Freedom Wellbeing Institute

25/09/2026

Congratulations to Bhatia University and especially Professor Professor Mehreen Latif and Professor Shaza Shakoor on hosting this valuable event. I feel privileged to be invited to present the following FROM BURNOUT TO BALANCE workshop to attendees. I also appreciate the support of Dr Syed Shahid to participate at this Conference.

My workshop will explore how the evidence-based Universal Wellbeing Model and Evaluation Tool can be applied by researchers, academics and practitioners to understand and address Burnout. The wellbeing of health science faculty members is a global concern; Bahria University is to be commended for this initiative and aspirations to address institutional, national and global burnout challenges through innovative research.

24/09/2026

Two more keynote speakers join the 2026 Universal Wellbeing Conference.

We’re pleased to welcome Anna Perez and Laura Ross, bringing two important perspectives to this year’s conversation on prevention and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Anna Perez

Principal Advisor to the Chief Executive, Ngā Whare Whakaruruhau o Aotearoa | National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges

Anna will bring her experience across Women’s Refuge, ACC and the Ministry of Social Development to a keynote focused on family violence, prevention and strengthening safety and wellbeing for individuals, whānau and communities.

Laura Ross

Principal Advisor Wellbeing System Leadership, Te Hiringa Mahara - Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission

Laura will bring a wellbeing systems perspective, drawing on her work across public health, policy, data and system design. Her presentation will explore how Te Hiringa Mahara is contributing to better and equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all people in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Only 14 days to go!

Join us in Auckland for two days bringing together leaders, researchers, practitioners and communities to explore how we can prevent harm and strengthen wellbeing across Aotearoa New Zealand.

📅 8–9 October 2026

📍 The Parnell Hotel & Conference Centre, Auckland

Registration includes the full two-day conference programme:

• All keynote presentations and research sessions

• Cross-sector strategic discussions on national wellbeing challenges

• Day One workshop sessions exploring prevention and implementation

• Mindful reflection session

• Opportunities to contribute to discussions informing the Universal Wellbeing Charter: A Framework for Global Primordial Prevention

• Implementation science insights and practical approaches

• Networking reception and professional networking opportunities

• Conference materials and resources

Standard Pass: $550 + GST

Special Community Rate: $400 + GST

Available for Community, NGO, Charity/NFP, FWI & NZCDI

Graduates/Students, and Retired attendees.

14 days. Two days of ideas, connections and practical conversations about prevention and wellbeing.

Secure your place now.

BUY TICKETS – Standard Pass ➡️https://www.freedom-ihe.ac.nz/freedom-wellbeing-store/p/nz-prevention-imperative-2026-individual-early-bird-j2zsp-zr52w

BUY TICKETS – Special Community Rate ➡️https://www.freedom-ihe.ac.nz/freedom-wellbeing-store/p/nz-prevention-imperative-2026-individual-early-bird-j2zsp-zr52w-e624y-haygy

21/09/2026

You are invited to join efforts to PREVENT HARM and REALISE POTENTIAL

Make it your priority to join us at the:

Prevention Imperative; Universal Wellbeing Conference being held on the 8th and 9th October the at The Parnell Hotel in Auckland.
https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/prevention-imperative-nz-2026

This unique Conference is focussed on the early (primordial) prevention of the 14 poor wellbeing outcomes in NZ (see attached).

New Zealand is facing increasingly poor wellbeing metrics that are now impacting the lives of everyone. The good news is they are preventable.

Be inspired, take away new and valuable insights and resources from presenters that bring solutions, there is hope, be part of the village making positive changes. Register at: https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/nz-conference-registration

21/09/2026

17 days to go. Are you part of the conversation?

Crime affects more than individual victims. It impacts whānau, communities and New Zealand’s long-term wellbeing.

At the 2nd New Zealand Prevention Imperative: Universal Wellbeing Conference, Hon. Paul Goldsmith, Ministry of Justice - New Zealand, will deliver the keynote:

Keeping Everyone Safe: Reducing Crime and Its Impact on Victims

Hear directly from the Minister about New Zealand’s priorities for reducing victimisation, strengthening accountability, improving court timeliness and creating safer communities.

Join leaders across government, health, education, research and the community sector for two days focused on prevention, policy and practical action.

📅 8–9 October 2026

📍 The Parnell Hotel & Conference Centre, Auckland

Registrations are open. Secure your place today: https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/prevention-imperative-nz-2026

15/09/2026

New Zealand's Poor Wellbeing Emergency: A Call for National Early Prevention Action

For ten years, we have been tracking key poor wellbeing indicators as part of a 16-year Wellbeing research programme.

The picture is concerning, particularly for our children and young people. But there are also signs that change is possible.

In this new media release, we share the trends we have been tracking, and why we believe New Zealand needs to move further upstream towards authentic, holistic and evidence-based early prevention, and our call for national collaboration and action.

This conversation will continue at the 2nd Prevention Imperative: Universal Wellbeing Conference, being held in Auckland on 8–9 October 2026.

We welcome leaders, researchers, educators, health practitioners, community organisations and anyone who cares about the state of wellbeing of New Zealand.

Read the full media release below.

Conference information: https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/prevention-imperative-nz-2026

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09/09/2026

2 million hits a week.

New Zealand's methamphetamine consumption has reportedly reached a record high.

Meanwhile in Australia addictions have been on a downward trajectory for over 5 years!!!

Addictions are just one of the poor wellbeing metrics we at FWI are tracking, this newsflash is yet another confronting reminder that

our 14 selected and entrenched poor wellbeing challenges to be addressed at our conference cannot be addressed through awareness and one off programs.

We need to start by asking harder questions.

What is driving drug addictions in the first place in NZ?

Who is benefiting, and how ?

Who is being harmed?

What powerful primordial (early) prevention interventions must be implement to change our growing addiction rates?

There is a lot of evidence that our children are the most seriously impacted by New Zealand's increased addiction rates.

These questions but especially solutions are exactly the kinds of challenges the 2nd Prevention Imperative: Universal Wellbeing Conference 2026

is designed to address. We want to bring together leaders, researchers, practitioners, communities and those from policy, health, and education

to take on challenges like this. We hope you will join us, all welcome.

8–9 October 2026 | Auckland

🔗 Conference programme and registration: https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/prevention-imperative-nz-2026

09/09/2026

Representing Universal Wellbeing on the global stage.

FREEDOM Wellbeing Institute Director Susan Stevenson recently presented at the 18th World Congress on Public Health, connecting with international public health professionals and sharing perspectives on prevention and Universal Wellbeing.

The Congress provided an important opportunity to exchange ideas, build international connections and contribute to conversations around creating healthier, more resilient communities.

We are proud to see this work contributing to the wider global public health conversation.

08/09/2026

How do we move upstream to prevent chronic disease before it occurs?

We are pleased to share the keynote presentation by Dr Karen Hacker, MD, MPH, from the Australian Universal Wellbeing Symposium 2026.

🎥 Chronic Disease and Social Needs: Moving Upstream to Prevent Illness

Dr Hacker explores the growing burden of chronic disease in the USA and internationally, and how social determinants of health and social needs influence chronic disease and health outcomes.

Drawing on her extensive public health leadership experience, she examines strategies being applied within the US healthcare system, emerging evidence of their effectiveness, and the role of public health policy and practice in moving prevention upstream.

Dr Hacker is the former Director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the U.S. CDC and Adjunct Professor at Emory University.

▶️ Watch the full keynote: https://youtu.be/ED1y-U4D288

An important discussion for public health professionals, policymakers, researchers, healthcare leaders and anyone working across chronic disease prevention, health equity, population health and social determinants of health.

How can we prevent chronic disease by addressing social determinant...

07/09/2026

Presenter Announced | Dr Sadia Farzana

We are pleased to welcome Dr Syeda Sadia Farzana as a presenter at the 2nd New Zealand Prevention Imperative: Universal Wellbeing Conference 2026, taking place in Auckland this October.

Dr Farzana is a physician, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and tertiary health educator. She is currently Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader at ATMC New Zealand, with academic experience spanning a number of New Zealand tertiary institutions.

Her presentation:

Breastfeeding as Primordial Prevention: Mapping a Single Determinant Across the Universal Wellbeing Model

will explore breastfeeding through a prevention and Universal Wellbeing lens, tracing its relationship across the Model’s Sensory Inputs, Dimensions, Determinants and Principles.

📍 The Parnell Hotel & Conference Centre Auckland, New Zealand

📅 8–9 October 2026

We look forward to welcoming Dr Farzana and hearing her contribution to this year’s programme.

Early Bird registration closes TONIGHT, 8 September.

Join researchers, practitioners, educators and leaders for two days focused on prevention, systems change and Universal Wellbeing.

👉 Register today to secure the Early Bird rate : https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/nz-conference-registration

07/09/2026

2nd Prevention Imperative: Universal Wellbeing Conference 2026

Are you interested in preventing harm, suffering, and poor wellbeing in New Zealand?

Would you like to contribute to preventing child and adult suicides, sexual and family violence, crime and addictions, mental and chronic health conditions?

Would you like to increase educational engagement and achievement, home ownership, workplace safety, productivity and a more cohesive society?

The above are the focus of the 2nd Prevention Imperative: Universal Wellbeing Conference being held on the 8th and 9th of October, 2026.

Learn about the evidence-based Universal Wellbeing Model, new research, solutions, innovations, and practice advances in Wellbeing Science.

Hear about the NEW Universal Wellbeing Charter and the vision to develop community led activities to reduce the above poor wellbeing metrics in New Zealand.

If finding real world solutions to the very high levels of wellbeing challenges holding people and our country back interest you we look forward to seeing you there.

Special Registration rate for community, NGO, Charities, NFP, and FWI graduates, students and the retired.

Visit: https://www.nzcdi.ac.nz/prevention-imperative-nz-2026 for more information and to register.