Adrienne Buckingham

Adrienne Buckingham

Senior Lecturer

Otago Polytechnic

Dunedin, South Island, Aotearoa New Zealand

Alumni: Byron Bay, Australia, May 2017

In our 11069NAT Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing we always talk about the ripple effect; starting with self and creating a ripple out there in the world - whatever that may mean for each person.

In this interview, one of our Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing graduates shares how she went from studying the Diploma to speaking at the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) World Congress in Vancouver 2023, to training teachers and principals for the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience and lecturing at tertiary in the Bachelor of Social Service in Dunedin, New Zealand.

What drew you to complete the Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing?

I was working fulltime as a high school teacher and my kids were young. Teenagers were presenting me with problems that I knew better than to think I could help with. I have an undergraduate degree in psychology and that, like the education system, had been quite deficit focused when I was training.

I came across Dr Lucy Hone talking about resilience and character strengths and something lit up for me – a pathway unfolded to Dr Denise Quinlan at the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience (NZIWR) who recommended the Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing. My school gave me a staff scholarship to study the field and bring it back to staff and students.

How was your experience of the Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing?

Mindfulness was always something I struggled with – then in one meditation exercise, I had a satori experience. Another turning point was writing a forgiveness letter which completely surprised me – what an impact!

My experience of the Diploma was wholly positive and most alarming, as personally relevant to my life as it was professionally. A lifelong interest in psychology gave me a great framework and Sue gave me research, enthusiasm, and practical application of relevant and recent scientific findings.

Intellectually stimulating and emotionally activating. And it was fun!

How are you spreading your positive ripples, and how has the Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing helped you achieve this?

First and foremost, I am a better parent because of the Diploma, and I enjoy my children more. The tools I was given help me tackle the challenges that life throws at us.

Professionally, I was given the opportunity to develop a Positive Psychology programme for Year 10 students. I taught this for two years and we gathered wellbeing data from across the school. I used this data to complete a Masters in Psychology which I was able to present at IPPA in Vancouver 2023.

I contracted to the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience and was privileged enough to train teachers and principals across the whole country. Since Covid, I have moved from high school teaching to lecturing at tertiary in the Bachelor of Social Service in Dunedin, New Zealand.