Benefitting Society category
When the COVID-19 pandemic first affected Australians in 2020, there were national concerns about a potential increase in mental ill health. It was anticipated that the number of people experiencing mental ill health for the first time and those re-entering mental ill health would significantly rise due to pandemic-related factors such as social isolation, job loss, financial stress, uncertainty, and feelings of worry and fear.
Recognising this urgent need for preventative mental healthcare, UniSC’s Thompson Institute swiftly drew on its inhouse academic and clinical expertise in mental health to launch the EMERALD program for community benefit. The Thompson Institute integrates mental health research, education, clinical services, and partnerships/engagement under one roof. This model ensures the fast translation of the latest science into practice. This placed the Institute in a strong position to launch EMERALD to support society through an unprecedented challenge.
To develop EMERALD, the Institute adapted evidence-based lifestyle medicine resources, from research that used interventions to prevent mental and cognitive decline, and from postgraduate education materials. Academic and clinical staff worked together to develop a best-practice clinical program based on evidence, to meet an urgent community need.
The result is an 8-week preventative mental health program that supports participants to adopt lifestyle strategies proven to boost mental health. Participants from any location receive:
- Weekly telehealth appointments with a health coach
- Telehealth appointments with expert practitioners such as dietitians, exercise physiologists, and mental health clinicians
- Access to the online learning modules on strategies proven to support mental health including nutrition, sleep quality, exercise, mindfulness, social connection and anxiety management
EMERALD addresses a gap in the market for a proactive approach to mental health. It targets people experiencing early onset of mental health challenges, including those with anxiety, depression, and stress. It supports them to address these emerging symptoms early, to prevent them developing into more severe and chronic conditions. In doing so, EMERALD supports individuals’ health and ability to function, and therefore the program also supports resilient communities and the sustainability of the healthcare system.
After society emerged from the pandemic’s lockdowns, the need for EMERALD’s preventative healthcare remained. The 2021 census revealed that mental health conditions were our nation’s most diagnosed chronic illness. Through engagement with government, philanthropy, and industry, EMERALD pivoted to continue to support the general population, while also targeting: towns affected by floods; small business owners affected by staff shortages and economic pressures; under-pressure health workers; and large employers wishing to better support employee wellbeing. Through these partnerships, EMERALD has remained relevant to societal need and financially sustainable.
EMERALD is an initiative that encompasses sustainability, human need, engagement, proactive response, and the application of academic knowledge to benefit society. This comprehensive wellbeing program not only addresses individual mental health but also recognises the broader social and economic benefits of a healthy population.
Environmental and social benefits
The societal problem EMERALD addresses
More than 2.2 million Australians have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, making it the most commonly diagnosed chronic illness in the country according to the 2021 census. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Australians will experience a mental illness in any given year and almost 1 in 2 Australians will experience mental illness in their lifetime. The Productivity Commission estimates that mental ill-health and suicide are costing Australia $220 billion annually and treatment and services are not meeting community expectations.
The evidence underpinning EMERALD’s service to society
Early intervention programs are essential in addressing these challenges by helping individuals identify and manage mental health issues before they become more severe and difficult to treat.
Lifestyle medicine has an increasing evidence base for prevention or early intervention of mental health conditions to assist individual and population health improvements. Lifestyle medicine is a multimodal framework targeting modifiable lifestyle factors including physical activity, nutrition, sleep, social connection, and stress management, which are foundational for good physical and psychological health.
The therapeutic relationship created between EMERALD’s health coaches and participants is a significant factor in participants adopting positive lifestyle changes. From a behavioural perspective simply giving people information is unlikely to change behaviour (WHO, 2003). Health coaching offers the practice of health education and health promotion to facilitate action and achievement of health related goals. Health coaching assists in the promotion of self-efficacy and there is strong evidence that this is an effective method with improving health outcomes (Dejonghe etal, 2017; Kivela et. al., 2014).
EMERALD’s outcomes
547 people have enrolled in EMERALD. The program’s results demonstrate individual benefits as well as flow on benefits to the community. Program outcomes and social impact modelling is publicly displayed online. We used validated clinical scales to measure pre- and post-participation to assess changes in participants’ mental health and functioning. Of all participants:
- 86% achieved a reduction in the symptoms of depression
- 83% achieved a reduction in symptoms of anxiety
- 82% achieved an improvement in perceived wellbeing
- 81% achieved an improvement in their functioning (this could be work, social and/ or daily functioning)
- 69% achieved an improvement in their self-resilience
- 49% reported a reduction in their loneliness.
On a community scale, social impact modelling by Rooy conservatively projects that 2,288 people benefit from the increased wellbeing of the people who have enrolled in the program. It also estimates that the program’s economic benefit to society is $2.2m. This economic benefit includes reduced burden on the public health system. As more people complete the program, these figures continue to grow.
By promoting good health behaviours, which reduces the risk of acute and chronic illnesses, EMERALD supports the sustainability of our health systems, including costs to government and the management of demand.
One aim of the program is to support people to look after themselves so they can effectively support others. We have offered this program to health care workers, through a partnership with the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, and small business owners through a partnership with the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce. Both sectors have come under enormous pressure in the past three years with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and are at risk of feelings of stress and burnout. Their engagement in the program and the results are reflected in the improvement statistics stated above.
EMERALD’s use of telehealth has offered accessibility to participants to engage in the program remotely and reduced time pressures, travel costs and carbon emissions. 26% of participants in the program were outside of the Sunshine Coast and Gympie district. Potentially, participants can take part from any location in Australia, conveniently in a lunch break.
Anecdotal feedback from participants identified that people are often uncertain about the reliability and trust-worthiness of information found on the internet and offered through advertised services. Participants reported a high level of confidence in the program due to it being offered by a university and felt reassured that the information and support that they would receive would be evidenced based, relevant and professional.
Dejonghe, L. A. L., Becker, J., Froboese, I., & Schaller, A. (2017). Long-term effectiveness of health coaching in rehabilitation and prevention: A systematic review. Patient Educ Couns, 100(9), 1643-1653. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2017.04.012
Kivelä, K., Elo, S., Kyngäs, H., & Kääriäinen, M. (2014). The effects of health coaching on adult patients with chronic diseases: a systematic review. Patient Educ Couns, 97(2), 147-157. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2014.07.026
World Health Organization. (2003). Adherence to long-term therapies: evidence for action: World Health Organization.
Leadership and engagement
EMERALD is a university-led clinical program that has a high level of community engagement at an individual level whilst incorporating partnerships with representation from small, medium and large organisations. Our program is action orientated with participation at the grass root level through to top end organisation executive participation.
High level of community and industry engagement
One of the UniSC Thompson Institute’s organisational pillars is community engagement and industry partnerships. This strong focus on engaging the community it aims to benefit has also applied to the implementation of EMERALD. Through engagement, EMERALD has expanded from a community clinical program in response to COVID impacts, to a program that benefitted small business owners feeling the impacts of staff-shortages and economic pressures, to a program that is supporting employees through a for-purpose product for workplaces. Validated clinical scales demonstrate the pre-post program benefits for all these audiences. Through high-quality community and industry engagement, EMERALD has continued to swiftly address identified needs in the community.
Proactive Response
EMERALD’s proactive approach to mental healthcare was demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. It quickly responded to the immediate needs of individuals by securing government funding and adapting its academic services to provide essential support remotely. When the Thompson Institute’s industry engagement highlighted a need for support for small businesses, we formed a partnership with the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce to make the program available to members. This proactive stance showcases the program’s commitment to staying ahead of mental health challenges and ensuring timely intervention.
Academic Integration
EMERALD is a university-led clinical program. By integrating postgraduate education modules and resources from mental health research programs, EMERALD offers an evidence-based service to benefit society. It demonstrates that a university’s positive impact on a community can extend well beyond the boundary of its campus.
Preventative mental healthcare
Traditional mental health services tend to focus on psychological treatments for already developed conditions and moderate to severe symptoms. EMERALD addresses early signs of mental health decline using lifestyle medicine to prevent symptoms from developing into more severe and chronic conditions.
Holistic Approach
EMERALD takes a holistic approach to wellbeing. It promotes mental health through lifestyle medicine and therefore also supports participants’ physical and emotional health. The program also considers broader social, economic, and environmental impacts. By recognising the interconnectedness of these factors, the program promotes comprehensive support and aims to enhance overall quality of life.
Environmental
The program incorporates environmentally friendly practices, particularly through its telehealth services. By offering remote sessions the EMERALD Program reduces carbon emissions associated with travel, making it more sustainable and accessible to individuals. This commitment to environmental consciousness sets it apart from traditional face-to-face mental health programs.
Significance to the sector
Health sector
EMERALD is unique in its offering of a telehealth program providing early intervention mental health support using multi-displinary lifestyle medicine supported by registered health professionals. To our knowledge, there is no other program like this, with the role of health coaching, additional allied health support, online resources, and telehealth (video) support.
Prior to the pandemic, there was not funding to provide free early intervention mental health services. More commonly in the early intervention arena, is the availability of self-help resources, non registered businesses or privately funded individual support with health professionals, i.e. appointments to dietitian, psychologist, exercise physiologists.
The ability to offer a funded lifestyle medicine program that is packaged with registered health professionals, evidenced based resources, health coach support over an 8-week program is uncommon.
EMERALD supports participants to build self-efficacy by nominating their chosen priority areas, within lifestyle medicine, to address their personal needs. This selection could be one or more lifestyle medicine areas, creating a personalised approach to the program. As such, they become the authors of their own program, and this is likely to enhance engagement in making behavioural changes to lifestyle habits and routines (Malone, 2001).
By promoting good health behaviours, which reduces the risk of acute and chronic illnesses, EMERALD supports the sustainability of our health systems, including costs to government and the management of demand. EMERALD demonstrates that lifestyle interventions are relatively cost efficient for both the provider and participant, but have the potential to save significant health system costs in illness prevention.
University sector
EMERALD showcases how universities directly contribute to the wellbeing of their communities by addressing pressing societal issues. It demonstrates that academic expertise in mental health can rapidly translate into benefit to the community. EMERALD has a strong partnership strategy with organisations, health sectors, and community service providers. These collaborations highlight the university’s ability to build strong networks and work collaboratively with various partners. Through these partnerships the university sector becomes a hub for interdisciplinary cooperation, knowledge exchange and collective impact. This program highlights how a university can lead the way in innovative practices that contribute to the recovery of our nation.
Malone, J. W. (2001). Shining a new light on organizational change: Improving self-efficacy through coaching. Organization Development Journal, 19(2), 27-36.
Wider societal impact
The Productivity Commission estimates that mental ill-health and suicide are costing Australia $200—220 billion annually and treatment and services are not meeting community expectations1. More than 2.2 million Australians have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, making it the most commonly diagnosed chronic illness in the country according to the 2021 census.
UniSC engaged social impact measurement specialists, Rooy, to measure EMERALD’s economic return to society. It is estimated that for every 500 people who participate in EMERALD, $1.99m in economic societal economic value is realised. This modelled value includes the prevention of individuals entering an already overburdened public health system, thanks to EMERALD’s preventative mental healthcare. It is also estimated that the increased wellness of these participants flows on to benefit 2290 people. This and other EMERALD social impacts are viewable online.
The EMERALD program is leading the way in the promotion of early intervention for mental wellbeing to support general community improve their mental health and engage in healthy behaviours. This unique program has engaged people with mild to moderate mental health symptoms. Pre and post clinical scales report significant improvements to mental health symptoms and wellbeing. This indicates that through addressing early signs of mental health decline, EMERALD has prevented the development of more severe and enduring mental health conditions. A healthier community is a more resilient and thriving community.
Through promoting lifestyle medicine EMERALD has broken barriers to mental healthcare created by stigma and helped break down that stigma in the process.
Learner/Graduate employer impact
UniSC’s Thompson Institute offers two postgraduate programs in Mental Health and Neuroscience. The EMERALD team and engagement and partnerships team have worked with the educators of these programs to ensure graduates learn and incorporate the lifestyle intervention strategies used in EMERALD. We have also included our successful engagement model into the modules for our students. The course is undertaken by a wide range of professionals including teachers, nurses, allied health professionals, and first responders, many of whom require the relevant skills and knowledge to prepare them for their line of work. The legacy benefits to graduates and their employers stem from an enhanced understanding of mental health, well-being and human services at both the individual and organisational level. It also helps ensure students gain relevant evidence-based skills and knowledge.
Top 3 learnings
Supported by
Category finalists
Benefitting Society/Winners
Benefitting Society/Winners
Benefitting Society
Benefitting Society
2023 winners
Benefitting Society/Winners
Benefitting Society/Winners
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sustainability/Winners
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sustainability/Winners
Climate Action/Winners
Climate Action/Winners
Sustainability Institution of the Year/Winners
Sustainability Institution of the Year/Winners
Creating Impact/Winners
Creating Impact/Winners
Creating Impact/Winners
Creating Impact/Winners
Top 3 learnings
Benefitting Society category
When the COVID-19 pandemic first affected Australians in 2020, there were national concerns about a potential increase in mental ill health. It was anticipated that the number of people experiencing mental ill health for the first time and those re-entering mental ill health would significantly rise due to pandemic-related factors such as social isolation, job loss, financial stress, uncertainty, and feelings of worry and fear.
Recognising this urgent need for preventative mental healthcare, UniSC’s Thompson Institute swiftly drew on its inhouse academic and clinical expertise in mental health to launch the EMERALD program for community benefit. The Thompson Institute integrates mental health research, education, clinical services, and partnerships/engagement under one roof. This model ensures the fast translation of the latest science into practice. This placed the Institute in a strong position to launch EMERALD to support society through an unprecedented challenge.
To develop EMERALD, the Institute adapted evidence-based lifestyle medicine resources, from research that used interventions to prevent mental and cognitive decline, and from postgraduate education materials. Academic and clinical staff worked together to develop a best-practice clinical program based on evidence, to meet an urgent community need.
The result is an 8-week preventative mental health program that supports participants to adopt lifestyle strategies proven to boost mental health. Participants from any location receive:
- Weekly telehealth appointments with a health coach
- Telehealth appointments with expert practitioners such as dietitians, exercise physiologists, and mental health clinicians
- Access to the online learning modules on strategies proven to support mental health including nutrition, sleep quality, exercise, mindfulness, social connection and anxiety management
EMERALD addresses a gap in the market for a proactive approach to mental health. It targets people experiencing early onset of mental health challenges, including those with anxiety, depression, and stress. It supports them to address these emerging symptoms early, to prevent them developing into more severe and chronic conditions. In doing so, EMERALD supports individuals’ health and ability to function, and therefore the program also supports resilient communities and the sustainability of the healthcare system.
After society emerged from the pandemic’s lockdowns, the need for EMERALD’s preventative healthcare remained. The 2021 census revealed that mental health conditions were our nation’s most diagnosed chronic illness. Through engagement with government, philanthropy, and industry, EMERALD pivoted to continue to support the general population, while also targeting: towns affected by floods; small business owners affected by staff shortages and economic pressures; under-pressure health workers; and large employers wishing to better support employee wellbeing. Through these partnerships, EMERALD has remained relevant to societal need and financially sustainable.
EMERALD is an initiative that encompasses sustainability, human need, engagement, proactive response, and the application of academic knowledge to benefit society. This comprehensive wellbeing program not only addresses individual mental health but also recognises the broader social and economic benefits of a healthy population.
Environmental and social benefits
The societal problem EMERALD addresses
More than 2.2 million Australians have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, making it the most commonly diagnosed chronic illness in the country according to the 2021 census. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Australians will experience a mental illness in any given year and almost 1 in 2 Australians will experience mental illness in their lifetime. The Productivity Commission estimates that mental ill-health and suicide are costing Australia $220 billion annually and treatment and services are not meeting community expectations.
The evidence underpinning EMERALD’s service to society
Early intervention programs are essential in addressing these challenges by helping individuals identify and manage mental health issues before they become more severe and difficult to treat.
Lifestyle medicine has an increasing evidence base for prevention or early intervention of mental health conditions to assist individual and population health improvements. Lifestyle medicine is a multimodal framework targeting modifiable lifestyle factors including physical activity, nutrition, sleep, social connection, and stress management, which are foundational for good physical and psychological health.
The therapeutic relationship created between EMERALD’s health coaches and participants is a significant factor in participants adopting positive lifestyle changes. From a behavioural perspective simply giving people information is unlikely to change behaviour (WHO, 2003). Health coaching offers the practice of health education and health promotion to facilitate action and achievement of health related goals. Health coaching assists in the promotion of self-efficacy and there is strong evidence that this is an effective method with improving health outcomes (Dejonghe etal, 2017; Kivela et. al., 2014).
EMERALD’s outcomes
547 people have enrolled in EMERALD. The program’s results demonstrate individual benefits as well as flow on benefits to the community. Program outcomes and social impact modelling is publicly displayed online. We used validated clinical scales to measure pre- and post-participation to assess changes in participants’ mental health and functioning. Of all participants:
- 86% achieved a reduction in the symptoms of depression
- 83% achieved a reduction in symptoms of anxiety
- 82% achieved an improvement in perceived wellbeing
- 81% achieved an improvement in their functioning (this could be work, social and/ or daily functioning)
- 69% achieved an improvement in their self-resilience
- 49% reported a reduction in their loneliness.
On a community scale, social impact modelling by Rooy conservatively projects that 2,288 people benefit from the increased wellbeing of the people who have enrolled in the program. It also estimates that the program’s economic benefit to society is $2.2m. This economic benefit includes reduced burden on the public health system. As more people complete the program, these figures continue to grow.
By promoting good health behaviours, which reduces the risk of acute and chronic illnesses, EMERALD supports the sustainability of our health systems, including costs to government and the management of demand.
One aim of the program is to support people to look after themselves so they can effectively support others. We have offered this program to health care workers, through a partnership with the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, and small business owners through a partnership with the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce. Both sectors have come under enormous pressure in the past three years with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and are at risk of feelings of stress and burnout. Their engagement in the program and the results are reflected in the improvement statistics stated above.
EMERALD’s use of telehealth has offered accessibility to participants to engage in the program remotely and reduced time pressures, travel costs and carbon emissions. 26% of participants in the program were outside of the Sunshine Coast and Gympie district. Potentially, participants can take part from any location in Australia, conveniently in a lunch break.
Anecdotal feedback from participants identified that people are often uncertain about the reliability and trust-worthiness of information found on the internet and offered through advertised services. Participants reported a high level of confidence in the program due to it being offered by a university and felt reassured that the information and support that they would receive would be evidenced based, relevant and professional.
Dejonghe, L. A. L., Becker, J., Froboese, I., & Schaller, A. (2017). Long-term effectiveness of health coaching in rehabilitation and prevention: A systematic review. Patient Educ Couns, 100(9), 1643-1653. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2017.04.012
Kivelä, K., Elo, S., Kyngäs, H., & Kääriäinen, M. (2014). The effects of health coaching on adult patients with chronic diseases: a systematic review. Patient Educ Couns, 97(2), 147-157. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2014.07.026
World Health Organization. (2003). Adherence to long-term therapies: evidence for action: World Health Organization.
Leadership and engagement
EMERALD is a university-led clinical program that has a high level of community engagement at an individual level whilst incorporating partnerships with representation from small, medium and large organisations. Our program is action orientated with participation at the grass root level through to top end organisation executive participation.
High level of community and industry engagement
One of the UniSC Thompson Institute’s organisational pillars is community engagement and industry partnerships. This strong focus on engaging the community it aims to benefit has also applied to the implementation of EMERALD. Through engagement, EMERALD has expanded from a community clinical program in response to COVID impacts, to a program that benefitted small business owners feeling the impacts of staff-shortages and economic pressures, to a program that is supporting employees through a for-purpose product for workplaces. Validated clinical scales demonstrate the pre-post program benefits for all these audiences. Through high-quality community and industry engagement, EMERALD has continued to swiftly address identified needs in the community.
Proactive Response
EMERALD’s proactive approach to mental healthcare was demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. It quickly responded to the immediate needs of individuals by securing government funding and adapting its academic services to provide essential support remotely. When the Thompson Institute’s industry engagement highlighted a need for support for small businesses, we formed a partnership with the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce to make the program available to members. This proactive stance showcases the program’s commitment to staying ahead of mental health challenges and ensuring timely intervention.
Academic Integration
EMERALD is a university-led clinical program. By integrating postgraduate education modules and resources from mental health research programs, EMERALD offers an evidence-based service to benefit society. It demonstrates that a university’s positive impact on a community can extend well beyond the boundary of its campus.
Preventative mental healthcare
Traditional mental health services tend to focus on psychological treatments for already developed conditions and moderate to severe symptoms. EMERALD addresses early signs of mental health decline using lifestyle medicine to prevent symptoms from developing into more severe and chronic conditions.
Holistic Approach
EMERALD takes a holistic approach to wellbeing. It promotes mental health through lifestyle medicine and therefore also supports participants’ physical and emotional health. The program also considers broader social, economic, and environmental impacts. By recognising the interconnectedness of these factors, the program promotes comprehensive support and aims to enhance overall quality of life.
Environmental
The program incorporates environmentally friendly practices, particularly through its telehealth services. By offering remote sessions the EMERALD Program reduces carbon emissions associated with travel, making it more sustainable and accessible to individuals. This commitment to environmental consciousness sets it apart from traditional face-to-face mental health programs.
Significance to the sector
Health sector
EMERALD is unique in its offering of a telehealth program providing early intervention mental health support using multi-displinary lifestyle medicine supported by registered health professionals. To our knowledge, there is no other program like this, with the role of health coaching, additional allied health support, online resources, and telehealth (video) support.
Prior to the pandemic, there was not funding to provide free early intervention mental health services. More commonly in the early intervention arena, is the availability of self-help resources, non registered businesses or privately funded individual support with health professionals, i.e. appointments to dietitian, psychologist, exercise physiologists.
The ability to offer a funded lifestyle medicine program that is packaged with registered health professionals, evidenced based resources, health coach support over an 8-week program is uncommon.
EMERALD supports participants to build self-efficacy by nominating their chosen priority areas, within lifestyle medicine, to address their personal needs. This selection could be one or more lifestyle medicine areas, creating a personalised approach to the program. As such, they become the authors of their own program, and this is likely to enhance engagement in making behavioural changes to lifestyle habits and routines (Malone, 2001).
By promoting good health behaviours, which reduces the risk of acute and chronic illnesses, EMERALD supports the sustainability of our health systems, including costs to government and the management of demand. EMERALD demonstrates that lifestyle interventions are relatively cost efficient for both the provider and participant, but have the potential to save significant health system costs in illness prevention.
University sector
EMERALD showcases how universities directly contribute to the wellbeing of their communities by addressing pressing societal issues. It demonstrates that academic expertise in mental health can rapidly translate into benefit to the community. EMERALD has a strong partnership strategy with organisations, health sectors, and community service providers. These collaborations highlight the university’s ability to build strong networks and work collaboratively with various partners. Through these partnerships the university sector becomes a hub for interdisciplinary cooperation, knowledge exchange and collective impact. This program highlights how a university can lead the way in innovative practices that contribute to the recovery of our nation.
Malone, J. W. (2001). Shining a new light on organizational change: Improving self-efficacy through coaching. Organization Development Journal, 19(2), 27-36.
Wider societal impact
The Productivity Commission estimates that mental ill-health and suicide are costing Australia $200—220 billion annually and treatment and services are not meeting community expectations1. More than 2.2 million Australians have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, making it the most commonly diagnosed chronic illness in the country according to the 2021 census.
UniSC engaged social impact measurement specialists, Rooy, to measure EMERALD’s economic return to society. It is estimated that for every 500 people who participate in EMERALD, $1.99m in economic societal economic value is realised. This modelled value includes the prevention of individuals entering an already overburdened public health system, thanks to EMERALD’s preventative mental healthcare. It is also estimated that the increased wellness of these participants flows on to benefit 2290 people. This and other EMERALD social impacts are viewable online.
The EMERALD program is leading the way in the promotion of early intervention for mental wellbeing to support general community improve their mental health and engage in healthy behaviours. This unique program has engaged people with mild to moderate mental health symptoms. Pre and post clinical scales report significant improvements to mental health symptoms and wellbeing. This indicates that through addressing early signs of mental health decline, EMERALD has prevented the development of more severe and enduring mental health conditions. A healthier community is a more resilient and thriving community.
Through promoting lifestyle medicine EMERALD has broken barriers to mental healthcare created by stigma and helped break down that stigma in the process.
Learner/Graduate employer impact
UniSC’s Thompson Institute offers two postgraduate programs in Mental Health and Neuroscience. The EMERALD team and engagement and partnerships team have worked with the educators of these programs to ensure graduates learn and incorporate the lifestyle intervention strategies used in EMERALD. We have also included our successful engagement model into the modules for our students. The course is undertaken by a wide range of professionals including teachers, nurses, allied health professionals, and first responders, many of whom require the relevant skills and knowledge to prepare them for their line of work. The legacy benefits to graduates and their employers stem from an enhanced understanding of mental health, well-being and human services at both the individual and organisational level. It also helps ensure students gain relevant evidence-based skills and knowledge.
Supported by
Related finalists
Benefitting Society/Winners
Benefitting Society/Winners
Benefitting Society
Benefitting Society
Other finalists
Climate Action
Driving Towards Tomorrow’s Campus with Vehicle-to-Grid EV Technology
As part of Flinders University’s drive to innovate and become a leader in climate action, the University launched its Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) initiative. This involved installing and maintaining 20x V2G and smart chargers for its growing electric vehicle fleet. Leveraging 100% renewable energy generated by ENGIE’s Willogoleche Wind Farm and Flinders University’s solar power systems, this enables the storage of renewable energy in EV batteries to be discharged on campus during peak demand periods. Hence, allows for these EV fleets to operate as a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) to deliver peak demand management and optimization of behind-the-meter generation.
Overall, this initiative demonstrates the reliability and scalability of bi-directional and uni-directional smart-charging systems for EVs in reducing GHG emissions while facilitating teaching, research, and innovation opportunities. Moreover, it exemplifies a sustainable and innovative solution to scale energy storage technology and increase renewables.
Sustainability Champion – Staff/Winners
Brandan Espe
Environmental Officer / Acting Grounds Supervisor
Brandan has brought over 50 federally listed Endangered species of plant into the James Cook University living collection, many of which have never been cultivated and are found in no other collection in the world.
Of these, over half have been sustainably wild collected, inclusive of field and clone data, so they can be used for ongoing conservation, research and teaching, the remaining being sourced from private and partner organisations through favours of service or trades.
He personally funded the project from 2019-2022, until funding was awarded for the program due to its success, with the program now being engrained into the Universities landscapes for ongoing management should he leave JCU, creating a threatened species legacy collection.
The program has now expanded beyond this, with an additional 48 species now funded for further addition, some of which are only known from less than 5 sightings in history.
Student Engagement
Sustainability Leaders creating real impact!
La Trobe created a unique Sustainability Leaders volunteering program to increase engagement with students on campus and empower them to act against waste and promote sustainability. It included the following initiatives:
- Promoting the reusable crockery implementation,
- Increasing knowledge action of other students on campus to diversion comingled recycling and organic waste from landfill.
- Focus on waste audits and data,
- Improved signage through new waste posters for students living on campus.
- Collaboration with Cirka (our cleaning and waste partner) to create a waste wall and;
- Learning all things sustainability (net zero, biodiversity, waste, reusables, engagement)
These initiatives yielded significant results and with a reduction in waste contamination by almost 40% at the residential buildings and engagement with over 80 groups of people for the Reusable Revolution.
Creating Impact
Where knowledge meets habits: Empowering students for a sustainable tomorrow
Our online Sustainability Challenges offer participants an engaging, self-paced learning experience centered around a specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG). Requiring minimal resourcing and at zero-cost to participants, we’ve created replicable, compact, scalable, and impactful learning opportunities that result in real impact.
The Challenges follow a structured process that moves participants from knowledge gain to simple action to celebration, to establish small but mighty habits relating to waste and carbon emissions. This approach recognises that knowledge alone is often insufficient to drive behaviour change, and that ease of action and celebration are crucial components in creating sustainable habits.
Sustainability Champion – Staff/Winners
Catherine (CeeJay) Donovan
Veterinary nurse – Anaesthesia
From establishing the Massey Vet School Green Team to leading impactful initiatives, my commitment to environmental sustainability has been making waves. With the help of my team, I have accomplished numerous small, yet meaningful actions, including integrating a sustainability lecture for final year vet students and implementing battery recycling alongside rechargeable battery use. Our larger projects encompass the introduction of green waste and soft plastics recycling bins, an energy audit resulting in power-saving measures, and playing a part in a successful rubbish audit. I spearheaded the ‘6 in 6’ campaign, empowering individuals with six simple steps for workplace sustainability. Through the SustainaVet social media pages I help to educate and inspire peers nationwide. As the Massey School of Veterinary Science sustainability champion, I had the privilege of speaking at the annual veterinary conference on sustainability in clinical practice. Currently I’m conducting pioneering research on responsible cat waste disposal. Together, we’re forging a greener future, one initiative at a time.
Sustainability Champion – Student
Louis Walmsley
SDG Coordinator Monash Association of Sustainability, Office Bearer Monash Student Association’s Environmental and Social Justice Department, Masters of Environment and Sustainability Student
Louis is an exceptional student sustainability leader at Monash University. His passion and dedication to sustainability have made a significant impact on the community. Louis’s values revolve around sustainability, which is evident upon meeting him. He actively participates in various sustainability groups, demonstrating his commitment to creating a more environmentally conscious society.
One of Louis’s notable involvements is with Precious Plastic Monash, where he organizes remarkable events and fosters collaboration among like-minded individuals, student groups, and staff. His contributions to the Monash Association of Sustainability have allowed him to conduct valuable research on plastic usage and climate action, resulting in positive changes within the university.
Through his work with the Monash Student Association, Louis has engaged hundreds of students in fun and interactive sustainability initiatives. He took the initiative to organize a sustainability food fair, which was one of the largest sustainability-related events held at Monash post-COVID. This accomplishment is a true testament to Louis’s hard work and creativity.
Louis is an outstanding student leader whose efforts in sustainability have had a lasting impact on Monash University and its community. His inspiring nature resonates with everyone who knows him.
