Leaders' Mental Health and Wellbeing: Early insights from DRA's Complete State Model Exploration
Tracks
Royal Poinciana - In-Person Only
| Monday, March 3, 2025 |
| 2:20 PM - 2:40 PM |
| Royal Poinciana |
Overview
Freya Makinson and Michelle Morrison, Disaster Relief Australia
Presenter
Freya Makinson
Wellbeing Manager
Disaster Relief Australia
Leaders' Mental Health and Wellbeing: Early insights from DRA's Complete State Model Exploration
Presentation Overview
Disaster Relief Australia (DRA), following its 2024 wellbeing study and guided by the DRA Wellbeing Framework, has embarked on an exploration of the adaptive factors that high-functioning members (both volunteers and employees) leverage to strengthen mental health and foster growth. This research adopts a 'complete state' perspective, recognising mental illness and wellbeing as related but independent constructs. It addresses the complexity of factors that lead to ill health (pathogenic) versus those that promote thriving (salutogenic).
The study explores the integration of growth alongside trauma within an organisational paradigm, offering expanded legitimacy and relevance to DRA members. This approach strategically weaves wellbeing into leadership development and cultural design, aligning with DRA’s values of respect and mateship. The research employs a consensual, "do no harm" qualitative approach, collecting lived experience data directly from the workforce. This method ensures that members feel recognised and relevant to the ongoing enrichment of understanding adversity and adaptation.
Analysis of responses will be guided by current literature and findings from the DRA Wellbeing Study, potentially expanding on positive mental health antecedents previously identified. By using inductive, qualitative research techniques, DRA aims to provide an evidence-based exploration of these factors within their specific context.
Historically, research has focused primarily on the treatment and negation of ill health, leaving the understanding of adaptation, growth, and resilience largely underdeveloped. This research seeks to address that gap, offering invaluable guidance to DRA’s wellbeing strategy while providing insights into institutional context and culture. More broadly, it contributes to practitioners' understanding of navigating workforces directly or vicariously affected by trauma.
This presentation will cover DRA’s organisational response, early insights from interviews, and reflections on the complex relationship between adversity and positive adaptation. Full research findings will be forthcoming as the study progresses.
Presentation Key Learnings:
1. Integration of Wellbeing into Culture: DRA strategically incorporates wellbeing into leadership development, recognising mental illness and wellbeing as independent yet related constructs, aligned with values like respect and mateship.
2. Growth and Trauma: The research explores the complex relationship between growth and trauma, highlighting that factors promoting health are distinct from those preventing ill health.
3. Evidence-Based Adaptation: By using qualitative research, DRA offers an evidence-based understanding of the adaptive factors that high-functioning members leverage, addressing gaps in traditional research focused on treating ill health.
The study explores the integration of growth alongside trauma within an organisational paradigm, offering expanded legitimacy and relevance to DRA members. This approach strategically weaves wellbeing into leadership development and cultural design, aligning with DRA’s values of respect and mateship. The research employs a consensual, "do no harm" qualitative approach, collecting lived experience data directly from the workforce. This method ensures that members feel recognised and relevant to the ongoing enrichment of understanding adversity and adaptation.
Analysis of responses will be guided by current literature and findings from the DRA Wellbeing Study, potentially expanding on positive mental health antecedents previously identified. By using inductive, qualitative research techniques, DRA aims to provide an evidence-based exploration of these factors within their specific context.
Historically, research has focused primarily on the treatment and negation of ill health, leaving the understanding of adaptation, growth, and resilience largely underdeveloped. This research seeks to address that gap, offering invaluable guidance to DRA’s wellbeing strategy while providing insights into institutional context and culture. More broadly, it contributes to practitioners' understanding of navigating workforces directly or vicariously affected by trauma.
This presentation will cover DRA’s organisational response, early insights from interviews, and reflections on the complex relationship between adversity and positive adaptation. Full research findings will be forthcoming as the study progresses.
Presentation Key Learnings:
1. Integration of Wellbeing into Culture: DRA strategically incorporates wellbeing into leadership development, recognising mental illness and wellbeing as independent yet related constructs, aligned with values like respect and mateship.
2. Growth and Trauma: The research explores the complex relationship between growth and trauma, highlighting that factors promoting health are distinct from those preventing ill health.
3. Evidence-Based Adaptation: By using qualitative research, DRA offers an evidence-based understanding of the adaptive factors that high-functioning members leverage, addressing gaps in traditional research focused on treating ill health.
Biography
Freya Makinson, an accomplished Occupational Therapist with over 10 years of experience, is the Wellbeing Manager at Disaster Relief Australia. She has an extensive experience in rehabilitation management, she has worked across diverse sectors, including healthcare and disaster relief.
Michelle Morrison
Organisational Psychologist
Disaster Relief Austrlia
Leaders' Mental Health and Wellbeing: Early Insights from DRA's Complete State Model Exploration
Presentation Overview
Disaster Relief Australia (DRA), following its 2024 wellbeing study and guided by the DRA Wellbeing Framework, has embarked on an exploration of the adaptive factors that high-functioning members (both volunteers and employees) leverage to strengthen mental health and foster growth. This research adopts a 'complete state' perspective, recognising mental illness and wellbeing as related but independent constructs. It addresses the complexity of factors that lead to ill health (pathogenic) versus those that promote thriving (salutogenic).
The study explores the integration of growth alongside trauma within an organisational paradigm, offering expanded legitimacy and relevance to DRA members. This approach strategically weaves wellbeing into leadership development and cultural design, aligning with DRA’s values of respect and mateship. The research employs a consensual, "do no harm" qualitative approach, collecting lived experience data directly from the workforce. This method ensures that members feel recognised and relevant to the ongoing enrichment of understanding adversity and adaptation.
Analysis of responses will be guided by current literature and findings from the DRA Wellbeing Study, potentially expanding on positive mental health antecedents previously identified. By using inductive, qualitative research techniques, DRA aims to provide an evidence-based exploration of these factors within their specific context.
Historically, research has focused primarily on the treatment and negation of ill health, leaving the understanding of adaptation, growth, and resilience largely underdeveloped. This research seeks to address that gap, offering invaluable guidance to DRA’s wellbeing strategy while providing insights into institutional context and culture. More broadly, it contributes to practitioners' understanding of navigating workforces directly or vicariously affected by trauma.
This presentation will cover DRA’s organisational response, early insights from interviews, and reflections on the complex relationship between adversity and positive adaptation. Full research findings will be forthcoming as the study progresses.
Presentation Key Learnings:
1. Integration of Wellbeing into Culture: DRA strategically incorporates wellbeing into leadership development, recognising mental illness and wellbeing as independent yet related constructs, aligned with values like respect and mateship.
2. Growth and Trauma: The research explores the complex relationship between growth and trauma, highlighting that factors promoting health are distinct from those preventing ill health.
3. Evidence-Based Adaptation: By using qualitative research, DRA offers an evidence-based understanding of the adaptive factors that high-functioning members leverage, addressing gaps in traditional research focused on treating ill health.
The study explores the integration of growth alongside trauma within an organisational paradigm, offering expanded legitimacy and relevance to DRA members. This approach strategically weaves wellbeing into leadership development and cultural design, aligning with DRA’s values of respect and mateship. The research employs a consensual, "do no harm" qualitative approach, collecting lived experience data directly from the workforce. This method ensures that members feel recognised and relevant to the ongoing enrichment of understanding adversity and adaptation.
Analysis of responses will be guided by current literature and findings from the DRA Wellbeing Study, potentially expanding on positive mental health antecedents previously identified. By using inductive, qualitative research techniques, DRA aims to provide an evidence-based exploration of these factors within their specific context.
Historically, research has focused primarily on the treatment and negation of ill health, leaving the understanding of adaptation, growth, and resilience largely underdeveloped. This research seeks to address that gap, offering invaluable guidance to DRA’s wellbeing strategy while providing insights into institutional context and culture. More broadly, it contributes to practitioners' understanding of navigating workforces directly or vicariously affected by trauma.
This presentation will cover DRA’s organisational response, early insights from interviews, and reflections on the complex relationship between adversity and positive adaptation. Full research findings will be forthcoming as the study progresses.
Presentation Key Learnings:
1. Integration of Wellbeing into Culture: DRA strategically incorporates wellbeing into leadership development, recognising mental illness and wellbeing as independent yet related constructs, aligned with values like respect and mateship.
2. Growth and Trauma: The research explores the complex relationship between growth and trauma, highlighting that factors promoting health are distinct from those preventing ill health.
3. Evidence-Based Adaptation: By using qualitative research, DRA offers an evidence-based understanding of the adaptive factors that high-functioning members leverage, addressing gaps in traditional research focused on treating ill health.
Biography
Michelle Morrison, with over 30 years of experience, is a distinguished Organisational Psychologist at Disaster Relief Australia. She has partnered with executive leaders in complex organisations to optimise culture and wellbeing, focusing on resilience, leadership, and strategic development.
