Connect, Take Notice, Be Active, Keep Learning, Give. Reflections on embedding the 5 Ways to Wellbeing (NEF, 2008) in a University Student Counselling Service

Preventative wellbeing initiatives that build student resilience are increasingly important features of student services. Charles Darwin University, the university for the Northern Territory, has a unique student profile including a high number of international, online, remote, and First Nations students. During the last three years, the Charles Darwin University Student Counselling Service has been exploring the application of the ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ as a framework for counselling service design and therapeutic interventions, for students’ wellbeing. First conceived by Aked, Cordon and Thompson (NEF, 2008), the 5 Ways to Wellbeing are evidenced-based actions that support the two main elements of wellbeing: feeling good and functioning well. The innovative and creative use of the ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ as a framework for therapeutic interventions and creating and implementing wellbeing strategies across multiple campuses will be showcased. Reflections about the successes, key learnings, and challenges involv