OrgPsych Dr Kate Lemerle
Dr Kate Lemerle BSc (Psychology) (Hons), B.Ed DipEd (Graduate), Grad Dip Social Ecology, Grad Dip Health Promotion, MAppSci (Social Ecology), PhD
With over 40 years’ experience in clinical, community, organisational and academic settings, Kate brings a unique diversity of experience to all her projects. Her passion for weaving the Positive Psychology perspective into every level of her projects is renowned. During the 1990’s she was at the forefront of workplace health promotion in Australia setting up innovative health promotion programs in rural NSW that changed the face of organisational health. A decade later, her doctoral research on organisational factors influencing positive health outcomes for teachers working in Health Promoting Schools made a significant contribution to the Positive Education movement. This grew into her postdoctoral research designing and evaluating school-based interventions promoting children’s resilience within a cross-cultural framework, leading to a deep appreciation of cultural determinants of wellbeing. Kate’s academic research has been presented at prestigious national and international conferences and published in several journals and book chapters.
Kate also has an extensive teaching career at several universities including the University of New England, Charles Sturt University, James Cook University, Queensland University of Technology, and the University of Southern Queensland where she introduced Coaching Psychology, and Health Promotion, with the emphasis on skills-based learning.
In 2012 Kate initiated an informal networking group in Brisbane for other health, education and coaching professionals to facilitate professional linkages and build skills in the diverse applications of Positive Psychology in practice. This expanded into a suite of workshops and master classes offered through the Institute for Applied Positive Psychology, which are now available as self-directed learning packages and intensive training retreats she runs each year at Norfolk Island, where she has lived since 2016. In addition, she runs individual and group Burnout Recovery retreats specifically for health professionals and executives. These inclusive programs have established Kate as a key provider within the wellness promotion sector.