Unit Outline

The aim of this unit is to introduce the concept of positive psychology into leadership practices and principles. The unit has been designed to encourage you to critically explore the theories, constructs and models within positive psychology, and how they can be integrated into the workplace environment, including your own professional practice. As a relatively new area of academic inquiry and application, but one with a significant evidence base, this field is concerned with what works in creating a flourishing work environment rather than focusing on organizational deficits. On completing this unit, you will be expected to be familiar with positive psychology concepts, be able to discuss these concepts critically, and be able to review the potential of positive psychology principles in terms of your own working relationships and leadership practice. Having said that, this unit will not be teaching you how to become positive psychology practitioners per se, but you will have the potential to draw on a positive psychology perspective in your approach to your work either as an employee or a leader in the health and human service context.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Critically explain the underlying principles and evidence base of positive psychology using clear, accurate, and audience appropriate communication.
2	Analyse the relevance and application of positive psychology in specific workplace and organisational settings.
3	Critique workplace challenges using positive psychology principles/strategies to maintain a healthy and vibrant workplace culture.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

In response to the feedback from previous student cohort, changes may have been made which may include adjustments to assessments and alignment of some of the timelines. As always, the teaching team will greatly appreciate your feedback both informally during the delivery of the unit in 2026, and formally through the University of Tasmania’s Unit Survey following your completion of the unit.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Applying Positive Psychology to Real‑World Challenges: An Interview Study	See the MyLO site for the due date	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Tailored Responses to Workplace Scenarios	See the MyLO site for the due date	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	A presentation to evaluate the role of Positive Psychology in Health and Human Service Leadership	See the MyLO site for the due date	40 %	LO1, LO2

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Applying Positive Psychology to Real‑World Challenges: An Interview Study

Task Description:

You must interview someone in your personal or professional network about a significant challenge they have experienced and identify the key strength they used to navigate it.
In your analysis, you also need to:
• Identify elements of positive psychology visible in how the person approached or overcame the challenge.
• Recommend suitable positive psychology approaches or interventions that could have supported them in the situation.
• Justify each recommended approach, explaining why it is appropriate and how it could help in that context.

Further details will be provided in MyLO

Task Length:

Up to 1500 words

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply core concepts of positive psychology principles to the specific contexts	LO1
2	Evaluate the strengths of positive psychology approaches in relation to the identified challenge	LO2
3	Integrate positive psychology theory, evidence and lived experience	LO3
4	Demonstrated ability to convey information effectively in an appropriate format using standard academic language and referencing conventions.	LO1

Assessment Task 2: Tailored Responses to Workplace Scenarios

Task Description:

This assessment consolidates your learning from across the unit by requiring you to apply three different positive psychology lenses to three complex, realistic leadership scenarios. Each response demands:
• contextual interpretation
• theory to practice translation
• critical evaluation of PP in real organisational conditions
This task moves beyond personal narrative (AT1) and theoretical critique (AT2) to demonstrate practical leadership capability.

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Develops a strategy to solve the problem using the principles and practices of positive psychology	LO3
2	Demonstrate critical thinking about positive psychology in discussion and justification of response to each problem	LO2
3	Effective use of credible evidence: breadth of reading and quality of evidence; integration	LO2
4	Demonstrated ability to convey information effectively in an appropriate format using standard academic language and referencing conventions	LO1

Assessment Task 3: A presentation to evaluate the role of Positive Psychology in Health and Human Service Leadership

Task Description:

In this presentation, you will critically evaluate the role of Positive Psychology (PP) in contemporary Health & Human Services (H&HS) leadership. You will examine whether PP is a genuinely helpful approach to leadership, or whether it leaves important gaps. You will compare PP to at least one other leadership model and use a real workplace issue to demonstrate when PP is or is not the most appropriate framework. The assessment will take the form of a short (~8min) recorded PowerPoint presentation. The presentation audience is non-expert, key stakeholders.

Further details will be provided in MyLO.

Note: As part of this assessment, you may be required to provide a learning assurance check in the form of a Viva (live question and answer session). We will contact you directly to discuss this if required.

Task Length:

10 Minutes

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Critical evaluation of the role of positive psychology in health and human service leadership	LO1
2	Application of positive psychology to a real workplace issue with use of an appropriate framework	LO2
3	Demonstrated ability to convey information effectively in an appropriate format using standard academic language and referencing conventions	LO1

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.