions or digital modules to support staff wellbeing.
• For individuals: Purchase the Resilience Journal or tune into The Imperfects podcast.
• Follow along on socials: Hugh’s Insta and The Resilience Project’s page are packed with daily inspo, real-life stories, and all the latest updates to keep you feeling grounded and uplifted.

Final thoughts 

In a time where many Australians are facing anxiety, burnout, and disconnection, Hugh van Cuylenburg’s work stands out as profound, clear, and uncomplicated. He draws upon humanity’s basics—connection, reflection, and kindness—to better understand mental health without an undue level of complexity. 

Whether you are a parent, teacher, student, athlete, or simply someone looking for more balance in life, Hugh van Cuylenburg’s message appeals to everyone.