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    Conference 2025 Reflection, Outcomes and Resources

    The 2025 National Wellbeing Education Conference was themed "Collective Solutions with Wellbeing and Trauma Aware Pedagogies" and held in Adelaide, South Australia on the 8th and 9th September.

    Learn more about the program, highlights, outcomes and resources from this remarkable event.

    Author/Source: PESA community: keynote speakers, masterclass and hackathon presenters. 

    Last updated: 16/10/2025

    Conference 2025 Reflection, Outcomes and Resources

    At PESA, our learning focus for Term 1, 2026 is simple yet impactful: putting people at the centre of everything we do. Reconnecting staff, students, and families is the foundation of a vibrant, inclusive community, and it begins with the understanding that staff wellbeing is the bedrock of a healthy learning environment.

    We were recently joined by Justin Robinson, Director and Co-Founder of The Wellbeing Distillery, for an online masterclass on ‘Building a Shared Responsibility for Teacher Wellbeing’, where he shared the Wellbeing Quadrant, a practical framework designed to promote wellbeing and proactively prevent ill-being. Below, we have synthesised the key takeaways and curated resources to support your school’s action planning for staff wellbeing. 

    PESA brought educators from across Australia together in Adelaide for two days exploring Collective Solutions with Wellbeing and Trauma-Aware Pedagogies. The conference tackled a core truth in school communities today: trauma, in its many forms, is part of everyday life for both students and educators  but with the right understanding and support, it doesn't have to define the outcome.

    Keynote speakers included Associate Professor Judith Howard (QUT) on trauma-aware education, rewilding facilitator Gina Chick on resilience drawn from her 67-day wilderness survival, and Associate Professor Kate Filia (Orygen) on the pressures shaping youth mental health today. A live podcast recording with Lea Waters AM and Dr Tom Brunzell explored where trauma-aware and wellbeing education intersect.

    Across 15 masterclasses, hands-on Solution Summits, and a rapid-fire Hackathon of practical wellbeing "hacks," delegates worked alongside fellow educators to co-design strategies they could take straight back to their schools  from building trauma-responsive communities to sustaining staff wellbeing and strengthening student connection in a world shaped by phones, social media, and AI. Scroll down to access these featured resources.

    The conference reinforced PESA's ongoing mission: to advocate, educate, and collaborate in growing and embedding wellbeing education throughout Australia, recognising that wellbeing and trauma-aware practice aren't separate domains, but deeply interconnected ways of helping every student and educator thrive. Together, we are shaping a future where wellbeing is woven into the fabric of every school.

    Conference Highlights

     

    Two woodducks

    An Excerpt from Leonie Abbott’s Reflection on the 2025 Conference

    What Wood Ducks can teach us about connection

    The PESA National Wellbeing Education Conference in Adelaide had many amazing moments where research met practice. I am so grateful for the efforts of all the keynote speakers and masterclass presenters.   One month on, and Gina Chick’s story of the wild Wood Duck’s, Theo and Anastasia, still reverberates as a wonderful metaphor of noticing and connection.

    I can only imagine how enticing the sight of two Wood Ducks, sources of sustenance, were for a hungry and fatigued Gina on her fiftieth day surviving the wilds of Tasmania competing in Alone Australia! Gina’s description of mimicking their contact call as they swam and fed on the water had me hooked. Would the ducks respond immediately to her call and fall victim to this mimicry trick?  It was not the case, and Gina went without the tantalizing Peking Duck on her menu. What happened next was the part of the story that has me pondering: those ducks demonstrated curiosity in Gina and the following morning came to her hut and paid her a visit. This is like what happens in schools with students, but I am yet to resolve if Gina is representing the role of the student or the teacher in this story……

    Read more on our blog here.

     

    Screenshot 2026-07-26 134555

    2025 Conference Program

    We are proud of the calibre of this year's conference. Please turn the page to view our full two-day programme.

     

    With Thanks to Our Sponsors and Exhibitors

    None of this would have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors and exhibitors. Your presence reflects a shared commitment to advancing wellbeing education and community impact, values that are at the heart of this event. PESA is proud to partner with organisations that champion progress and excellence. We extend our heartfelt thanks to:

    Platinum Sponsor: Our Futures Institute, Host City Sponsor: Business Events Adelaide, Silver Sponsor: Grow Your Mind, Bronze Sponsor: Berry Street Education Model, and Name Badge Sponsor: the Institute of Positive Education. We're equally grateful to our exhibitors, whose expertise and innovation brought the Provider Showcase to life and helped strengthen the tools available to schools across the country (please refer to the program for more information about the amazing exhibitors).

    Moments from the Conference

     

    Copyright Notice: Use of Conference Presentations and Materials

    Please note that the presentations and materials shared during this conference contain the intellectual property of the respective authors and presenters. These works represent years of professional development, research, and expertise. Access to these resources is provided exclusively to PESA members for personal and professional learning. Members are welcome to reference or use the materials for educational purposes with proper attribution to the original presenter(s). However, these materials:

    • Must not be reproduced, distributed, or shared publicly (including on social media or external websites) without prior written consent from the presenter(s).

    • May not be used for commercial purposes, including resale, paid workshops, or monetised content.

    • Should be cited appropriately when referenced in publications, presentations, or teaching materials.

    By accessing these resources, you agree to respect the intellectual property rights of the presenters and uphold the ethical use of shared knowledge within our community. For permissions or questions regarding use, please contact us.

    Featured Resources from the 2025 Conference

    Explore more resources >
    Co-designing a Student-Led Wellbeing Conference in the Middle Years
    Webinar/Video Online PD 2026
    Co-designing a Student-Led Wellbeing Conference in the Middle Years
    Presented by Ed McInnes: Wellbeing Leader-Year 7, Scotch College, Adelaide. Empowering middle years students to research, lead, and share wellbeing with their community.
    Access Resource
    2026 PD Wrap Up: Co-designing a Student-Led Wellbeing Conference in the Middle Years
    Article PD Wrap Up
    2026 PD Wrap Up: Co-designing a Student-Led Wellbeing Conference in the Middle Years
    Building on our Term 1 focus of cultivating a thriving community from day one, we welcomed Edward McInnes, Year 7 Wellbeing Leader at Scotch College, to hear about the pivotal role of student agency during the Middle Years. The session explored how fostering student agency empowers learners to move beyond passive participation, allowing them to actively shape their own experiences and contribute meaningfully to their school culture. Ed shared Scotch College’s innovative "Wellbeing Scientists" model, where students lead their own inquiry into personal and collective wellbeing. A standout highlight was their student-led Wellbeing Conference, a co-designed event where students present research and facilitate workshops for peers and families. By stepping into conference roles, students are empowered to take wellbeing from a classroom concept into a visible, lived practice that resonates across the entire school community. Author/Source: PESA and Ed McInnes, Scotch College.
    Access Resource
    The Scotch College Blueprint for developing a student-led wellbeing conference
    Guidelines
    The Scotch College Blueprint for developing a student-led wellbeing conference
    This guide synthesises insights shared by Ed McInnes in PESA’s Digital PD, ‘Inspiring Change: Co-Designing a Student-Led Wellbeing Conference in the Middle Years’, providing a scalable model for educators to transition from classroom-based wellbeing theory to a student-led culminating event tailored to their own unique school context. Author: PESA and Ed McInnes, Year 7 Wellbeing Leader
    Access Resource
    Supporting student wellbeing: Understanding the pressures shaping youth mental health
    Presentation 2025 Conference
    Supporting student wellbeing: Understanding the pressures shaping youth mental health
    A research-backed keynote from PESA’s 2025 National Wellbeing Education Conference on the pressures driving Australia's youth mental health crisis, and the vital role schools play in fostering the connection and belonging young people need to thrive. Author/Source: Associate Professor Kate Filia, Orygen: the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
    Access Resource
    Conference 2025 Reflection, Outcomes and Resources
    Article 2025 Conference
    Conference 2025 Reflection, Outcomes and Resources
    The 2025 National Wellbeing Education Conference was themed "Collective Solutions with Wellbeing and Trauma Aware Pedagogies" and held in Adelaide, South Australia on the 8th and 9th September. Learn more about the program, highlights, outcomes and resources from this remarkable event. Author/Source: PESA community: keynote speakers, masterclass and hackathon presenters.
    Access Resource
    Solution Summit Outcomes: Practical Solutions to Support Staff and Student Wellbeing
    Article 2025 Conference
    Solution Summit Outcomes: Practical Solutions to Support Staff and Student Wellbeing
    As part of PESA’s 2025 National Wellbeing Education Conference, the Solution Summits brought educators together dynamic, hands-on workshops to tackle real challenges in school wellbeing using design thinking. Two themes within staff wellbeing and student wellbeing were explored. Educators shared lived experiences, identified barriers, and co-created practical solutions to support thriving school communities. Author/Source: Conference attendees, facilitiators with special thanks to Accenture
    Access Resource
    Hackathon: High Impact Solutions to Common Challenges in Education
    Webinar/Video 2025 Conference
    Hackathon: High Impact Solutions to Common Challenges in Education
    As part of PESA’s 2025 National Wellbeing Education Conference, the ‘hackathon’ was a fast-paced session where practitioners presented high-impact, easy-to-implement solutions to common challenges in education. Learn more about the six practical, ready-to-use wellbeing hacks covering classroom practice, behaviour management, movement, pastoral care and student voice. Author/Source: Melissa Chamberlain, Nicola Unite, Ione Norris, Jessica Orr and Natalie Lander, Paige Zavaglia, Sarah Lang and Monique Eggs on behalf of Helen Worthington.
    Access Resource
    Trauma-Aware Education in Australia
    Presentation 2025 Conference
    Trauma-Aware Education in Australia
    A keynote from PESA’s 2025 National Wellbeing Education Conference unpacking what trauma-aware education means and why it matters, with practical guidance for educators, schools and systems responding to student and staff wellbeing needs. Author/Source: Associate Professor Judith Howard, Queensland University of Technology
    Access Resource
    The Future We Shape: Creating Connections: Where Trauma-Aware and Wellbeing Education Meet
    Podcast 2025 Conference
    The Future We Shape: Creating Connections: Where Trauma-Aware and Wellbeing Education Meet
    From PESA's 2025 National Education Conference: In this special live-recorded keynote episode, we bring together two of the leading voices in education and wellbeing: Professor Lea Waters (University of Melbourne, Centre for Wellbeing Science) and Dr Tom Brunzell (Berry Street Education Model). Author/ source: Professor Lea Waters AM, PhD; Dr Tom Brunzell; Discussion moderated by Emma Grave; episode produced by Kerrin Smith
    Access Resource
    Co-designing a Student-Led Wellbeing Conference in the Middle Years
    Co-designing a Student-Led Wellbeing Conference in the Middle Years
    Presented by Ed McInnes: Wellbeing Leader-Year 7, Scotch College, Adelaide. Empowering middle years students to research, lead, and share wellbeing with their community.
    Webinar/Video Online PD 2026
    2026 PD Wrap Up: Co-designing a Student-Led Wellbeing Conference in the Middle Years
    2026 PD Wrap Up: Co-designing a Student-Led Wellbeing Conference in the Middle Years
    Building on our Term 1 focus of cultivating a thriving community from day one, we welcomed Edward McInnes, Year 7 Wellbeing Leader at Scotch College, to hear about the pivotal role of student agency during the Middle Years. The session explored how fostering student agency empowers learners to move beyond passive participation, allowing them to actively shape their own experiences and contribute meaningfully to their school culture. Ed shared Scotch College’s innovative "Wellbeing Scientists" model, where students lead their own inquiry into personal and collective wellbeing. A standout highlight was their student-led Wellbeing Conference, a co-designed event where students present research and facilitate workshops for peers and families. By stepping into conference roles, students are empowered to take wellbeing from a classroom concept into a visible, lived practice that resonates across the entire school community. Author/Source: PESA and Ed McInnes, Scotch College.
    Article PD Wrap Up
    The Scotch College Blueprint for developing a student-led wellbeing conference
    The Scotch College Blueprint for developing a student-led wellbeing conference
    This guide synthesises insights shared by Ed McInnes in PESA’s Digital PD, ‘Inspiring Change: Co-Designing a Student-Led Wellbeing Conference in the Middle Years’, providing a scalable model for educators to transition from classroom-based wellbeing theory to a student-led culminating event tailored to their own unique school context. Author: PESA and Ed McInnes, Year 7 Wellbeing Leader
    Guidelines
    Supporting student wellbeing: Understanding the pressures shaping youth mental health
    Supporting student wellbeing: Understanding the pressures shaping youth mental health
    A research-backed keynote from PESA’s 2025 National Wellbeing Education Conference on the pressures driving Australia's youth mental health crisis, and the vital role schools play in fostering the connection and belonging young people need to thrive. Author/Source: Associate Professor Kate Filia, Orygen: the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
    Presentation 2025 Conference
    Conference 2025 Reflection, Outcomes and Resources
    Conference 2025 Reflection, Outcomes and Resources
    The 2025 National Wellbeing Education Conference was themed "Collective Solutions with Wellbeing and Trauma Aware Pedagogies" and held in Adelaide, South Australia on the 8th and 9th September. Learn more about the program, highlights, outcomes and resources from this remarkable event. Author/Source: PESA community: keynote speakers, masterclass and hackathon presenters.
    Article 2025 Conference
    Solution Summit Outcomes: Practical Solutions to Support Staff and Student Wellbeing
    Solution Summit Outcomes: Practical Solutions to Support Staff and Student Wellbeing
    As part of PESA’s 2025 National Wellbeing Education Conference, the Solution Summits brought educators together dynamic, hands-on workshops to tackle real challenges in school wellbeing using design thinking. Two themes within staff wellbeing and student wellbeing were explored. Educators shared lived experiences, identified barriers, and co-created practical solutions to support thriving school communities. Author/Source: Conference attendees, facilitiators with special thanks to Accenture
    Article 2025 Conference
    Hackathon: High Impact Solutions to Common Challenges in Education
    Hackathon: High Impact Solutions to Common Challenges in Education
    As part of PESA’s 2025 National Wellbeing Education Conference, the ‘hackathon’ was a fast-paced session where practitioners presented high-impact, easy-to-implement solutions to common challenges in education. Learn more about the six practical, ready-to-use wellbeing hacks covering classroom practice, behaviour management, movement, pastoral care and student voice. Author/Source: Melissa Chamberlain, Nicola Unite, Ione Norris, Jessica Orr and Natalie Lander, Paige Zavaglia, Sarah Lang and Monique Eggs on behalf of Helen Worthington.
    Webinar/Video 2025 Conference
    Trauma-Aware Education in Australia
    Trauma-Aware Education in Australia
    A keynote from PESA’s 2025 National Wellbeing Education Conference unpacking what trauma-aware education means and why it matters, with practical guidance for educators, schools and systems responding to student and staff wellbeing needs. Author/Source: Associate Professor Judith Howard, Queensland University of Technology
    Presentation 2025 Conference
    The Future We Shape: Creating Connections: Where Trauma-Aware and Wellbeing Education Meet
    The Future We Shape: Creating Connections: Where Trauma-Aware and Wellbeing Education Meet
    From PESA's 2025 National Education Conference: In this special live-recorded keynote episode, we bring together two of the leading voices in education and wellbeing: Professor Lea Waters (University of Melbourne, Centre for Wellbeing Science) and Dr Tom Brunzell (Berry Street Education Model). Author/ source: Professor Lea Waters AM, PhD; Dr Tom Brunzell; Discussion moderated by Emma Grave; episode produced by Kerrin Smith
    Podcast 2025 Conference
    Explore more resources >