I was completely burnt out after COVID-19 and found the trainees I was supervising in the same position. I wanted to gain some skills to improve my workplace performance and learn new skills to pass on to my trainees. I aspired to get some real hands-on experience and evidence-based knowledge on how to do 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.
My purpose of ‘supporting people’ saw me intuitively incorporating many of the topics of positive psychology and wellbeing into my work and learning and development programs. My role is to make the whole organisation and its people more change capable. To me, that means our people need to be resilient, adept at navigating change, and confident in understanding their emotions as they do.
As an early morning person, I did find the night classes challenging at times! However, Sue was always full of so much energy that it was almost impossible for this not to rub off on me – in a positive way!
I had been asked to lead the introduction of the wellbeing framework in my school through the process of school self-evaluation, and so I wanted to further my own learning in this area to support my work. I knew the course would be helpful on a professional level and my love of learning meant I was also keen to study for my own personal growth and development.
I had been keen to complete the Diploma since I became aware of it about seven years ago. Finding the space, time, and funds was the challenge! I wanted to do the face-to-face course after two years of online learning and closed borders, so I was excited that all the stars aligned (and the borders opened), allowing me to attend the Byron Bay-based face-to-face course in May 2022.
Undertaking the DPP has been life-changing. It sounds cliché yet it’s true. When I left my corporate life in July 2015 I would never have known that the journey over the next two to three years would have been so amazing, scary, enriching, empowering and purposeful. I am not the same person I was three years ago. I am so much more! And for that, I am eternally grateful.
