Nature Reset Wellbeing Program
Supporting MDHS Graduate Researchers’ Mental Health and Wellbeing through Nature
What is the Nature Reset Program?
The Nature Reset Program is designed to support graduate researchers by fostering long‑term, mindful engagement with nature. Through immersive activities in the Royal Botanic Gardens, you’ll learn practical strategies to reduce stress, enhance focus, and build emotional resilience skills that support you throughout your candidature and beyond.
The program combines:
- Guided nature walks in the Royal Botanic Gardens from March to July 2026
- A Mental health and wellbeing workshop in September 2026
Who Runs the Program?
This initiative is led by the Melbourne School of Public Health and is fully funded by the Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences.
Who Can Participate?
All graduate researchers within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences are eligible to participate in the program free of charge.
Program details
Mental Health & Wellbeing Workshop
Flourishing Through the PhD Journey: Register now
Feeling stretched, stuck in your head, or simply running on empty? Come pause, reconnect and explore what helps wellbeing thrive during the PhD journey. Building on our Nature Reset program, this interactive session combines nature, wellbeing science and simple practices for stress, focus, recovery and connection — with ideas you can actually take back to your research life.
This project is funded by a MDHS Graduate Research Development Grant.
Open to all MDHS GRs, but places are limited. Lunch will be provided. 19 November, 10am - 1pm. Register here.
Bio: Professor Dianne Vella-Brodrick (PhD) holds the Gerry Higgins Chair in Positive Psychology and is Director at the Centre for Wellbeing Science at the University of Melbourne. She is a registered psychologist and Member of the Australian Psychological Society and College of Health Psychologists. Dianne is the inaugural Director of the University of Melbourne Master of Applied Positive Psychology program. She is a Fellow and current President of the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA and Chaired the 2025 IPPA World Congress. Her research interests include the development and evaluation of wellbeing programs particularly for young people in schools and for those in high-performance environments. Dianne is also researching ways in which nature experiences can influence wellbeing and environmental sustainability as well as how young people define and strive for success.
In this workshop on “Flourishing with Nature using Wellbeing Science”, Dianne will present some of the scientific evidence to support the practice of nature connection for wellbeing. During this workshop, participants will get to experience nature-based practices that integrate positive psychology and wellbeing initiatives such as savouring, gratitude and mindfulness. This workshop showcases how natural settings can optimise wellbeing, attention restoration and stress reduction, while at the same time fostering a strong connection with, and care for, nature.
Program Agenda
Guided Nature Wellbeing Walks (completed)
These 90‑minute sessions will be based at the Royal Botanic Gardens, led by a trained wellbeing program facilitator. Each walk includes:
- Mindfulness walking
- Nature journaling
- Bird observation
- Learning the health benefits of plants
- Creative land‑art activities
- A relaxed tea & scones gathering for peer connection
The Guided Nature Wellbeing Walks will run on the following dates and times:
- Tuesday 24 March 2026, 12:45pm to 14:15pm
- Wednesday 8 April 2026, 10:15am to 11:45am
- Thursday 14 May 2026, 10:15am to 11:45am
- Thursday 4 June 2026, 12:45pm to 14:15pm
- Friday 10 July 2026, 12:45pm to 14:15pm
Bookings are essential as places are limited
Why Participate?
Reducing stress and anxiety Improving concentration and clarity Enhancing creativity Increasing self‑awareness Strengthening peer connection Promoting sustainable daily habits that support wellbeing
What participants are saying
- March 2026 session participant
“I felt very calm and relaxed after the walk.”
- March 2026 session participant
“It was such a calm and peaceful experience, and the weather was perfect. I explored parts of the Gardens I’d never been to before.”
- March 2026 session participant
Still got questions?
Contact Alice Zeng, Graduate Research Program Coordinator, Melbourne School of Public Health
MSPGH-GRProgram@unimelb.edu.au