ANZAM PD Session – Beyond Balance: Rethinking Work, Life and Wellbeing
ANZAM PD Session – 18th August, 2026
Beyond Balance: Rethinking Work, Life and Wellbeing
Is work–life “balance” even the right goal? This session invites ANZAM members to go beyond the dominant narrative and rethink how they manage competing demands, and why conventional advice so often falls short. Associate Professor Carys Chan and Dr Jane Gifkins bring complementary lenses: Carys examines how cultural identity and organisational context shape our ability to set and maintain boundaries, drawing on research with professionals navigating collectivist and individualist expectations simultaneously; Jane explores the science of psychological detachment, recovery, and the implications of Australia’s Right to Disconnect legislation for knowledge workers in always-on environments. Together, they will offer evidence-based strategies for moving beyond individual resilience toward more intentional, sustainable, and culturally informed approaches to work and wellbeing.
Presenters: Dr Jane Gifkins and Associate Professor Carys Chan, Griffith University