About Us
Our Story
More than academics
The beginning
The Curriculum of Giving began with a simple idea: “Children just need to give.”
Thomas first heard these words from his mentor while studying education at university. They stayed with him as he wrestled with some big questions: What is education really for? And how can we do it well?
Years later, as a lecturer at the University of Canberra, Thomas began exploring research into happiness and wellbeing, and what this might mean for how we educate and raise children and young people.
Across different fields, cultures and traditions, he kept coming back to a simple idea. People may find meaning in different things, but a common thread seems to be finding meaning by contributing to something beyond ourselves – by giving.
The partnership
In 2012, Jennifer joined Thomas in exploring and developing these ideas. Since then, we have continued to explore them together – both in our work and in our lives.
With a background in psychology and mental health research, Jennifer brings a research-informed perspective and a particular interest in how people experience and make sense of their worlds. She specialises in suicide prevention, exploring the role of social processes such as connectedness and belonging in shaping mental health and wellbeing outcomes, and wellbeing education. Her research focuses on developing, testing, and refining theories, and evaluating interventions to understand what works, for whom, and in what contexts.
Thomas brings many years of experience as an educator and academic, with a deep understanding of classrooms and the art of teaching. He specialises in teaching about positive learning environments, including effective classroom and behaviour management, as well as positive psychology and wellbeing education. As an academic, he is particularly interested in developing and expanding thinking about educational philosophy, big-picture ideas, and helping people see the connections between them.
Together, we bring complementary strengths to this work: Thomas brings expertise in education, teaching, and learning, while Jennifer brings expertise in psychology, research, and understanding how people’s social worlds influence wellbeing.
A way of seeing
Our shared interest in personal development, including practices such as martial arts, yoga, and the study of perennial wisdom traditions, has also shaped how we think about learning and growth.
For us, this work is about more than just being academics or developing educational resources.
It is about cultivating a way of seeing, being in, and relating to the world – and understanding our place within it. It means ‘connecting the dots’ between different areas of knowledge and experience, and exploring the underlying principles that can support our individual and collective wellbeing – such as the power of giving.
Where this has led us
Our work – the Curriculum of Giving – brings together research, educational practice, professional and personal experience, and ideas from different traditions. We draw on these perspectives to develop frameworks, strategies and resources that educators, parents and caregivers can explore and use in their own practice.
Ultimately, our hope is simple: to play a small part in creating a world in which giving is recognised as an important part of how we learn, live and grow — and where children and young people have opportunities to discover the positive possibilities that can emerge when we look beyond ourselves.
You can learn more about Thomas through his University of Canberra, ResearchGate, and ORCID profiles, or about Jennifer through her University of Canberra, ResearchGate, and ORCID profiles.
Contact Info
Let’s Connect
Curious about our work or the ideas behind the Curriculum of Giving?
We’d love to hear from you. Perhaps you have a question, an experience to share, or an idea we haven’t considered. We’re always interested in where a conversation might lead.