Celebrating the Global Voices of Wellbeing Literacy

Can the way we talk about wellbeing actually change how we experience it? Melbourne’s leading researchers think so—and they’re gathering this November to prove it.

Melbourne’s education and wellbeing community will come together this November for a special evening hosted by the Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne — the Wellbeing Literacy Panel and Book Launch. This in-person event marks the official release of Wellbeing Literacy, Theory and Practice Through Multidisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Lenses, a groundbreaking collection that redefines how we understand and communicate wellbeing across different life domains.

Edited by Professor Lindsay G. Oades, Dr Jacqui Francis, Professor Narelle Lemon, and Dr Tim Lomas, the book draws on the insights of more than 60 international scholars who explore wellbeing literacy as both a science and a practice — one that bridges language, emotion, and human connection.

An Evening of Insight and Celebration

The evening will feature a panel discussion chaired by Dr Sophie Specjal, offering attendees a unique opportunity to engage with several of the book’s contributors.
The panel includes:

• Associate Professor Siti Nuzulia – Vice-Dean, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia
  
• Professor Russell Cross – Professor of Languages and Literacies Education, University of Melbourne
  
• Dr Hanchao Hou – Honorary and Alumnus, Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne
  
• Lisa Baker – Project Officer, REEaCh Hub, University of Melbourne (PhD on wellbeing literacy in early childhood)
  

Together, they will unpack how wellbeing literacy manifests in education, organisations, coaching, and parenting, providing real-world insights into how wellbeing can be intentionally communicated and nurtured.

Farewelling a Visionary Leader

This event will also be a heartfelt farewell to Professor Lindsay G. Oades, whose visionary work in wellbeing science has inspired educators and researchers worldwide.
Professor Oades will soon begin his new appointment as Provost at the University of York Mumbai — a role that recognises his leadership, dedication, and international impact on the field of wellbeing and education.

About the Book – A Multidisciplinary Exploration

Wellbeing Literacy: Theory and Practice Through Multidisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Lenses examines the capability to understand and use wellbeing language to enhance personal and collective flourishing.

Think of wellbeing literacy as the ability to name what you’re feeling, understand why it matters, and communicate it in ways that create positive change. It’s knowing the difference between “I’m stressed” and “I’m overwhelmed because I haven’t had time to reset this week” — and using that clarity to ask for what you need.

Rather than viewing wellbeing as a fixed state, the editors and contributors present it as a relational, contextual, and holistic process — one that links individual experiences with wider social systems.

The book features diverse global perspectives, exploring wellbeing literacy through education, public policy, psychology, cultural studies, and communication. Contributors examine questions such as:

• How does wellbeing literacy shape human development?
• What role can it play in schools, workplaces, and communities?
• How might it support social change and equity in an increasingly complex world?

This collection will appeal to educators, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners interested in practical frameworks that foster flourishing, empathy, and positive change.

Meet the Editors

• Professor Lindsay G. Oades, PhD – Professor of Wellbeing Science and Deputy Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne.
  
• Professor Narelle Lemon – Vice Chancellor Professorial Research Fellow at Edith Cowan University and Lead of the Wellbeing and Education Research Community.
  
• Dr Jacqui Francis, PhD – Lecturer at the Centre for Wellbeing Science, University of Melbourne, and Director of the Masters of Applied Positive Psychology.
  
• Dr Tim Lomas, PhD – Research Scientist at the Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and part of the Human Flourishing Program.
  

Their combined expertise brings together education, psychology, arts, and public health to highlight wellbeing as both a personal skill and a societal goal.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Time: 6pm – 8pm (Presentations and panel discussion from 6pm – 7pm, followed by light refreshments)
Venue: Q230 Theatre, Level 2, Kwong Lee Dow Building, 234 Queensberry Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Registration: Free, but seats are limited. Please only register if you’re certain to attend.
Note: This presentation will not be recorded.

For more details and to order your copy of the book, visit the University of Melbourne’s official event page: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/4d3p

A Melbourne Event Grounded in Connection and Learning

This panel and book launch highlight what Melbourne does best — bringing together global ideas, local insights, and diverse voices to shape a better, more connected future.
From education to wellbeing science, the University of Melbourne continues to foster collaboration that moves beyond theory and into real-world impact.

As attendees gather in Carlton this November, they’ll not only celebrate the release of a significant publication but also honour a community of thinkers who believe in the power of language to shape lives, relationships, and society itself.

The Wellbeing Literacy Panel and Book Launch celebrates Melbourne’s leadership in wellbeing education. It’s an event where research meets real-world practice — and a chance to farewell one of the field’s pioneers, Professor Lindsay Oades.

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