The Levitate Story
How we got here.
2014 - 2024.
2014
As a Year 11 student, David discovers motivational videos on YouTube and becomes fascinated with personal development concepts. He starts reading self-help books, listening to podcasts and learning online. This passion leads to significant improvements in his life, in relation to improving grades, finding a job and becoming the Head Boy of his school in Year 12. Upon graduation, David receives the prestigious John Curtin Scholarship at Curtin University for Excellence in Leadership, Volunteering and Academics.
2016
Whilst studying at Curtin, David is invited back to his former high school to present on strategies that helped him succeed in Year 11 & Year 12. A passion for public speaking is born and he begins to present on various topics such as Time Management, Goal Setting & Habit Building. David also receives a scholarship to take part in the LEAP Leadership Conference at UCLA in California (USA) and learns more about self-development for teenagers. Initially, he presents as a part-time hobby, never thinking it would become his career.
2018
Levitate Learning officially begins. After two years of assembly presentations, we create our first formal program - the Life Skills Program. The 8 week program starts as a trial at Trinity College and Mount Lawley Senior High School for one hour per week in Term 1. The program features new topics like Managing Social Media, Sleeping Smarter and Resilience. It immediately generates results for students and eventually expands to run in over 50+ high schools annually. David also travels back to the USA to study Public Speaking at Harvard University. Â
2020
An interesting year creates new opportunities. The pandemic creates a greater need for online learning and helpful content for students. We begin trials of our first online modules known as the Levitate Lab with Year 9 and Year 10 students. We design content that can be easily used by staff and students during Pastoral Care/Wellbeing classes. David also sits on the Minister’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) to make recommendations to the Minister For Youth and Minister For Education.
2022
The success of the online modules and Levitate Lab results in further expansion of online topics, resources and courses - providing more and more helpful content to schools.
We also begin our first university programs for students at UWA and Curtin University, working with postgraduate law students and student leaders. David begins our first corporate presentations with EY (Ernst & Young).
2024 & Beyond
What’s next?
We plan on helping even more schools across Australia by improving the online Levitate Lab even further.
We have aspirations to create world class online programs that are helpful for students across Australia, Asia and America.
Â
Meet Our Founder
David Castelanelli
David is a dynamic public speaker with over 8+ years of experience working with schools in Western Australia.
From 2018-2022, David personally facilitated the Levitate Life Skills Program and Levitate Leadership Program in over 50+ schools in Western Australia - working with thousands of students with different backgrounds and mindsets.Â
In 2018, David was selected as the West Australian Youth Ambassador. He is the youngest person to ever hold this position. In the same year, David was also voted as one of Australia’s Top 100 Future Leaders. He is a recipient of the John Curtin Scholarship at Curtin University and has also completed graduate studies in Public Speaking at Harvard University (Boston, USA).
David has served as a Founding Member on the Minister’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) and is also a 7x Coach for the LEAP Foundation at UCLA (Los Angeles, USA).
These days, David continues to present through the Levitate Lab Online Modules and works directly with Deputy Principals to help develop a strategic approach to pastoral care/wellbeing within their schools.Â
Take your school to the next level with...
The Levitate Lab
The Levitate Lab is an online learning platform that prepares students for LIFE.
The platform is purpose built for schools to be used during their pastoral care, wellbeing or extended homeroom classes.
The Levitate Lab features an abundance of online modules, which all come with their own lesson plan, engaging videos, group activities and action items that students love.
Learn More About The LabThe Levitate Story
How we got here. 2014-2024.
2014
As a Year 11 student, David discovers motivational videos on YouTube and becomes fascinated with personal development concepts. He starts reading self-help books, listening to podcasts and learning online. This passion leads to significant improvements in his life, in relation to improving grades, finding a job and becoming the Head Boy of his school in Year 12. Upon graduation, David receives the prestigious John Curtin Scholarship at Curtin University for Excellence in Leadership, Volunteering and Academics.
2016
Whilst studying at Curtin, David is invited back to his former high school to present on strategies that helped him succeed in Year 11 & Year 12. A passion for public speaking is born and he begins to present on various topics such as Time Management, Goal Setting & Habit Building. David also receives a scholarship to take part in the LEAP Leadership Conference at UCLA in California (USA) and learns more about self-development for teenagers. Initially, he presents as a part-time hobby, never thinking it would become his career.
2018
Levitate Learning officially begins. After two years of assembly presentations, we create our first formal program - the Life Skills Program. The 8 week program starts as a trial at Trinity College and Mount Lawley Senior High School for one hour per week in Term 1. The program features new topics like Managing Social Media, Sleeping Smarter and Resilience. It immediately generates results for students and eventually expands to run in over 50+ high schools annually. David also travels back to the USA to study Public Speaking at Harvard University. Â
2020
An interesting year creates new opportunities. The pandemic creates a greater need for online learning and helpful content for students. We begin trials of our first online modules known as the Levitate Lab with Year 9 and Year 10 students. We design content that can be easily used by staff and students during Pastoral Care/Wellbeing classes. David also sits on the Minister’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) to make recommendations to the Minister For Youth and Minister For Education.
2022
The success of the online modules and Levitate Lab results in further expansion of online topics, resources and courses - providing more and more helpful content to schools.
We also begin our first university programs for students at UWA and Curtin University, working with postgraduate law students and student leaders. David begins our first corporate presentations with EY (Ernst & Young).Â
2024 & Beyond
What’s next?
We plan on helping even more schools across Australia by improving the online Levitate Lab even further.
We have aspirations to create world class online programs that are helpful for students across Australia, Asia and America.
Â
Meet Our Founder
David Castelanelli
David is a dynamic public speaker with over 8+ years of experience working with schools in Western Australia.
From 2018-2022, David personally facilitated the Levitate Life Skills Program and Levitate Leadership Program in over 50+ schools in Western Australia - working with thousands of students with different backgrounds and mindsets.Â
In 2018, David was selected as the West Australian Youth Ambassador. He is the youngest person to ever hold this position. In the same year, David was also voted as one of Australia’s Top 100 Future Leaders. He is a recipient of the John Curtin Scholarship at Curtin University and has also completed graduate studies in Public Speaking at Harvard University (Boston, USA).
David has served as a Founding Member on the Minister’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) and is also a 7x Coach for the LEAP Foundation at UCLA (Los Angeles, USA).
These days, David continues to present through the Levitate Lab Online Modules and works directly with Deputy Principals to help develop a strategic approach to pastoral care/wellbeing within their schools.Â
Empower your students with...
The Levitate Lab
The Levitate Lab is an online learning platform that prepares students for LIFE.
The platform is purpose built for schools to be used during their pastoral care, wellbeing or extended homeroom classes.
The Levitate Lab features an abundance of online modules, which all come with their own lesson plan, engaging videos, group activities and action items that students love.
Learn More About The Lab