PESA is Australia's peak body for wellbeing education.
Our vision, our hope for the future:
To accelerate the prioritisation of evidence-informed wellbeing education for the future of Australians.
Our mission, what we do today:
Our responsibility is to advocate, educate and collaborate to grow and embed wellbeing education throughout Australia.
The need, our why:
To empower schools and educators with the knowledge and confidence to implement evidence-based practices that support the wellbeing of their community.
Be empowered with the knowledge and confidence to implement evidence-based practices that support the wellbeing of your community.
Join a community of wellbeing educators, schools, researchers, academics and providers
Professional Development Opportunities
Browse PESA's calendar of upcoming events including conferences, seminars and workshops held all around Australia. PESA members get access to exclusive events, early bird registration discounts and also benefit from tailored event notifications!
Our Ambassadors and Chair
Dr Martin E.P Seligman
PESA Ambassador
Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman is a global leading authority in the fields of Positive Psychology, resilience, learned helplessness, depression, optimism and pessimism, and is often credited as the father of Positive Psychology. He is also a recognised authority on interventions that prevent depression, and build strengths and well-being. He is the Director of the Penn Positive Psychology Center and Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology in the Penn Department of Psychology. He is also Director of the Penn Master of Applied Positive Psychology program (MAPP). He was President of the American Psychological Association in 1998, during which one of his presidential initiatives was the promotion of Positive Psychology as a field of scientific study. He has written more than 350 scholarly publications and 30 books. Read a message from our ambassador here.
Professor Lea Waters PhD
PESA Ambassador
Order of Australia recipient, Lea Waters AM, PhD, is a psychologist, researcher, speaker and author. She’s one of the world’s leading experts on Positive Education, Positive Organizations, and Strength-Based Parenting and Teaching. As a University researcher, Lea turns her science into strength-based strategies to help organizations, educators and parents around the world build resilience in their employees and children, helping them to thrive. Lea is the Past President of the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) and founding director of the Centre for Positive Psychology (now the Centre for Wellbeing Science) at the University of Melbourne. Lea holds affiliate positions at Cambridge University and the University of Michigan and serves on the Scientific Board at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. She is the author of The Strength Switch. Lea’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and more. Read more about our ambassador here.
Leonie Abbott
PESA Chair
Leonie Abbott is a highly regarded professional who converts theoretical concepts into practical tactics. With expertise at the intersection between trauma-aware and wellbeing pedagogies, she has influenced pedagogical change in thousands of classrooms. Her current role as Head of Student Wellbeing provides Leonie with on-the-ground experience working with students and teachers. Leonie’s considerable experience working as a Senior Consultant at Independent Schools Victoria (ISV) and Assistant Director, co-founder & co-author of the Berry Street Education Model has strengthened her resolve towards influencing change generally and especially in education. She has spent the last few years applying a trauma-aware perspective as a teacher practitioner in her current leadership role at Wesley College. Leonie has faithfully served on the PESA board for two terms and is keen to continue this service for a final term. Leonie see’s that PESA has the energy to unite all sectors nationally and further wellbeing outcomes for our young people and those who work with them. Read a message from Leonie here.
Our Supporters
