Harnessing Collective Action to Sustain Wellbeing Initiatives in Learning Communities

Presented by  Dr Tan-Chyuan Chin, PhD: Senior Lecturer in Wellbeing Science, The University of Melbourne.

Optimising collaborative community practices in an interconnected learning system.

Last updated: 07/04/2026

Every learning community has its own sets of processes, policies, place-based needs, guiding frameworks, context, culture and challenges. How do we consider all elements in the learning community, to develop critical reflection so that wellbeing learning and engagement practices adapt and mature over time? This masterclass is based on the published process framework, the “System and Individual contributions to learning Communities using Theory of Change” (SyInC-ToC), developed to provide learning communities, school networks, and local and state governments with essential principles for developing wellbeing capabilities across their communities.

Key topics and timestamps:

1. Framing Wellbeing Through Systems Thinking (4:14): Importance of designing wellbeing initiatives with context + system awareness
2. Introduction to Theory of Change (7:34): Planning, tracking, reviewing, and iterating for sustainable change (7:34) | Components of ToC (10:01)
3. Challenges in Implementation (11:32)
4. Where to Start (13:35): Identify long term outcomes and working backwards
5. The SyInc-ToC Framework-A systems approach to assisting learning communities (23.50): Strategic planning (28:50) | Monitoring and evaluation (30:50) | Advocacy and engagement (33:40) | Ongoing reflective analysis and practice (35:25) | Continuous & cyclical nature of change (36:32)
6. Measuring Wellbeing (39:18): Multi-dimensional measures based on the definition of wellbeing in your context | Timing of data collection (43:27)
7. Involving the Wider Ecosystem (47:25): City of Maroondah case study (49:26)
8. Systems Iceberg (52:30): Identifying patterns and trends, structures & processes and mental models for sustainable change | reflections (59:00)
9. Continual processes in practice (1:05:40)
10. Reflections and questions (1:06:45)

Keen to put this into practice? Start with our webinar summary and key takeaways, then download the Systems Iceberg Reflection Tool: a ready-to-use resource for guiding your team through each level of the systems iceberg. Learn more below.

2026 PD Wrap Up: Harnessing Collective Action to Sustain Wellbeing Initiatives in Learning Communities

Ending our Term 1 focus on  ‘building wellbeing communities from day one’, we welcomed Dr Tan Chyuan-Chin (TC),  Senior Lecturer in Wellbeing Science to explore a systems-informed approach to strengthening and sustaining wellbeing initiatives.

In this session, Dr TC contrasted isolated, program-led approaches to wellbeing with whole-of-community, systems-aligned models to design learning communities that support wellbeing from the ground up. Dr TC introduced the Theory of Change model and the SyInC-ToC framework as practical tools for planning, implementing and evaluating sustainable change.

Author/Source: PESA and Dr Tan Chyuan-Chin, Senior Lecturer in Wellbeing Science.

Last updated: 07/04/2026

2026 PD Wrap Up: Harnessing Collective Action to Sustain Wellbeing Initiatives in Learning Communities

Acknowledgement & Copyright Notice

We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the presenters contributing to PESA's digital PD & Learning Program, and their commitment to sharing their knowledge, expertise and experience.

Please note these presentations include our presenters’ intellectual property, which has taken many years to build. Presentations are available for viewing by PESA members only, and proper attribution to the presenter/s must be made. Members are not authorised to share presentation links without prior written consent from the relevant presenter/s.