Ms Kate Graham is currently undertaking Doctoral research in the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences at CQUniversity Australia.

Her main research interest is the application of wellbeing science concepts to enhance and maintain tertiary student persistence, success and flourishing.

Kate’s previous research project exploring online university student resilience (stress and coping strategies) was published in the Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory and Practice, and her current project explores the definition and value of undergraduate university student wellbeing over time, and how this might affect course persistence and student success.

Kate is a passionate advocate for student wellbeing, success and flourishing – however this is defined individually by students – and she has been professionally supporting students from various educational sectors in these areas for the last 13 years.

I am an academic at the University of Melbourne and a practicing educational and developmental psychologist at St Margaret's Berwick Grammar, specialising in teaching graduate courses on counselling skills and group work. I am dedicated to nurturing and strengthening the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.

I have over two decades of experience in educational settings and private practice and I hold a Doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Melbourne. My research explores the links between relationships, listening, and mental health, emphasising the crucial importance of listening to children.

Katherine Watson (BAComm, BSocSci Hons, MPsych) is a Clinical Psychologist working in private practice. Before becoming a psychologist Katherine worked for an Oncology-related NGO, providing individual and group support for people affected by cancer. This piqued her interest in psychology, especially the positive psychology approach. Fast forward to now, Katherine has her own private practice in Sydney where she enjoys working with individuals and groups of people. Outside of psychology, Katherine is a keen long-distance runner and combines this interest with travel whenever possible.

A/Prof Karena J. Burke (BA, Hons, PhD, GCTAE, MAPS) is a Psychology academic and researcher, and since 2016 has held the role of Head of Psychology at Central Queensland University.
Karena's primary research interests concentrate on the links between physical and psychological health, and the promotion of resilience and well-being in adjusting to adverse life events. Her research is focussed across a diverse spectrum of social activity – from the impact and role on individuals in specific circumstances, to the understanding of how organisational, social and community level impacts can influence health and well-being.
As part of the PPIG Karena hopes to assist in further developing knowledge and skills of the ways in which positive psychology can be embedded into practice across the many different areas of our discipline.
Karena is a dog lover, amateur photographer and draws positivity from connecting with nature.

Erica Frydenberg AM HONFAPS
MA, Dip Ed, Dip Clin Psych, PhD, GAICD
Erica Frydenberg is a clinical, organisational, counselling and educational psychologist who has practiced extensively in the Australian educational setting before joining the staff of the University of Melbourne. She is an Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow (Honorary) in psychology in the Melbourne Graduate School of Education. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society. She has authored over 150 academic journal articles and chapters in the field of coping, published psychological instruments to measure coping, developed programs to teach coping and published numerous books on coping across the life-span, parenting and early childhood. Her interest in wellbeing, coping, resilience and fortitude is underpinned by the principles of positive Psychology. Her most recent book (August 2022) is Coping in Good Times and Bad: Developing Fortitude. She has engaged in a range of consultanci

Ms Elizabeth Hutton is in the final stage of her PhD in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Swinburne University. Elizabeth's research focus is on mental health, specifically mental wellbeing and the dual-continuum model and how wellbeing science can be embedded in clinical practice.

Elizabeth has a First-Class Honours degree in psychology where her research was published in the International Journal of Training Research. Prior to re-training to become a psychologist, she worked in the property sector for more than 25-years in the corporate and not-for-profit sectors.

Elizabeth has clinical experience supporting cancer patients in hospital and residential settings, trained and volunteered as a fully accredited Crisis Support Worker with Lifeline Australia, and volunteered with Anxiety Disorders Association of Victoria.

Elizabeth is undertaking her Masters in Clinical Psychology at La Trobe University in 2024-25.

Courtney Ah Shay is an Honours student supported by the Department of Psychological Sciences at Central Queensland University. Courtney is completing her thesis research on the impact of 'restricted sleep and breaking up sitting on sleep quality', with the intention to publish and provide practical implications to modern society.

Courtney has worked in Child Protection for approximately 4 years including work as a Child Safety Officer and Child Protection Counsellor. Courtney works from a strengths-based, trauma-informed lens to support children and their families involved in child protection interventions. Courtney is also a trained Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator and enjoys supporting parents to provide their children with the emotional support needed to develop secure attachment and resilience.

Courtney intends to commence her clinical masters over the next two years and eventually complete her PhD in the area of positive psychology, specifically 'purpose.'