Three key ideas
Biculturalism, Christianity and Positive Psychology – are at the centre of our health and wellbeing philosophy. These form the foundation of our unique and targeted programmes for our boys, staff and community.
Biculturalism
In the traditional Māori worldview everything and everybody – the land, the people,the sky, the oceans, flora and fauna – are connected. The essential elements of the Māori sense of wellbeing are feeling connected to place, knowing your purpose and knowing your holistic self.
Christianity
Wellbeing in the Christian tradition encompasses each person living in peace in all relationships – with God, with self, with others, and with nature.
Positive Psychology
Positive Psychology is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves and to enhance their experiences of life, love and social connection.
Please click here to read a comprehensive overview of Health & Wellbeing / Hauora at Christ's College.
Meet the team
John Quinn
Director of Wellbeing & Positive Education
John joined College in 2017 in the new role of Director of Wellbeing & Positive Education. John leads a three year implementation that will see positive education embedded across programmes both inside and outside the classroom.
John has been working with people and teams for the last twenty years in across multiple industries - government, education, business and High Performance Sport. His focus has been in the fields of Leadership, Positive Psychology, Well Being and Happiness, Mental Skills Coaching and Resilience. When working with people and teams John is always interested in ensuring that they are following their passions and using their strengths to ensure that they are connecting with their passions but also their team mates/co workers.
John has worked with several sporting teams and organisations nationally, including New Zealand Rugby, New Zealand Cricket, New Zealand Softball, New Zealand Bowls and High Performance Sport. Within the Canterbury region he has been working with Canterbury Cricket, Canterbury Rugby, Canterbury Netball, Canterbury Golf and Canterbury Cats Hockey.
Emily Baird
Child and Family psychologist Emily Baird is a Cantabrian who spent 10 years pioneering specialist mental health programmes for young people in Queensland as well as running her own private practice on the Gold Coast.
In 2010 she and a colleague rolled out headspace in Inala, a mental health centre for 12-25 year olds founded by Professor Patrick McGorry, which now has 100+ centres running across Australia. Through her prevention and intervention work with Medicare Locals (PHOs) she established the Connecting Communities Project which rolled out the Triple P – Positive Parenting Programme in Queensland, winning her an international practice award. Working in high schools in Queensland, she was well apprised of the psychological and social stressors and mental health issues facing young people.
Since returning to Christchurch two years and a half ago, Emily has worked in private practice and for the CDHB’s CAF emergency services and outpatient child and youth services. This educator and therapist is an outdoors enthusiast. She has tramped to the Mt Everest base camp, loves to sail and snowboard, and also enjoys music and time with her family.
Dr Sarah Anticich
Sarah is a clinical psychologist already known in the College community for her presentations on neuroscience and Positive Education.
Sarah has specialist experience in the areas of anxiety, trauma and mood disorders in children, adolescents and adults, and has worked in both public and private practice across a range of settings – including five years in Brisbane -- including education, corrections, ACC and specialist mental health services.
She recently became an accredited Strength Switch facilitator, supporting families to develop strength-based parenting tools and strategies. Christchurch born and bred, Sarah has a comprehensive understanding of young people’s lifestyles and concerns, in particular the endemic difficulties of coping in a digital age. Sarah says her focus is on returning to the basics of building quality, meaningful relationships, which will act as strengths in the face of stress and anxiety. With two young children and a new puppy, life is full!