Our Beginnings
You Can Do It! Education was founded in the early 1990s by Dr Michael E. Bernard, an educational psychologist and Professor at the University of Melbourne. At the time, he saw how many students struggled not with ability, but with attitudes — self-doubt, fear of failure, lack of persistence.
From this vision, the first YCDI! programs were born, giving students practical strategies to build confidence, resilience, organisation, and positive relationships.
From a Classroom Idea to a Global Program
What began as a small initiative to support senior secondary students soon grew into a nationwide movement. By the late 1990s, YCDI! had spread through primary and early childhood settings, as teachers recognised its value in nurturing wellbeing alongside academic skills.
Word spread internationally, and YCDI! has since been introduced into schools across Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, and beyond, adapting to diverse cultural contexts while staying true to its core mission.
The Keys That Endure
At the centre of YCDI! are the Five Keys to Success: Confidence, Persistence, Organisation, Getting Along, and Resilience. These simple yet powerful skills have guided the program since its beginning and remain the foundation of every curriculum we deliver today.
Honouring Our Founder
YCDI! exists because of the vision and dedication of Dr Michael Bernard. His research in educational and positive psychology helped define what is now recognised globally as social-emotional learning (SEL).
Beyond YCDI!, Dr Bernard has authored numerous books and scholarly works, trained thousands of teachers, and influenced education policy and practice across Australia and internationally. Alongside his wife and collaborator Patricia C. Bernard, he has shaped a legacy that continues to empower students every day.