You may have noticed the Better U branding around the university. You may have even visited the website and had a look around, hence arriving here. Let me tell you the story (relatively brief I promise) of how Better U came about.
Better U is intended to be more than just a website. It is a reflection of Flinders University’s commitment to supporting student wellbeing in a coordinated and strategic way. It showcases Flinders’ growing range of wellbeing-focused programs, initiatives, and events in one place, making it easier for students to engage with what’s on offer [if you are curious about how we understand the term ‘wellbeing’, this post might help]
But Better U didn’t emerge out of nowhere. It is the result of a long series of developments, stretching back years that have shared the goal of better embedding wellbeing into the fabric of university life.
A Growing Focus on Wellbeing 🔍
Around the time that I joined the team here in Flinders (2017), universities across Australia were being encouraged to take a more structured approach to supporting student wellbeing. To be clear, many universities (including Flinders) were already supporting student wellbeing through things like counselling services and wellbeing programs. But here was a push to amplify and refine those efforts.
One of the groups responsible for putting more of a spotlight on student wellbeing was Orygen. Orygen is probably the leading youth mental health organisation in Australia, at the centre of the development and dissemination of knowledge relating to youth mental health care. In 2020, Orygen released the Australian University Mental Health Framework which highlighted the need for institutions to move beyond isolated services and towards whole-of-university approaches.
Flinders was fortunate to have been part of the consultation process that gave rise to that report and even had a couple of our initiatives featured as case studies – Oasis, a dedicated student wellbeing space, and the Be Well Plan, a program designed to build mental resilience—as strong examples of embedding wellbeing into university life.
Building on this foundation, key university leaders, including Professor Mike Kyrios, Dr Lydia Woodyatt, and Jodie Zada, developed Flinders’ first Whole-of-University Wellbeing Strategy (2021-2025). This strategy set a clear direction for the university, outlining how wellbeing would be supported across multiple levels, from individual student needs to broader institutional policies.
From Strategy to Action: The Wellbeing Working Group (WWG) 🎬
To ensure the strategy translated into real, impactful change, the Wellbeing Working Group (WWG) was formed. Unlike traditional wellbeing committees focused solely on student services, the WWG was designed to take a whole-university approach, meaning it strategises for both students and staff.
Chaired by Professor Peter Monteath, the WWG brings together representatives from different parts of the university, including academic staff, student services, and student representatives. Meeting every few months, the group:
- Identifies key wellbeing priorities.
- Plans upcoming initiatives.
- Oversees the implementation of the wellbeing strategy.
- Shares insights from different areas of the university to ensure a coordinated approach.
One of the first major projects led by the WWG was the Student Wellbeing Survey, which gathered insights into student experiences. The findings reinforced the opportunity to enhance student wellbeing—not just by reducing stressors, but by fostering a more engaging, connected, and supportive university experience. This aligned with the broader goal of ensuring that every student has access to the right resources, programs, and initiatives to thrive during their time at Flinders.
Wellbeing Mapping: Understanding What’s Already Happening 🗺️
Following the survey, the WWG developed the Whole-of-University Wellbeing Implementation Plan, providing a structured approach to embedding wellbeing into university life. A major piece of the plan was a Wellbeing Initiative Mapping Survey, led by Jess Nicole, which documented the full range of wellbeing programs, workshops, and services already available at Flinders.
This mapping process revealed a wealth of existing wellbeing initiatives—but also a significant challenge. Many students and staff weren’t aware of what was available, and there was no single place to find everything. Without better coordination and promotion, many of these initiatives weren’t reaching their full potential.
The Birth of Better U 🖥️
Recognising the need for a central wellbeing hub, the WWG initiated the development of Better U, a platform designed to showcase, connect, and encourage engagement with wellbeing initiatives at Flinders.
The goal was simple: make it easier for students to find support, attend wellbeing events, and take advantage of the many programs available to them.
Led by Student Life, Better U serves as:
- A showcase of wellbeing-focused initiatives, helping students discover programs, services, and events.
- A platform for engagement, allowing students and staff to contribute articles and share their own wellbeing initiatives.
- A way to encourage participation, making it easier for students to get involved in wellbeing workshops, events, and volunteer opportunities.
By bringing all these elements together, Better U ensures that wellbeing isn’t just an add-on to university life—it’s a core part of the student experience.
Wellbeing for Staff: Thriving@Flinders 📧
While Better U focuses on student wellbeing, the university recognised the importance of taking a similar approach for staff. Sallyann Shearer and the team at People and Culture at Flinders have been leading the development of Thriving@Flinders, a staff-focused platform that will serve a similar purpose—highlighting wellbeing initiatives, providing access to resources, and promoting a culture of workplace wellbeing.
Together, Better U and Thriving@Flinders represent a comprehensive, whole-of-university approach to wellbeing, ensuring that all members of the Flinders community—students and staff alike—have the tools, opportunities, and support they need to thrive.
What’s Next for Better U? 🔮
Better U launched in Orientation 2025 with a simple but important goal—to be the definitive showcase of wellbeing efforts at Flinders. Right now, our focus is on making sure it does exactly that.
As we grow, we’ll be drawing on feedback from students and staff, as well as taking direction from the Wellbeing Working Group (WWG) to guide what comes next. For now, we hope that more of the Flinders community discover what’s happening in the wellbeing space—whether that’s workshops, events, programs, or opportunities to get involved.
We don’t know exactly where Better U will go from here, but we’re excited to find out. With each new student, staff member, and initiative that joins the platform, we’re building something bigger—a more connected, engaged, and supported Flinders community.
When the stars align, our next chapter will appear here. 🙂