A Breath-Based Early Prevention Charity

Building the Next
Generation of
Calm Kids.

Because the way children breathe directly shapes their emotional, mental and physical wellbeing.

Early prevention is suicide prevention. ♥

Alex, in whose memory The Big AL Foundation was created
In memory of Alex ♥
The heart behind everything we do.
ACNCRegistered
Australian
Charity

“You are changing the way a whole generation of children will understand their breath.”

Parent, Little Breathers Workshop

The science behind the calm

The way children breathe
changes everything.

Here’s what most people don’t know — and very few are talking about. When children breathe the way their bodies are designed to, something profound happens to their nervous system, their emotions, and their capacity to learn. Studies show that around 50% of children shift to mouth breathing by age 5 — affecting their sleep, focus and emotional regulation.

The nervous system settles

Nose breathing through the diaphragm — slow and deep — activates the calm response and signals safety to the body and the mind.

The body feels safe

This is functional breathing — when children breathe this way, their bodies operate from a foundation of emotional, mental and physical wellbeing.

Children live from rest & digest

Instead of fight or flight. Calm becomes their natural state — not something children have to find, but something they can remember.

Scientifically proven to impact

♥ Emotional regulation ♥ Focus & behaviour ♥ ADHD & anxiety ♥ Sleep & wellbeing ♥ Jaw & teeth alignment ♥ Long-term development

We are seeing dysregulation earlier and earlier in children. The missing piece is breath — and it is completely teachable.

Calm isn’t something children need to find. It’s something they need to remember.

The Big AL Foundation exists to close the gap. Because early prevention is suicide prevention. ♥

What We Do

Our Programmes

We meet children, parents and educators where they are — in schools, in communities, and at home.

Little Breathers workshop

Little Breathers

Practical breath education workshops for primary-school-aged children and their parents, built around our signature ABC method.

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The Breath of Life Educator Sessions

The Breath of Life
Educator Sessions

Functional breathing education delivered directly into schools, giving teachers the tools to help children regulate in the classroom.

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Big AL and the Calm Crew book cover

Read & Breathe

Storytelling sessions bringing Big AL & The Calm Crew to life for children, weaving breath education into a story families already love.

Learn More

How We Work

Our Strategic Pillars

Educate

Building breath literacy in children, parents and educators across South Australia.

Regulate

Giving children the tools to self-regulate their nervous system through functional breathing.

Empower

Empowering communities to take breath education into homes, schools and everyday life.

Self-Aware

Helping children develop body awareness and understand how breath shapes how they feel.

What We Stand For

Our Core Values

Humanity

We lead with heart. Every child, every family, every community deserves to be seen and supported.

Accountability

We are evidence-led, outcome-focused, and committed to doing what we say we will do.

Empathy

We understand the pressure families and educators face. We meet them without judgment, always.

Compassion

Born from lived experience, everything we do is rooted in deep compassion for children and those who care for them.

Big AL and the Calm Crew

The Book

Big AL & The Calm Crew

A children’s story that gently guides children aged 3–10 back to the way nature intended them to breathe — through three loveable characters and the simple ABC method.

Used in Little Breathers workshops, shared in schools, and loved by families across Australia — this book brings breath education to life in the most accessible way possible.

One little story. A lifetime of calm.

Currently available as a digital bundle — printed book coming soon. ♥

Order Here

See Us In Action

Big AL — Media

The Big AL Foundation — Featured in The Advertiser

Our mission to transform children’s wellbeing through breath education — as featured in South Australia’s The Advertiser.

Alex — Ninja Warrior ♥

Alex performing his original piece — the heart and soul behind everything The Big AL Foundation stands for.

Little Breathers in Action

Watch children and families discover the power of functional breathing at one of our Little Breathers workshops.

Alex — Year 12 Graduation Speech ♥

Alex’s Year 12 graduation speech — a glimpse of the remarkable young man whose legacy inspires our work every day.

Our Community

Partners & Supporters

Working with councils and schools across South Australia

City of West Torrens
City of Port Adelaide Enfield
City of Marion
Golden Grove High School
Ridgehaven Primary School
Redwood Park School
Le Fevre High School
Indie School
Plympton International College
City of West Torrens
City of Port Adelaide Enfield
City of Marion
Golden Grove High School
Ridgehaven Primary School
Redwood Park School
Le Fevre High School
Indie School
Plympton International College