Conversation Hour Presentation 6th World Congress on Positive Psychology 2019

To What Extent Do Public And Independent Schools Need To Approach Positive Education Differently? (#157)

Dianne Vella-Brodrick 1 , Ben Hawthorne 2 3 , Edwina Ricci 4 , Rhiannon McGee 5 , Jacqueline Francis 6 , DENISE QUINLAN 7
  1. Centre for Positive Psychology, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
  2. University of Melbourne, Carlton, VICTORIA, Australia
  3. Hamilton and Alexandra College, Hamilton, Victoria, Australia
  4. Heathmont College, Heathmont, Victoria, Australia
  5. Geelong Grammar School, Corio, Victoria, Australia
  6. Centre for Positive Psychology, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
  7. University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

This conversation hour will explore the varied experiences of implementing positive education in a diverse range of schools including public, Catholic and independent schools.  More specifically the discussion will revolve around whether context and level of support vary significantly across these educational sectors and in turn influence the level of success of positive education programs in achieving student well-being outcomes.  The culture and infrastructure of schools can play a highly influential role in determining program success.  According to implementation science models, irrespective of the content and how well designed the program is, factors such as leadership support, training, readiness, motivation, program delivery and fidelity can all effect a program's success.  Hence, do the opportunities for program success vary depending on the educational sector of the school (public, independent and Catholic) and the location of the school (e.g., rural or city)?  If so, what actions can schools take to maximise opportunities within their school environments? This question will be raised in relation to Australian and New Zealand schools but also more broadly given the international experiences of many of the panel members.