Visible Wellbeing is an approach to all activities at Good Shepherd that makes the very act of doing our work a factor that builds our students', colleagues' and our own wellbeing. This approach has been developed by Professor Lea Waters from the University of Melbourne - a world leading researcher and practitioner in the field of positive psychology.
Visible Wellbeing (VWB) is not a set curriculum or program, it is a flexible approach which can be applied across any subject matter, and in all contexts – primary, secondary, on the sports field, in meetings and in the staffroom. With the VWB approach, work, learning, life and wellbeing are truly integrated.
The goal of the Visible Wellbeing approach is to make wellbeing visible; taking what is an internal phenomena and making it part of our explicit thinking, language and behaviour so that we can be proactive, strategic and accountable in enhancing wellbeing in our students’ lives and our own. We do this through acknowledging the negative, but specifically working to amplify the positives and increase overall wellbeing with students and staff consciously thinking about what they SEE, HEAR and FEEL in all situations.
Visible Wellbeing Goals
VWB combines the science of wellbeing with the science of learning to;
- help students and staff to more clearly see their own and others’ wellbeing using VWB Practices (See, Hear, Feel)
- help students and staff more systematically build wellbeing using the SEARCH framework
- facilitate strategic improvement in wellbeing through the VWB process
Visible Wellbeing Implementation
It is the role of all staff to continuously develop their understandings, skills and practice in integrating strategic wellbeing building activities into their daily work as the critical foundation and facilitator of their work effectiveness. This is particularly vital for teaching staff since it is the success, health and wellbeing of our students at stake.
The College supports the ongoing professional development of staff in wellbeing; however it is noted that high performing staff are equally dedicated to nurturing their own wellbeing as part of their professional responsibility and growth.
