Holiday Workshop Highlights Educators’ Dedication to Staff and Student Wellbeing

While most classrooms were quiet over the April school holidays, a group of passionate educators chose to spend their break investing in something just as important — staff and student wellbeing.

Hosted in Hamilton by the Freedom Wellbeing Institute, our free school wellbeing workshop introduced teachers and school leaders to two research-based systems: the Universal Wellbeing Model (UWM) and the Universal Wellbeing Evaluation Tool (UWET).

These frameworks — co-developed by the Freedom Wellbeing Institute and New Zealand Curriculum Design Institute (NZCDI) — are the result of 16 years of research. They are designed to help schools understand, measure, and improve wellbeing outcomes using a prevention-first, system-based approach.

Learning That Sticks

Educators gave up a day of their holidays to take part in this hands-on workshop, showing extraordinary commitment to improving wellbeing in their school communities.

“The dedication these educators showed is inspiring, they’re not just talking about wellbeing — they’re actively building it.
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— Susan Stevenson, Director of Freedom Wellbeing Institute.

Participants engaged in live case studies, collaborative planning, and practical training on how to apply the UWM and UWET in their everyday work — from classroom practice to staff development and whole-school culture planning.

📸 Pictured: Our April school wellbeing workshop participants with Director Susan Stevenson (centre).

💬 Real Feedback. Real Results.

“I put into practice daily the things I took away from the two Universal Wellbeing programmes — and I’ve also been able to share them with staff and friends.”

— One attendee

This reflects the core vision of the Universal Wellbeing Model: empowering people and organisations with practical tools to take evidence-based action.

What’s Next?

If you're a teacher, school leader, or education provider passionate about wellbeing — don’t miss the Prevention Imperative: Universal Wellbeing Conference 2025, happening in Auckland on 11–12 September 2025.

This national wellbeing conference will bring together educators, executives, and sector leaders for:

• A co-design workshop on Aotearoa’s National Wellbeing Charter

• Advanced training in UWM and UWET

• CPD-recognised sessions

• No livestream. No recording. No second chance.

Prevention Is the Future:

Why This Auckland Conference Will Define New Zealand’s Wellbeing Strategy in 2025

Let’s be honest.

New Zealand’s current approach to health and wellbeing is no longer sustainable.
Burnout is becoming normal. Mental and physical health waitlists are overflowing. Staff turnover is rising across schools, hospitals, and community services. The ripple effects of poor health and wellbeing are everywhere — and they’re costing us dearly.

But what if we could prevent or reduce this?

This September, a landmark event is set to redefine how we tackle wellbeing in New Zealand. It’s not about quick fixes — it’s about building a national prevention strategy that works.

Welcome to The Prevention Imperative: New Zealand Universal Wellbeing Conference 2025 — the country’s leading event on prevention-first, evidence-based wellbeing systems.

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Why Prevention — And Why Now?

You’ve heard it before: “prevention is better than cure.” But in New Zealand, prevention is still underfunded, misunderstood, and often left out of key policies and performance strategies.

That’s a missed opportunity.

• The data is clear: Investing in prevention saves lives, protects mental and physical health, improves equity, and reduces long-term costs across healthcare, education, and communities.
• The business case is stronger than ever: Every $1 invested in wellbeing prevention can return up to $14 in reduced absenteeism, healthcare costs, and increased productivity.
• The public expects more: Communities are tired of reactive systems. They want tools, models, information and leadership that actually prevents harms before they begin.

This is why the 2025 conference matters — because we can’t afford not to act.

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What Makes This Conference Different?

This isn’t a motivational talk fest. It’s a practical, systems-focused event designed to support professionals, decision-makers, and leaders to implement lasting change.

Be part of creating New Zealand’s first ever Prevention Universal Wellbeing Charter.

Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Dates: 11–12 September 2025
Hosted by: FREE Research & Educational Equity Trust
Sponsored by: FREEDOM Wellbeing Institute & NZ Curriculum Design Institute (NZCDI)

You’ll get:

• Real-life information about current and needed prevention activities shared by practitioners, clinicians, and leaders across diverse sectors
• Insights into how the Universal Wellbeing Model provides a comprehensive framework for improving national wellbeing
• Opportunity to learn about the Universal Wellbeing Model and Evaluation Tool to measure and monitor outcomes
• National Charter Launch: Contribute to shaping a cross-sector prevention strategy for New Zealand
• Speakers taking action through research implementation and innovative practice

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Built on 16 Years of Research: The Universal Wellbeing Model (UWM)

At the heart of the conference is the Universal Wellbeing Model, a six-dimensional, evidence-based framework that emerged from 16 years of research across education, health, social services, and workforce systems.

• Includes Social, Physical, Intellectual, Ethnic & Cultural, Emotional, and Spiritual wellbeing
• Designed for use by individuals, families, organisations, communities, and government settings
• Supported by the Universal Wellbeing Evaluation Tool (UWET) — a practical method for identifying strengths and harms to wellbeing

This is what New Zealand’s wellbeing sector has been waiting for: a tool that’s ready to use, scalable, and supports Universal Wellbeing Literacy.

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Who Should Attend?

This conference is for people who want to be part of lasting, measurable change:

• Government & Policy Advisors — shape the future of our national wellbeing aspirations
• Health, Education, Business & Community Leaders — implement a prevention strategy in your organisation
• HR, People & Culture Managers — integrate wellbeing into systems with clarity and data
• Academics, Evaluators, and Researchers — looking for evidence-based tools to support impact
• Wellbeing Practitioners — working at the coal face of client-centric systems change

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Be Part of the Paradigm Shift — Not Just a Spectator. Your Voice Matters.

This isn’t just an event to attend. It’s a platform to support prevention leaders.

You’ll walk away with:

• Insights and tools you can apply immediately
• Frameworks that support funding bids, organisational culture developments, and board reporting
• Language to push outdated views of wellbeing beyond “nice to have” and into evidence-informed strategy
• National-level connections across sectors

This is the kind of event that changes lives and organisations — and in the long run, provides higher, associative, and truly holistic thinking.

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Ready to Lead the Next Chapter of Prevention Universal Wellbeing in NZ?

Early Bird Tickets Available Until 1 August 2025

Reserve Your Place Now →

Let’s build our prevention-first mindset in New Zealand — together.