Nurturing Student Wellbeing: Insights from Andrea Downie
On-Demand Webinar with Paul Organ and Andrea Downie

Explore student well-being in education with Andrea Downie, discussing eudaimonia vs. hedonia and fostering long-term fulfillment.
Join us for a profound conversation with Andrea Downie, co-founder of Project Thrive, as she unravels the complexities of nurturing student well-being in contemporary education systems. In this episode, Andrea discusses two ancient philosophies – eudaimonia (meaning and purpose) and hedonia (pleasure) – and their impact on student development. She emphasizes the importance of shifting focus from short-term happiness to long-term fulfillment and purpose in education. Through her expertise in well-being science, system leadership, and education redesign, Andrea provides actionable insights for educators to create learning environments that foster genuine student engagement, personal growth, and resilience.
  • Introduction: Andrea Downie's background and her work with Project Thrive.
  • Eudaimonia vs. Hedonia: Understanding the two ancient philosophies and their relevance in modern education.
  • The Role of Well-Being in Schools: How current educational approaches might be missing the mark in nurturing true student well-being.
  • Shifting Focus in Education: The need to move away from outcome-focused teaching to more meaningful, journey-focused learning experiences.
  • Empowering Agency in Students and Educators: Strategies for fostering a sense of purpose and engagement in the learning process.
  • Challenges in Implementing Eudaimonic Education: Discussing the obstacles schools face in adopting this approach and how to overcome them.
  • Key Takeaways: Andrea shares her final thoughts on the importance of holistic well-being in education and its long-term benefits.

Listeners can reach out to Andrea for further questions via email at info@projectthrive.com.au. For more information on Project Thrive, visit their website. This episode is available for replay on our webinar channel.

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