Impact funded by PEPTALK
We are committed to funding high impact initiatives that uplift and empower children and teens - with a vision for both immediate and long term results to reduce negative issues in our society, and create a brighter future for all New Zealanders.
This impact is a vision for long term significant change, by funding science-based, proven-successful wellbeing programmes into New Zealand schools. Our ultimate vision is to create a shift in New Zealand's education system so that dynamic wellbeing programmes become an integral part of the NZ Education Curriculum.
We can change the future by:
This impact is a vision for long term significant change, by funding science-based, proven-successful wellbeing programmes into New Zealand schools. Our ultimate vision is to create a shift in New Zealand's education system so that dynamic wellbeing programmes become an integral part of the NZ Education Curriculum.
We can change the future by:
- Enhancing the culture in our schools.
- Making mental wellbeing and empowered mindset teaching an integral part of our education system.
- Teaching Kiwi children and teens the fundamental skills to positively manage their thoughts and emotions.
A VISION OF THE FUTURE
- Foster supportive environments in schools that enable children and teens to be completely nurtured in their learning journey.
- Teaching children and teens techniques for managing their thoughts and emotions becomes as important as, and an integral part of, academic learning.
- Adopt a scientific, holistic approach in schools, where wellbeing is applied across all subjects, and at all levels - early learning, primary, secondary, and in the staffroom.
- Change the face of education, where teachers go from deliverers of knowledge - to nurturers of brain development, and schools become true dual purpose institutions - teaching both academic learning and the skills for mental wellbeing.
Positive Education Wellbeing Programmes
We have been and continue to research in-school Positive Education Wellbeing Programmes that are available to New Zealand Schools. These programmes are based on the science of Positive Psychology and thorough research.
Through our work we seek to offer funding to schools to support them in implementing wellbeing programmes, such as those detailed below.
Through our work we seek to offer funding to schools to support them in implementing wellbeing programmes, such as those detailed below.
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Turning wellbeing policy into practice requires support to implement wellbeing practices for students, staff, parents and their wider school community. Visible Wellbeing™ is a science-based programme that provides this support.
Designed by Dr Lea Waters (PhD) - research professor and world expert in positive psychology, Visible Wellbeing™ (VWB) combines the science of wellbeing with the science of learning and teaching, to make wellbeing visible in all classes and across co-curricula. The VWB technique help teachers to use the learning process itself as a delivery mechanism to build student wellbeing. VWB is not a set curriculum, it is a flexible approach which can be applied across any subject matter, and in all contexts – early learning, primary, secondary, and in the staff room. With the VWB approach, academic learning and wellbeing are truly integrated. VWB aims to help everyone thrive at school and the training and techniques are equally relevant to staff, teaching and non-teaching, as they are to students as a way to build a culture of wellbeing across the entire school. The program also comes with a facilitated parent evening, helping the VWB techniques to have a positive impact at home as well as school. |
VIDEO - Professor Lea Waters, founder of Visible Wellbeing, speaking at The World Government Summit - Global Dialogue for Happiness.
In this video Professor Waters discusses the idea of schools becoming a dual purpose institution, a place for not only academic education, but also a place to learn the skills for wellbeing. |
The New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing & Resilience's (NZIWR) mission is to build whole-school wellbeing. NZIWR can help schools lay the foundations for successful, lasting, wellbeing change. They have developed one to three year packages to enable them to partner with schools over time to identify wellbeing strengths and priorities, their trainers act as critical friends bringing about lasting, whole-system change.
NZIWR Directors Dr Denise Quinlan and Dr Lucy Hone bring an impressive wealth of training, research, knowledge and experience to their impactful work with organisations and schools in New Zealand. Learn more about NZIWR here
“Research tells us that wellbeing, or lack of it, has a clear influence on student learning. When our young people feel safe and supported in their school environment they are more engaged and ready to learn.” Iona Holsted, Secretary for Education, New Zealandealand, 2017.
NZIWR Directors Dr Denise Quinlan and Dr Lucy Hone bring an impressive wealth of training, research, knowledge and experience to their impactful work with organisations and schools in New Zealand. Learn more about NZIWR here
“Research tells us that wellbeing, or lack of it, has a clear influence on student learning. When our young people feel safe and supported in their school environment they are more engaged and ready to learn.” Iona Holsted, Secretary for Education, New Zealandealand, 2017.
Prioritising Wellbeing in Schools
If we want to create a happier future, then teaching the techniques that will equip children and teens with the ability to positively manage their thoughts and emotions needs to become a priority in education. Teaching the skills for wellbeing must be on par with maths, science and english. Ultimately this requires the New Zealand Ministry of Education to give mental wellbeing programmes as much funding and focus as any of the core curriculum subjects. Wellbeing training must become an integral part of teacher training, from the initial teacher qualification at our College of Education institutes, through to regular ongoing professional development.
Getting to the point where teaching wellbeing goes from being viewed as "another thing teachers have to do", to something that is good, beneficial, and enjoyable for everyone (teachers and students) will be a massive positive shift.
Mental Wellbeing is an integral part of life. As such, teaching mental wellbeing must be completely integrated into the framework of our education system, so that we are arming our kids with the fundamental tools to enable them to successfully navigate challenges and adversity, while continuing to make positive choices throughout life, and to be able to self regulate their mental wellbeing and happiness.
The first step is owning the significance that our mind, thoughts and emotions play in the unfolding of our lives, the choices we make, and the experiences we have.
This is a big shift and it won't happen overnight, but it can happen. We can and must begin the journey to transforming the future, through empowering our children and teens.
Our goal, using profits from Project 'One million happy thoughts', PEPTALK Magazine, PEPTALK events, and other product sales, is to provide funding to assist schools in implementing Positive Education Programmes. Through this implementation we aim to add to the growing pool of evidence of the success of programmes, such as 'Visible Wellbeing' and NZIWR's Wellbeing Partnerships, with Kiwi children, and the need for this work to be in ALL schools. Our overarching purpose is to establish a solid and powerful foundation to instigate change at government level.
Getting to the point where teaching wellbeing goes from being viewed as "another thing teachers have to do", to something that is good, beneficial, and enjoyable for everyone (teachers and students) will be a massive positive shift.
Mental Wellbeing is an integral part of life. As such, teaching mental wellbeing must be completely integrated into the framework of our education system, so that we are arming our kids with the fundamental tools to enable them to successfully navigate challenges and adversity, while continuing to make positive choices throughout life, and to be able to self regulate their mental wellbeing and happiness.
The first step is owning the significance that our mind, thoughts and emotions play in the unfolding of our lives, the choices we make, and the experiences we have.
This is a big shift and it won't happen overnight, but it can happen. We can and must begin the journey to transforming the future, through empowering our children and teens.
Our goal, using profits from Project 'One million happy thoughts', PEPTALK Magazine, PEPTALK events, and other product sales, is to provide funding to assist schools in implementing Positive Education Programmes. Through this implementation we aim to add to the growing pool of evidence of the success of programmes, such as 'Visible Wellbeing' and NZIWR's Wellbeing Partnerships, with Kiwi children, and the need for this work to be in ALL schools. Our overarching purpose is to establish a solid and powerful foundation to instigate change at government level.
Together, we can secure a great future for NZ. Shopping at The Pep Talk Store is a way that you can stand up and have an impact, by helping us to fund dynamic in-school programmes that will empower children and teens.
