Dwayne Devonish is a Professor of Management and Organisational Behaviour and the Director of the School for Graduate Studies and Research at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. Professor Devonish possesses a BSc in Psychology from the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill Campus) with First Class Honours, and MSc and PhD in Work and Organisational Psychology from the University of the Nottingham (United Kingdom) with Distinction. In 2020, he was promoted to the rank of Professor at the age of 36 – the second youngest person to attain this rank at the University of the West Indies. His main areas of interests and specialisation include organisational behaviour and psychology, work-related stress, health and wellness, human resource management, and strategic planning. He has published extensively on these subjects in both regional and international journals, conducted practical training workshops and engaged in diverse research-based consultancies in these same areas for various organisations. He was the lead author of the National Workplace Wellness Policy of Barbados in 2019 (the only policy of its kind) and currently sits as a member of the National Committee on Workplace Wellness under the Ministry of Labour, Social Partnership Relations and the Third Sector.
In Barbados, longevity is part of our heritage however ageing, in “good health” should be part of our focus as having a healthy population means that our older adults are managing their health and wellness from a young age and therefore can look after themselves without major health care as they age at work and in our communities.
Physical and social environments can affect health directly or through barriers or incentives that affect opportunities, decisions and health behaviour. Maintaining healthy behaviours throughout life, particularly eating a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity and refraining from the use of drugs, all contribute to reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases, improving physical and mental capacity and delaying care dependency
The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021 – 2030) seeks to reduce health inequities and improve the lives of older people, their families and communities through collective action in four areas:
There is growing concern that an ageing population will put unsustainable pressure on public spending, with the rising health cost and the ability of the health system to serve the increasing numbers of older adults that require care.
Furthermore, social changes among the next generation of older people—such as greater understanding and awareness of health issues and greater expectations of health services—pose additional challenges to the population. These challenges may influence future models of health-care delivery and engagement. A wide range of challenges impact healthcare organizations and will impact how they provide care, use technology and otherwise do business.
This immense growth in the healthcare sector is accompanied by evolving patient needs and rapid technological advancements. However, despite impressive growth, this industry still faces several challenges. Failing to tackle these issues could impact patient care and damage healthcare systems' reputations. Therefore, understanding the key challenges in healthcare is crucial for building resilience and preparing for the future.
An ageing workforce compounded by a poor ageing process exacerbates challenges, such as burnout from prolonged workplace stress that includes physical and emotional exhaustion and staff shortages, additional concerns for many sectors globally and in Barbados
The need to provide support to the Barbadian workforce is now greater than ever. Support needs to not only include our ageing workers, but for younger workers to ensure they age well and can comfortably deliver maximum productivity over a long and healthy career
In response to the pressing need to support our ageing workforce, The Council will provide continuous professional development for those in the health and wellness sector (paraprofessionals) via a conference. This Conference will cover health and wellness in various formats i.e. presentations, workshops, panel discussions and networking sessions etc. It will introduce current technologies, tools and methodologies being used in the various sector. The Council will offer digital badges and certification for participants who attend the Conference.
This Conference will mark the first for the TVET Council to provide continuous professional education to the health and wellness workforce of Barbados and the Region. Key experts will deliver insightful information for this sector building activity, some of the topics selected for the conference are stress and health, home-based care, working with an ageing society, technology access solutions etc. The event will be held at The Hilton Barbados Resort, following the format outlined below:
We, at the TVET Council look forward to hosting this sector building conference to support the health and wellness workforce of Barbados and by extension our ageing society. Join us March 25th – 29th 2026 for this inaugural event.
Registration will open in January 2026. Please continue to monitor this page and follow us on social media for updates.
The TVET Council will host the Health and Wellness Open Day on March 28th, 2026, as part of the conference activities. This activity is free to the public so they can meet and learn from the professionals and companies leading the charge to reshape our whole approach to staying healthy and keeping fit and productive at home and at work.
The Health and Wellness Open Day is the place to go for the latest in fitness, nutrition, healthy lifestyles, guidance and support, workplace wellness and more. The Open Day features demonstrations, presentations and product exhibitions from practitioners and companies who can provide insightful guidance and support to you and your family.
The public is demanding more reliable information, informed choices, leading to better outcomes and the ability to play a more active role in their health and well-being. Discover the services, products and paraprofessionals that are providing the support needed to help develop this new era of health and wellness. Learn how you can play your part in building a healthier and more productive society.
Health care is not just about treating chronic disease but is becoming strongly orientated, to leading towards prevention. Learn more about your health, how to lead a long and healthy lifestyle and what your preventative measures and treatment options are, at the TVET Council’s Health and Wellness Open Day March 28th, 2026, at the National Botanical Gardens.