The joy of art-based reflection: Building shared academic wellbeing literacy through collage

Authors/Creators

Rikki James, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Christina C. Gray, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Jason Goopy, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Delyse Clayden, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Han Meng, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Narelle Lemon, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Cassandra Tytler, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Carli Sanbrook, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Manonita Ghosh, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Melanie Brooks, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Mark Selkrig

Author Identifier (ORCID)

Rikki James: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5921-6813

Christina C. Gray: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8464-1961

Jason Goopy: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8766-1458

Delyse Clayden: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5040-0729

Han Meng: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6283-3214

Narelle Lemon: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1396-5488

Cassandra Tytler: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0357-7123

Carli Sanbrook: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2808-0877

Manonita Ghosh: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0522-1959

Melanie Brooks: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4197-8932

Abstract

This paper explores how academics individually and collectively reflect on their wellbeing using arts-based approaches to support wellbeing literacy development in professional contexts. Eleven academics from an Australian university engaged in a two-day off-campus retreat using collage as an arts-based inquiry method. Participants created visual representations of their past, present, and future academic experiences, followed by reflective dialogue. Data were analysed using thematic inductive analysis. Three key themes emerged: arts-based approaches facilitated deep reflection through metaphorical thinking; academics’ wellbeing trajectories revealed evolution from past confusion toward more intentional futures; and collective reflection fostered shared wellbeing literacy development. The process illuminated multiple PERMAH dimensions, particularly relationships, meaning, and health. This study demonstrates how arts-based reflection functions simultaneously as professional development and wellbeing practice, developing critical wellbeing literacy that can help embed wellbeing as a core component of academic practice rather than an optional add-on.

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

1-1-2026

Publication Title

Reflective Practice

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

School

School of Education / Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) / School of Arts and Humanities

RAS ID

84445

Comments

James, R., Gray, C. C., Goopy, J., Clayden, D., Meng, H., Lemon, N., Tytler, C., Sanbrook, C., Ghosh, M., Brooks, M., & Selkrig, M. (2026). The joy of art-based reflection: Building shared academic wellbeing literacy through collage. Reflective Practice. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623943.2025.2607104

Copyright

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