Championing Wellbeing Education
This WA Mental Health Week ECU spotlights research on the intricate relationship between education and wellbeing, as a key element of positive mental health.
First published by Edith Cowan University
Edith Cowan University's (ECU) Professor Narelle Lemon, Vice-Chancellor's Professorial Research Fellow and Professor in Education, is an internationally recognised researcher in wellbeing, education and initial teacher education.
Professor Lemon's interdisciplinary research approach across education, arts, and positive psychology has garnered her attention as an innovator on a global scale. Her focus stretches creative methodologies, such as narrative inquiry, poetry, and visual narratives, to improve wellbeing literacy – which has a positive impact on our mental health.
Professor Lemon's research has been driven by a commitment to helping K-12 teachers, pre-service educators, and higher education academics foster proactive wellbeing practices.
"My research aims to empower people to make informed, evidence-based decisions, equipping them to flourish in the face of life's challenges and stressors," explains Professor Lemon.
Professor Lemon’' dedication to digital literacy in higher education has seen her study the use of social media platforms such as X (formally Twitter) and Instagram among future educators, examining how these tools can enhance professional digital literacy and help academics connect as networked scholars.
Professor Lemon actively engages with the wider community through her online presence, blogs and podcasts extending her impact far beyond the traditional classroom setting. Professor Lemon's innovative contributions in this area earned her an Australian University Teaching Citation, recognising her commitment to elevating the teaching profession.
Driving meaningful change
Associate Dean (Postgraduate Studies) Kuki Singh said Professor Lemon's thought leadership in initiating the Wellbeing and Education Research Community at ECU was bringing together diverse areas of evidence-based wellbeing science to foster a supportive research culture.
The WE Research Community is hosting activities, including meetings and seminar, a reading circle and a 'Shut Up and Write' session to dedicate time to collaborative writing.
"Collaborating with all of our diverse perspectives nurtures a culture of curiosity and courage, which can really drive meaningful change in how wellbeing is understood and prioritized within educational frameworks," said Dr Kuki Singh.
Wellbeing research projects
Professor Lemon recently shared some of her research as part of ECU's Lecture Series, which discussed re-thinking and re-framing wellbeing and everyday self-care: Building wellbeing literacy through everyday self-care
Viewers can watch the full lecture online, offering further insight into her innovative approach to building wellbeing literacy.
Professor Lemon is currently working on several research projects at ECU that continue to challenge societal norms and promote proactive wellbeing strategies.
Pedagogy of Belonging: Fostering Wellbeing and Connection in Higher Education
This research framework is being developed to prioritise relationships and humanise teaching in higher education, especially in the context of post-pandemic challenges.
The project focuses on fostering a sense of community, wellbeing, and connection among students and educators, contributing to student engagement and academic success.
The potential impact of this research is:
- Enhanced student and educator wellbeing in higher education settings
- Improved student retention and academic success
- Development of a common language and framework for fostering belonging in universities
- Contribution to the growing field of wellbeing literacy in higher education
Flexing your professional experience
Flex Your PEX is a project that supports future teachers. Professional experience or PEX, is the work integrated component of a teaching degree.
Professor Lemon explains that the project's objective is to switch from the negative and deficit ways of seeing each other, our challenges and ourselves in context, and to start to think about how we can be our best selves by focussing on our character strengths.
"This initiative seeks to better prepare future teachers by fostering resilience, self-awareness, and wellbeing literacy, equipping them for the demands of a teaching career."
Professor Lemon shares her passion for teacher education with School of Education colleague, Early Childhood and Primary Studies Lecturer Marnie Harris, who collaborated in the pioneering work on the Teachers Supporting Teachers Podcast Series 9 - Rural, Regional, and Remote Teaching Experiences, and in Series 10 which is being released just now with the Flex Your PEX team (Bev Adkin, Gail Berman, Rozita Dass, Tammy Green, Marnie Harris, Rikki James, and Carli Sanbrook) being joined ECU's pre-service teachers sharing their insights on strengths in being and becoming teachers.
Read about the launch of the thought-provoking series: Teachers Supporting Teachers
Listen to the: Teachers Supporting Teachers Podcasts
Empower women's voices
SHESpeaks is a project funded by the Department of Communities that Professor Lemon with Professor Julie Ann Pooley and Professor Verena Thomas is engaged in to address the perception that self-care is unachievable by women and aims to challenge societal norms and empower women's voices to take control of their wellbeing.
During Mental Health Week a workshop is being run at Perth City Library, and the podcast is about to be launch where we will hear from WA women on various aspects of self-care in action.
Follow She Speaks on Instagram: @shespeakswellbeingstrategies
Visit the website: www.shespeakswellbeing.com
Help yourself!
The Citizen Wellbeing Scientists Project invites members of the public to document their self-care practices using multimedia tools, helping to build a broader understanding of how individuals nurture their own wellbeing.
Launched in May 2024, the Citizen Wellbeing Scientists Project draws from the principles of citizen science which invites participants to share what their self-care toolbox can and might look like. Members of the public are invited to document their own self-care practices using various multimedia tools such as photos, videos, or written notes.
Everyone is invited to join the Citizen Wellbeing Scientists Project: contribute to the project or gain inspiration for your everyday self-care.
