Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Education PG (10325.2)

Please note these are the 2027 details for this unit
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Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Education PG
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
Intensive
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Education
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
School Of Teacher Education Post Graduate Level Band 1 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 1 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit explores positive psychology and wellbeing education for the enhancement of both student and staff wellbeing. We look at the larger context of teacher burnout and the high rates of mental health issues and suicide ideation in students. Wellbeing school initiatives, such as positive education, values education, and various mental health programs, are investigated with a view of developing a personal philosophy and pedagogy based upon evidence-based best practice.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to identify and demonstrate understandings of:
1. Cultural and contextual issues impacting on student and staff wellbeing in educational settings;
2. Pedagogy and curriculum development for promoting student and staff resilience and wellbeing;
3. Remedial principles and practices for dealing with compromised student and staff resilience and wellbeing; and
4. Applying the above as whole-school programs and to educational settings in general.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2027 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Dr Thomas Nielsen
2027 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 09 August 2027 Intensive Dr Thomas Nielsen
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

There is no required textbook for this unit. All readings will be made available online. Some examples of other relevant readings are listed below:

Nielsen, T. W., & Ma, J. S. (2023). Reviewing values and wellbeing education – pedagogical compass or fleeting trend? In T. Lovat, R. Toomey, N. Clement, & K. Dally (Eds.), Second International Research Handbook on Values Education and Student Wellbeing (2nd ed.). Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24420-9_30 

Dunn, T.J & Dimolareva, M. (2022) The effect of mindfulness-based interventions on immunity-related biomarkers: a comprehensive meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.  Clin Psychol Rev. 2022 Mar;92:102124. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102124. Epub 2022 Jan 13. PMID: 35078038.

Frankl, V. (1984). Man's search for meaning. New York: Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Approval of extenuating circumstances will be dependent upon the production of supporting documentation and at the discretion of the unit convener.

Assignments must be submitted in a format accessible to the assessor(s), as stated on the relevant canvas site. If the unit convener and/or tutor are unable to access a submission, a standard late penalty of 10% of the total marks possible for the task may be applied per day until the assignment is made accessible.

Please be cautionary and diligent with your academic writing and referencing. UC has a very accurate text-matching software that detects any form of plagiarism. There are potential serious consequences for fraudulent practices or documentation, including suspension and/or exclusion from the University. All allegations of student misconduct will be referred to the ADE for investigation as a prescribed authority.

Students are not allowed to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in assessments for this unit.

Special assessment requirements

Normally an aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the unit.

 

Provision of valid documentation

Please note that the University takes student conduct very seriously. All documentation provided to University staff must be valid and the provision of fraudulent documentation carries with it potentially serious consequences, including suspension and/or exclusion from the University. Note that all allegations of student misconduct will be referred to the Associate Dean for Education (ADE) as a prescribed authority for investigation.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

The workload requirements for this unit consist of a lecture (1 hour) and a workshop (2 hours) per week (equating to approximately 30 hours). The planning of the remaining 120 hours, making up the 150 hours for the semester, is the responsibility of each student, and should be divided between the reading of assigned papers and unit materials (e.g., approximately 30 hours), and working on assignment tasks (e.g., approximately 90 hours).

Participation requirements

Activity in the face-to-face classes is highly recommended in order to demonstrate the achievement of understanding related to the learning outcomes in this unit.

Required IT skills

Basic IT skills sufficient.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None.

Additional information

Communication on Canvas

Notifications through the Canvas Announcements Forum or the Canvas Discussion Forums are deemed to be made to the whole class.  It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they check for announcements on the Unit's Canvas website (forum messages are also emailed to student email addresses only).  Students should ensure they check their student email regularly.  The Canvas discussion forums will be checked by staff regularly.

Use of student email account

The University Email policy states that "students wishing to contact the University via email regarding administrative or academic matters need to send the email from the University account for identity verification purposes". Therefore, all unit enquiries should be emailed using a student university email account. Students should contact servicedesk@canberra.edu.au if they have any issues accessing their university email account.

Theoretical and research-led foundations of the unit

This unit involves research-led education and work-integrated learning. There are active researchers delivering this unit who are able to engage students in deep and active learning and transmit to students their passion for the research they are carrying out.

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