Institute for Positive Psychology and Education

IPPE tackles the significant issues of our time through positive psychology. We conduct multi-disciplinary research to address critical educational and psychosocial issues, and translate theory to inform effective policy and practice. Our work demonstrates how individuals, communities and organisations can not only just succeed, but flourish and thrive.

The Institute for Positive Psychology and Education gives researchers the space to develop multi-disciplinary, collaborative projects.

Institute for Positive Psychology and Education

Explore

IPPE is a world-leading Research Institute in the fields of education and psychology.

Lead Institution in Australia 2023 and 2024 in Educational Psychology and Counselling (The Australian Research Magazine)

#1 in the world in Research Quality (Psychology), 2025 (Times Higher Education Ranking, by Subject)

#1 in Australia in the United Nations Impact Category of Good Health and Wellbeing (2024 Times Higher Education Impact Ranking)

News and events

Professor Larissa McLean Davies appointed Executive Dean Educat...

Professor Larissa McLean Davies has been appointed Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education and Arts at Australian Catholic University.

Principals navigate growing challenges as anxiety, depression i...

Australia's principals report worsening levels of anxiety and depression and high levels of physical violence, threats, and bullying.

ACU education experts win million-dollar grant to improve Indig...

ACU education experts have won an Australian Research Council grant for a home reading program that will improve Indigenous literacy.

Indigenous education and reading proficiency to benefit from AR...

ACU researchers have been awarded more than $3 million in Australian Research Council linkage grants.

Violence escalates and mental health suffers but principals rem...

Principals faced the worst recorded levels of physical violence, threats of violence, and bullying in the history of ACU’s annual Australian Principal Occupational Heal...

Not all screen time bad for kids, ACU study

Children’s screen time is not the problem most parents fear it to be, according to world-first ACU research.

ACU leads Deadly education programs for young Aboriginal childr...

ACU has launched two Deadly education programs for Aboriginal children in kindergarten, years 3 and 4 in Wonnarua Country.

ACU scientists top international research rankings

ACU researchers have once again been named global leaders in psychology, education, humanities, social sciences, and medical sciences based on prestigious new internati...

Acute warning signs for Australian school principals’ health, w...

Heavy workloads, lack of time and teacher shortages are driving school principals towards resignation and early retirement, an ACU survey found.

Wellbeing improves when kids get moving with iPLAY

iPLAY equips teachers with tools to promote physical activity for long term health and wellbeing.

ACU researchers receive prestigious Discovery grants

Researchers from ACU have been awarded more than $1.3 million in the highly competitive Australian Research Council Discovery Projects scheme.

ACU education psychologists among world's most productive

A new study has shown established and emerging ACU educational psychologists are world leaders when it comes to producing and publishing their research.

ACU researchers win over $2 million in grants

ACU researchers have been awarded more than $2 million in Australian Research Council grants.

Fifteen minutes with an online mentor can reboot a young person...

At-risk high school students need the support and guidance of an online mentor to help them re-engage with their schooling, according to a world-leading Professor of Ps...

If lockdowns continue the education gap will get bigger

If sporadic pandemic lockdowns continue, they are likely to create significant challenges of identity, connectedness, and equity of education for children in disadvanta...

Research asks, ‘What are the drivers for Indigenous university ...

Discovering the reasons for Indigenous university student success is the goal of a new research program called ‘Game Changers’ at Australian Catholic University.

High honour for iPLAY

The research team behind an innovative program tackling cardiovascular disease risk in children has been recognised with one of the Council of Academic Public Health In...

Kids get better school results when mum is optimistic about chi...

Mums who are overly optimistic about their children’s academic abilities not only help their children enjoy school more but can also improve their school results, new r...

Global pandemic heaps more stress on stretched principals

A survey of Australia’s principals has found last year’s ravaging bushfires, followed by shock floods, and the COVID-19 global pandemic had an immense impact on the str...

Pandemic is a "downright bizarre situation" for teens

Teenagers are experiencing record high levels of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a world-leading psychology professor and co-author of a new illustrat...

New research centres

Seven new research centres will enhance ACU’s reputation in the arts, education, health, and theology and philosophy.

ACU researchers win ARC Discovery Grants

Two Australian Catholic University researchers have been awarded prestigious ARC Discovery Project grants to further their work

Striving for beauty and money above all else linked to less hap...

People who pursue beauty, fame and money above other goals are less happy than those who want to improve the world, new research has found.

Outstanding ERA results for ACU

Australian Catholic University (ACU) has performed remarkably well over the last three years in the 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) evaluation.

ACU success in 2018 ARC Grants

ACU has been awarded over $2.6 million in prestigious Australian Research Council funding in 2018.

Beyond carrot and stick: the truth about what motivates us

It’s been almost four decades since two pioneering psychologists proposed a radical shift in the science of motivation.

Professor Herb Marsh presented keynote address at the 2018 APS ...

Our very own Professor Herb Marsh (BA Hons, Indiana Univ, MA, PhD, UCLA; Dsc UWestSyd; HonDoc, Ludwig Maximilians Univ Munich) has presented his keynote address at the ...

Kids have healthier hearts due to new school program

Cardiovascular disease risk in kids due to poor aerobic fitness has been cut by more than half in primary schools using a new online physical activity training program ...

ACU tops list of Australia’s highest-cited researchers

Recognised as the most productive educational psychologist in the world, Professor Herb W Marsh from ACU's Institute for Positive Psychology and Education has recently ...

Facilitating Learning and Wellness in Schools - Prof. Richard R...

View the live stream-cast of Professor Rich Ryan’s Keynote presentation on Facilitating Learning and Wellness in Schools.

Rich Text:

¹Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) 2015 rankings

Back to previous page

Visit us

Level 9 and 10, 33 Berry Street
North Sydney NSW 2060
Australia

Mailing address

PO Box 968
North Sydney NSW 2059
Australia

Email: ippe@acu.edu.au