Character Strengths Staff Professional Development

How do we discover our true strengths?

A major focus in our strategic planning here at the college has been addressing how we proactively invest in student and staff wellbeing. Further to this, we are trying to answer the challenging question: how do we empower young people to truly discover their worth and what strengths they offer to a team? Our young people more than ever live in a confusing world where they can end up apathetic and unsure of their direction.

At South Coast, we are committed to the principles and a growing understanding of Positive Psychology to empower young people to flourish.

Positive Psychology is the scientific study of human flourishing and an applied approach to optimal functioning. It has also been defined as the study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals, communities and organisations to thrive
(Gable & Haidt, 2005, Sheldon & King, 2001).

Schools have the challenge to educate the whole student, academically and their emotional wellbeing. To build upon the use of the online wellbeing platform FlourishDX that was introduced last year, teachers took part in a professional development seminar about VIA Character Strengths in week 5. We hope to use this tool to explicitly teach and pinpoint character strengths in our staff and students. We want to extend our appreciation to School Psychologist Luke Smith from Mandurah Baptist College for sharing his time and expertise with us.

Caroline Crowther
Head of Year 10