Health students learn better. That’s why our Healthy Learning Systems team works at the intersection of health and educations to conduct research and strengthen capacity for whole-school approaches to health promotion.

2025 has been a busy year for us, packed with speaking engagements, publications and project development.

We launched our Knowledge Exchange Residency Program, welcoming our first resident Dasha Uy from the Ministry of Health in the Philippines. You can read more about Dasha’s Residency here.

Our education partners Dr Ruth Aston and Katina Tan showcased our work on the Health Promoting Institutions (HPI) Conceptual Framework and Guidelines for Malaysia at the 2025 Evidence and Implementation Summit in Melbourne. Dr Monika Raniti and Prof Susan Sawyer presented at the Hume Councils Middle Years Forum earlier this year and Dr Jennifer Dam spoke at the Victorian Council of Social Service Education Forum in November. Both with a focus on how school systems can help young people remain engaged at school during the “middle years”, a developmentally busy stage that influences learning and wellbeing.

A highlight was supporting master’s student Naomi White from Hume Anglican Grammar in her qualitative research exploring teachers’ views on wellbeing. Congratulations to Naomi on submitting her minor thesis!

We’ve also shared insights through several publications, including a Mental Elf Blog on the role of school connectedness in suicide prevention.

Looking ahead, we’ll publish evaluation findings from our Health-Promoting Schools training program next year.

We’re also accepting EOIs for our next Knowledge Exchange resident. You can register your interest here.