Challenge Accepted: Addressing complex issues with Behavioural Science

This debut series, over four webinars, will explore how behavioural insights and strategies can drive positive change across a range of complex spheres, including climate, sustainability, health, social inclusion, and within organisations. We will delve into the possibilities for behavioural thinking and approaches to drive transformation beyond local impacts.

Watch as our renowned experts share groundbreaking research and unpack its practical applications, revealing how even small behavioural interventions can set meaningful change in motion. You will gain a deeper understanding of behavioural science as a whole, and discover how we have applied its methods to shape policies, organisations, and systems.

Whether you're a policymaker, program or change manager, or simply curious about the power and potential of behavioural thinking, join us. This series will open your mind to the unique capabilities of behavioural science, equipping you with the valuable tools you need to create meaningful change.

Join us from 2-3pm (GMT+10) for:

• Behavioural Science: A critical piece of the puzzle (Thursday 29 May 2025)
• Novel Approaches to systems change (Thursday 26 June 2025)
• Breaking the Mould: Using behavioural science in organisations on Thursday 31 July 2025
• Insider Knowledge: Embedding behavioural insights capacity on Thursday 28 August 2025

Want to know more? Keep reading for further details about each webinar.

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Insider Knowledge: Embedding Behavioural Insights Capacity

Date: 28 August 2025, 2-3 pm Melbourne Time

Book your spot╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ here

This final webinar explores building behavioural science capability within an organisation. Different organisations are at different levels of maturity in their behavioural science journey. The approaches in this webinar will illustrate complementary pathways to building internal capabilities in behavioural science, noting that the right approach requires understanding pre-existing skills and experience.

Desired capabilities range from awareness of behavioural science, to the use of simple tools, conducting research and, at the most mature end, testing new methods (such as those we’ve heard about in earlier webinars) and answering new behavioural science questions.

Invariably, the best approaches involve both structured training and immersive approaches to instil expertise and confidence. 

Speakers in this webinar are:

• Dr Bernice Plant: Bernice has empowered staff in organisations with game-changing behavioural science principles, showing how to boost the impact of their programs through hands-on training and high-impact bootcamps.
• Hannah Elias: Hannah has been embedded into organisations through the researcher-in-residence model, building expertise directly within organisations to help cultivate a deep, practical understanding and application of behavioural science over time.
• Geoff Paine: Geoff designs and facilitates workshops to equip leaders with the skills needed to effectively tackle challenging interactions. These immersive workshops allow participants to replay scenarios to ‘choose’ the best outcome possible, rather than simply reacting emotionally in real time.
  
  

If you are creating a culture of continuous learning, innovation and adaptability or simply curious, then this webinar has something for you. Join us to discover how to strengthen change capabilities in your organisation.

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Behavioural Science: A critical piece of the puzzle

Broadcast: 29 May 2025, 2-3pm (GMT+10)

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This first webinar in the series explores the incredible power of behavioural science, explaining why it deserves a seat at the table in solving critical and nuanced issues. Behaviour change approaches can be invaluable in achieving positive social and environmental change but it is remarkable how infrequently behavioural methods are used in the design of interventions.

We explore the key steps of a behavioural science approach and include examples of where we have implemented them to improve patient experience and safety, reduce food waste and help people with horrific injuries from motor vehicle accidents live their best lives. 

Importantly, the interventions were the product of: understanding the system and the actors in it (this is a theme that will recur throughout this webinar series), collaborating with partners, identifying key behaviours to change, understanding drivers and barriers, and co-designing interventions with our partners.

Speakers in this webinar are:

• Dr Breanna Wright: Breanna’s work with the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority exemplifies the application of behavioural insights to patient safety strategies, enhancing outcomes in healthcare settings.  
• Dr Mark Boulet: Mark will demonstrate the versatility of behavioural science in tackling a critical environmental issue like food waste and loss, working with organisations like OzHarvest, NSW Environment Protection Authority and Fight Food Waste to reduce household food waste; a complex problem deeply rooted in human habits.
• Alyse Lennox: Alyse employed behavioural principles to address engagement challenges among young men living with spinal cord injuries, collaborating with Austin Health, AQA and the Victorian Transport Accident Commission to empower this cohort to lead fulfilling lives.

Whether you’re looking for fresh approaches to problem-solving or simply curious about how behavioural science works in practice, this session has something for you. Join us to discover the crucial role the practice plays in addressing complex challenges, and be inspired by the creative thinking it unlocks.

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Novel Approaches to systems change

Broadcast: 26 June, 2-3pm (GMT +10)

This second webinar unpacks the profound potential for behavioural science to not only influence individual actions but to reconfigure systems for lasting, impactful change. For some, behavioural science can be seen as tinkering at the edges when there are more significant changes needed, such as changes to laws and policies. 

In response, behaviour science is being conducted in ways that acknowledge this broader system (see webinar one) and, potentially drive more systemic change. We will demonstrate how we are doing things differently to arrive at innovative solutions that may lead to a bigger impact.

Speakers in this webinar are:

• Professor Liam Smith: Liam exemplifies systems transformation by leading a large project on home energy upgrades. Working with five universities and the CSIRO on several pilots across Australia, the project seeks to provide a blueprint to upgrade one-million Australian homes to be more efficient and sustainable. Within the project is a program of work on behaviour, which Liam oversees.
• Jennifer Macklin: Jennifer leverages behavioural systems mapping to tackle intricate sustainability challenges, focusing on identifying and prioritising systemic issues for the circular economy. 
• Lena Jungbluth: Lena contributes to systemic transformation within healthcare by improving waste management practices in hospitals, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility. 

If your focus is on “Wicked” and “Complex” problems, those challenges with no easy answer, then this webinar has something for you. Join us to discover a unique lens with which to explore human behaviour within the interconnected web of people, organisations, policies and norms.

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Breaking the Mould: Using behavioural science in organisations

Broadcast: 31 July, 2-3pm (GMT +10)

This third webinar in our series explores how internal narratives, staff participation, and resistance behaviours influence transformation within organisations.

Organisations are a particular ‘system’ where behaviour change approaches can drive change. While it may be tempting to use organisational structures to implement change (such as leaders instructing their staff that they must change), this can lead to disgruntled employees and low job satisfaction.

Taking a behavioural approach is an alternative and offers better outcomes. In this webinar, we consider key factors around change within organisations. Most importantly, understanding the external and internal contexts before stepping in, involving staff in the process, and understanding and embracing resistance as part of this. Behavioural approaches include encouraging and enabling participation, as well as observing and understanding resistance behaviours to help improve the process.

Speakers in this webinar are:

• Michael Daddo: Michael through The Shannon Company will share how he creates internal narratives for organisational change by actively involving staff in the process. Through participatory behaviours, employees help shape the narrative, leading to greater ownership, stronger engagement and a more meaningful sense of cause and effect.
• Dr Denise Goodwin: Denise will be sharing insights from BHP’s top-down approach to change, driven by external pressure and gender quotas, and what behavioural observation revealed about the disconnect between rhetoric and staff experience.
• Dr Conor Wynn: Conor’s research highlights that resistance needn’t be viewed as an obstacle to overcome, but rather as a crucial factor in improving outcomes. It plays a vital role in challenging poor decisions, ultimately leading to better solutions. He will reflect on how a behavioural science lens helped to unpack resistance to new strategies at Melbourne Water, offering valuable lessons on navigating change within technically focused organisations.

Whether you are driving organisational change or at the receiving end, then this webinar has something for you. Join us to discover the powerful insights of behavioural science into how people think, act and adapt.

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