معرفی
Lydia Woodyatt is a Professor in Psychology at Flinders University, where she serves as the Teaching Program Director in Psychology within the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work. She is affiliated with the Flinders University Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing and is recognized as a leading expert in psychological science applied to social wellbeing across diverse contexts.
Her educational background includes:
- B. Min.
- Grad. Dip Psych.
- B.A (Hons)
- PhD
Professor Woodyatt's research program spans multiple practical contexts where psychological needs shape social wellbeing, including relationships, organizational leadership, workplace conflict, debt management, customer service, loneliness in communities, military and veteran experiences, child protection, and university settings. She has made significant theoretical contributions to the psychology of justice and moral repair, wellbeing, psychological needs, emotions, motivation, and relationships. Her methodological approach integrates prospective-longitudinal, intervention, qualitative, dyadic, and experimental designs to advance understanding of complex psycho-social processes.
Her scholarly work reveals consistent themes across moral psychology, with particular emphasis on self-forgiveness processes, transgression dynamics, and wellbeing outcomes. The research trajectory shows increasing attention to military/veteran experiences, cross-cultural perspectives on forgiveness, and the application of psychological principles to real-world organizational contexts.
Professor Woodyatt has received numerous prestigious awards including:
- Augusta Zadow Award (2023) for Improving Health and Safety Outcomes for Women and Young People
- Hospital Research Fund Smarty Pants Strategic Research Fund (2021-2024) for Veteran Transition and Mental Health
- Westpac Collaborative Research Funding (2023-2024) for Staff well-being in debt management contexts
- Australian Research Council Discovery Project (2019-2022) on Dynamics of forgiveness and self-forgiveness
- Multiple College of Education, Psychology and Social Work Awards for Teaching Innovation and Excellence (2018, 2019, 2023, 2024)
- Vice Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence (2014)
As an educator and academic leader, Professor Woodyatt co-created Flinders University's Certificate and Graduate Certificates in Mental Health and Wellbeing and developed the highly successful online topic "The Psychology of Surviving and Thriving." She has held university leadership roles in wellbeing and retention, securing substantial funding from both ARC and industry partners. Her media engagement includes contributions to The Conversation and appearances on SBS Insight discussing psychological aspects of relationships, forgiveness, and shame.
