ACE Lab

The ACE Lab (Avondale Character Experience Laboratory) is a first‑year wellbeing and character development program designed to support undergraduate students through one of the most formative transitions of their lives. ACE Lab invites first‑years to commit to a full‑year developmental journey that intentionally integrates community, faith, service and challenge.

Rather than being a one‑off activity or optional add‑on, ACE Lab is a structured program that students commit to for the year. It is introduced and promoted through Avondale’s Foundations of Wellbeing classes, where students receive information and are invited to formally opt in.
At its heart, ACE Lab is built on three pillars:

Weekly rhythms are a defining feature of the program. Every week, students gather for ACE Lab sessions that include guest speakers, facilitated discussion, and shared reflection. These weekly catch‑ups are complemented by a strong social dimension: shared meals, dinners, and group activities that foster connection in informal, relational ways.

Across the year, students participate in a range of shared experiences designed to deepen relationships and broaden horizons. These include events such as the Newcastle Coastal Walk, a camp at Myall Lakes, and attending an NRL game together. These moments of shared experience are not incidental; they are carefully chosen to help students form memories, friendships and a sense of belonging to something larger than themselves.

Service is another core dimension of ACE Lab. Students are encouraged to participate in service opportunities such as STORMCo and mission trips, where learning moves beyond the classroom and into real‑world contexts. Through service, students are invited to see themselves as contributors, not just consumers, of their university experience.

Challenge experiences form a distinctive and memorable part of the program. Students may take part in significant physical and personal challenges such as walking a section of the Great North Walk, participating in a snow trip, or tackling the Tasmania Overland Track. These experiences are intentionally demanding, designed to help students discover resilience, perseverance and confidence.

While ACE Lab includes some financial contribution from students—such as contributing toward ski lift passes for the snow trip or providing their own hiking shoes—the majority of costs are covered by the program. Transport and many core expenses are subsidised to ensure the program remains accessible, with costs kept as minimal as possible.

The transition into university coincides with a critical developmental stage in young adulthood. Research consistently shows that wellbeing and life satisfaction often decline during adolescence and only begin to recover in the early adult years. As Dr Peter Beamish explains:

University students typically arrive at Avondale between the ages of 17 and 25—precisely as they are emerging from this developmental dip. They come from diverse backgrounds, carrying varied life experiences, pressures and expectations. At the same time, neuroscience has reshaped our understanding of decision‑making in young adults. Dr Beamish explains:

This means students are making some of life’s most consequential decisions—about identity, values, vocation and relationships—while their cognitive and emotional systems are still developing. ACE Lab exists to meet students at this exact moment, providing structure, support and intentional experiences that help guide healthy development.

Rather than waiting for problems to emerge, the program takes a proactive, strengths‑based approach to wellbeing. As Dr Jason Hinze puts it:

ACE Lab is deeply grounded in global research on wellbeing, character and human flourishing. Its design draws on decades of scholarship in psychology, education and health sciences, alongside Avondale’s own ongoing research and evaluation.

One foundational influence is the work of psychologist Martin Seligman, a pioneer of positive psychology. Seligman argued for moving beyond treating dysfunction toward proactively cultivating wellbeing. In his work Flourish, he introduced the PERMA framework, identifying five core elements of a flourishing life: positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment. 

At Avondale, this framework is expanded to include physical health and vitality, reflecting contemporary wellbeing research and the influence of Professor Darren Morton’s work in lifestyle medicine.

ACE Lab also draws on the research of psychiatrist Roger Walsh, who identified key lifestyle practices that support mental health and personal growth, including service, reflection and transcendence. These ideas align closely with Avondale’s emphasis on faith, meaning and whole‑person education.

Character development research also plays a central role. Psychologist Angela Duckworth, whose work on grit and perseverance has gained global recognition, emphasises that character strengths are not fixed traits. As Dr Beamish explains:

Dr Hinze adds:

Avondale also conducts its own research, measuring student wellbeing at the beginning and end of the program and publishing findings in Avondale’s TEACH journal. This ongoing evaluation ensures ACE Lab continues to evolve in response to evidence and student experience.

Together, these research streams affirm a simple but powerful idea: when young people are given intentional opportunities to connect, serve, reflect and be challenged, they grow in confidence, character and purpose. ACE Lab exists to make that growth possible—at exactly the moment it matters most.