Geelong Grammar School formally began its Positive Education journey in 2008, motivated by growing concerns about youth mental health in Australia. At the time, reports from organisations such as Beyond Blue and the Black Dog Institute highlighted that one in four adolescents experienced mental health problems and that suicide was a leading cause of death among young people. The School sought to move beyond a reactive, deficit-focused model toward one that proactively built resilience, wellbeing, and flourishing. 

Looking globally for solutions, GGS turned to Positive Psychology as a framework to strengthen students’ lives and confidence. Professor Martin Seligman, one of the founders of the field, spent six months on campus with his family and a team from the University of Pennsylvania, training the entire staff in January 2008. During this time, the term “Positive Education” was first coined to describe the integration of wellbeing science with teaching and learning – a distinction that marked a new way of thinking about education. 

Early pilot programs at GGS were closely monitored and supported by research partnerships with the University of Melbourne and Monash University. These projects evaluated the effectiveness of Positive Education practices on student wellbeing and provided an empirical foundation for the model’s ongoing refinement. 

As interest in Positive Education grew, schools began seeking guidance from GGS. In response, the School established the Institute of Positive Education in 2014 – the world’s first on-campus research, training, and development institute dedicated to Positive Education. The Institute was founded to provide schools with evidence-informed resources, professional development, and practical support to embed wellbeing in their own communities. 

From the start, GGS’s approach has been guided by a holistic vision: to nurture students’ academic, personal, and character development; strengthen relationships; and foster a sense of purpose. This legacy – of research, reflection, and practice – remains at the heart of the Institute today. 

The Institute Today

Today, the Institute of Positive Education continues to lead the field by supporting a global online community of wellbeing educators, providing space for generous and generative conversation. We offer a curriculum for students from ELC to Year 12, used by thousands of educators across every continent, and our wellbeing student measurement tool, Mi7, helps schools understand and track student wellbeing to guide practice. 

Our flagship Discovering Positive Education course is delivered online to an engaged international audience, equipping educators with evidence-based skills and strategies to embed wellbeing in their schools. Within Geelong Grammar School, Positive Education continues to be integrated into daily life, supporting staff and students with the skills, tools, and capacity to flourish personally, academically, and socially. 

Through research, training, and practical application, the Institute honours its founding mission: to translate the science of wellbeing into meaningful, context-sensitive practice that strengthens communities and helps all students and staff lead flourishing lives.