Join us for a dynamic and collaborative full‑day event designed to strengthen a whole‑school approach to student and staff wellbeing, grounded in the Multi‑Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework and anchored in the core value of belonging. This event features keynotes from Professor Paul Callaghan, Dr Machelle Flowers‑Smith, Dr Kylie Armstrong and Nicole Evans from ConnectedLE, bringing diverse expertise in wellbeing, culture, and educational practice.

Belonging goes beyond simply being part of a group—it is the lived experience of feeling valued, respected, accepted, and confident that your contributions matter. In schools, a strong sense of belonging acts as a protective factor, enhancing engagement, motivation, resilience, and academic achievement.

This event invites participants to explore wellbeing practices that are inclusive, equitable, and sustainable. Together, we will consider ways to build environments where every member of the school community feels genuinely seen, valued, and connected.

Featured Speakers

Professor Paul Callaghan

Professor Callaghan is an Aboriginal man of the Worimi people whose career spans senior leadership roles across Aboriginal and non‑Aboriginal services. His work centres on community wellbeing, cultural learning, and storytelling, and he is the bestselling author of The Dreaming Path and others. Paul will share with us from his latest book Leading from the Dreaming about leadership in our communities and how we can bring out the best in ourselves and others.

Dr Machelle Flowers‑Smith

Dr Flowers‑Smith is an education researcher, teacher and guidance counsellor whose research examined how care is enacted by school leaders, teachers and guidance counsellors, highlighting the complexities and challenges of care within contemporary schooling. Machelle will share how the 'care hustle' we have created in schools is burning teachers out and not helping our students as we hope.

Dr Kylie Armstrong and Nicole Evans from ConnectedLE
Kylie and Nicole will share with us a science-backed framework which focuses on the core human needs of Belonging, Expression, Accomplishment, Curiosity, and Hope. This framework supports schools to find practical and human-centred ways to create environments where people feel safe, valued, and inspired to grow. Nicole and Kylie will share ready-to-apply tools and techniques that empower participants to implement positive behaviour change immediately with a focus on what's within our control. Their approach is rooted in the understanding that a prevention-first, wellbeing-led culture is not only ethically sound but also legally mandated and essential for a thriving school community.

Throughout the day we will also hear from ISQ Advisor's on ways to create quick gains that will support your whole school wellbeing approaches. Let’s reimagine wellbeing together—not as a program, but as a whole‑school way of being.

Participants enrolled in the Leading Educating Wellbeing Program are automatically registered.