Breakout Session One
Option A
Engaging Youth Through Personality
Jenny Gleeson
Lifeworx Career Development
During this workshop Jenny will take participants through a shortened version of the 1.5 hour LIFEWORX4ME workshop. LIFEWORX4ME is about preferences not labels, about similarities and differences between personality types, and about improving interpersonal communication and enhancing self-esteem. During the 50-minute workshop, Jenny will describe how and why she designed the LIFEWORX4ME series of workshops and will include an overview of the activities young people do as a part of the series, which includes interactive hands on activities, scenario and image selection, independent reflections and group work. Each participant will also take home a LIFEWORX4ME quiz.
About the presenter:
Jenny is the Director of Lifeworx, a boutique business specialising in Career Coaching and Employee Engagement utilising personality profiling tools. She has won several awards including the 2016 National Highly Commended Career Practitioner of the Year Award, the 2015 National Edupreneur Award (Life/Career Coaching category), the Goldfields Home-based Business Award in 2012 and the Miles Morgan Career Development Award in 2007. Jenny has been running Lifeworx for over eight years and has assisted individuals, businesses, youth, Indigenous, and people from all walks of life with finding their purpose and their passion. In her teenage years she was a ‘youth at risk’, which led her to the development of LIFEWORX4ME.
Option B
Learning on Common Ground
Dale Murray
Edmund Rice Education Australia Youth+ Institute
This presentation will unpack key aspects of pedagogy that provide radical inclusion for those lest well served in mainstream education systems. The presentation will show that it is at the “edges” of educational landscapes, such as flexible learning centres, where we find evidence of innovation and advocacy for social justice and educational change. The spaces that cater for those outside the mainstream are spaces that by necessity are experimental, challenge dominant paradigms and offer habitats of learning inclusion, decolonization, justice, diversity and equity.
The relational space created within Flexible Learning Centres are intentional effort to create environments that offers “pushed out” young people a safe place to reorganize their futures and deal with an often traumatised past with the support of mentor educators. In this way, flexible learning centres offer a challenge to the dominant education paradigm and act as a lighthouse of practice and create a model of rethinking what educational inclusivity and equity can look and feel like. This intentional disruption of traditional power relationships takes place on a landscape of “common ground” bound by “principles of operation” which results in the most disenfranchised becoming enfranchised and reconnected.
The presentation will model the creation of a working agreement that is the operational aspect of operation by principle on common ground wherein participants will develop skills of relational pedagogy that are transferable to all learning environments.
About the presenter:
Dale (BA DipEd, MA ED. Churchill and Endeavour Fellow + PhD Candidate) is the Director at Edmund Rice Education Australia Youth+ Institute (EREA Youth+). For over 30 years Dale has worked in the area of flexible education provision. Firstly, as a teacher in the Centre Education Programme (the first Flexible Learning Centre in Queensland, Australia) then as the Principal, Flexible Learning Centre Network and now in his current role as Director, EREA Youth+ Institute.
EREA Youth+ provides socially inclusive educational environments for disenfranchised young people of high school age. The Schools located around the nation work with community, NGO’s, Catholic Education Offices and state and federal governments to reengage young people who for complex social reasons are unable to maintain connection with mainstream education services.
Dale has a deep commitment to working with communities, government, families and young people in developing learning environments that offer those disenfranchised a socially inclusive educational pathway. Dale is currently responsible for the development of a range of new educational initiatives around the nation, He is also CEO of the Youth+ RTO, industry partner on a number of ARC research projects and responsible for the Youth+ Institute partnerships, consultancy and the Chair of the Australian Association for Flexible and Inclusive Education. (AAFIE)
Option C
Strong Spirit Strong Mind Metro Project; AOD Prevention
Tyra Thomas
Mental Health Commission
This presentation will cover the history and overview of the Strong Spirit Strong Mind project, including how it engages with the target groups, what the target group want and challenges the project has faced.
About the presenter:
Tyra Thomas, employed by Mental Health Commission as a Senior Project Officer to deliver the Strong Spirit Strong Mind Metro Project. Tyra has worked in Aboriginal Health since 2003, with experience in clinical, community development and alcohol and other drugs and mental health.
Option D
Walking in the Shoes of a Young Carer; Through the Cracks
Andi Dackins & Jodie Ronan
Carers WA Australia (Young Carer Team)
This interactive workshop is designed to raise awareness of the undervalued, invisible role of over 40,000 young carers in WA. It will include a brief Young Carers WA overview, followed by focusing on ‘walking in the shoes of a young carer’ using an experiential activity: ‘Through the Cracks’.
Whilst ‘Through the Cracks’ simulates the experience of young people caring for parent(s), siblings, family members or friends living with disability, chronic condition, terminal illness or frail age, additionally, it’s a useful tool demonstrating the key issues, needs and experiences of young carers to Service Providers and others.
Leading onto “no closed door” policy and Young Carers WA’s newest School Engagement Program, ‘CLOUD’.
About the presenters:
Jodie has worked as the Young Carer Officer for Carers WA for four years and has a lived experience of being a young carer, for her mother and brother with mental illness. She was interviewed as part of the Good Practice Model and you can see the full video on the Carers WA You Tube channel.
Andi has been a Youth Worker for approx. 20 years, and her passion is young people engaging in education and was a Truancy Officer for the Education Department back in Wales. Andi is the creator of ‘Shift ATTITUDES’ a program addressing bullying and cyber bullying, which was nominated for the Australian Premiers Award in 2013, reaching the category finalists.
Option E
Reach me, then you can teach me; Music for engaging the disengaged
Dr Russya Connor
Rhythm2Recovery
This fun, hands-on workshop presents a model of working with young people to develop social and emotional learning using rhythmic music – Rhythm2Recovery. It extends on the earlier work by author Simon Faulkner, developer of the DRUMBEAT program, providing increased flexibility and covering a wider range of themes.
This new model has been significantly influenced by Positive Psychology and Acceptance and Commitment therapy approaches that are strength based and focus on developing resilience. Exercises are suitable for individual, family and group work. Themes cover a wide range of areas including social & emotional learning, identity and culture, strengths and virtues and health and wellbeing. Training for educators and therapists is provided across Australia and internationally.
Underlying this work is the critical elements of fun and safety. The music is simple, attainable and powerfully grounding. The exercises are fun and cooperative, and lead to increased levels of engagement and a readiness to discuss often sensitive issues. Music is a tool that can provide a powerful sense of connection and belonging, and is also closely associated with improvements in cognition, focus, memory and emotional regulation.
This workshop will demonstrate and discuss these different outcomes and showcase some of the exercises that are used. No musical experience is necessary.
About the presenter:
Dr Russya Connor is a member of the Rhythm2Recovery team, and has just returned from Germany where she delivered training in this model to therapists and educators over there. She is a drama therapist and uses music and movement to work with a wide range of people who struggle with ‘talk based’ interventions. She is particularly experienced in the use of somatic (body based) therapies for people who have experienced trauma.
Option F
Improving Education Outcomes; Children and young people in out of home care
Lorna Genoud and Elise Jorgensen
Life Without Barriers
Children and young people in OOHC remain one of the most vulnerable groups in the country. These young people face many barriers across the course of their life, especially in terms of education. Life Without Barriers (LWB) in collaboration with Youth Plus Institute provide an Education Consultant in Sydney and in two regions in Queensland in order to support the educational outcomes of these most vulnerable and ‘at risk’ young people.
This session will explain the vital role that the Education Consultant plays in assisting schools and LWB to understand and address the challenges with education faced by our children and young people. It will explore the practices employed by the three education consultants, such as training in trauma informed practices, building capacity of LWB staff, educational work with young people, contributing to research, and collaborating with key stakeholders within a Care model, to improve educational outcomes.
It will also illustrate the complex challenges faced across the organisation and with educational institutions across Sydney, SE and SW Queensland when aiming to achieve positive and meaningful educational outcomes for young people in OOHC. Participants of this session will experience an in-depth interactive analysis of these key topic areas, utilising real life case studies, and have the opportunity to engage in a targeted and facilitated ‘questions and comments’ session driven by the participants. Participants will take away information and resource ideas that they can use in their own work with children and young people who have experienced complex trauma, assisting in improving their educational outcomes.
About the presenter:
Lorna is an Education Consultant employed in partnership between Life Without Barriers and Edmund Rice Education Australia. Her role is to working collaboratively within the education system and colleagues at LWB to improve the quality of the learning outcomes of children and young people in out-of-home care and ensure the implementation of priorities that encourage inclusive practices, relational pedagogy and positive behaviour support. Lorna has a long history of working with vulnerable children and young people and holds a Bachelor of Education and Masters of International Public Health from the University of Sydney.
Breakout Session Two
Option A
Year 10 Engagement- A model that works!
Joel Woods, Charanjit Kaur and Heidi Benson
Department of Education – Participation (South Metropolitan)
In late 2016, the South Metropolitan Education Region collaborated with a group of Secondary Schools to try and make a positive difference to the issue of disengaged Year 10 students. The Year 10 Engagement and Transitions Pilot Program was developed for 2017 and over the past two years has achieved excellent results by either engaging students back at their school or transitioning them to an alternate pathway option. This is the story of that journey, including;
- the things that worked
- those that didn’t
- the expansion of the Pilot in 2019 to encompass more schools and intervene earlier to break the disengagement cycle and how other Secondary Schools, Regions and Youth Service Agencies can potentially be involved in this exciting new Program.
About the presenters:
Joel is currently the Engagement and Transitions Manager for the South Metro Education region and also the Project Manager for the Year 10 Program, overseeing its development. Joel has previously worked in Central Office (VET in Schools), Regional Office (EVE Coordinator) and spent 12 years at Lakeland SHS teaching and in charge of VET and Careers.
Charanjit Kaur (CJ) is the Senior Engagement and Transitions Coordinator for the Year 10 Program and has been a Participation Coordinator with the Department for the past 9 years. CJ has previously worked as a Teacher and in the youth sector.
Heidi Benson is the Engagement and Transitions Coordinator for the Year 10 Program and has been a PC on and off for 7 years, whilst also completing valuable work roles at Applecross SHS, Clontarf Aboriginal College, Anglicare and most recently Port Community School.
Option B
Bidi Waalitj Employment Program; An Empowering Youth Initiative
Chance Bateman / Alisha Roberts
Wirrpanda Foundation
The Wirrpanda Foundation exists to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People by working together to empower and build capacity amongst Aboriginal individuals, their families and their communities. All of our mentoring programs aim to reduce the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in our society through a cross-generational approach that:
- Increases the retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in school
- Improves the life choices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples by encouraging further study or entry into the workforce
- Sustains Aboriginal Employment through cross-cultural training
- Improves the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
The Foundation has operated since 2005 with aims to increase the retention of Aboriginal students in school and improve their life choices by encouraging further study or entry into the workforce. The Wirrpanda Foundation delivers culturally appropriate programs that are designed and delivered by Aboriginal people. These programs focus on assisting Aboriginal children, families and the community to further develop and equip them with the skills to make significant social decisions that directly impact on their lives.
Option C
WA Jobs and Skills Centres; Support for Youth Transitions
Robert Palmer
Thornlie Jobs and Skills Centre
In May this year the WA Jobs and Skills Centres (JSCs) were launched by the State Government at five Metropolitan locations, with additional centres being opened in regional WA during 2018. The JSC’s provide a one-stop-shop for students, jobseekers and career changers looking to improve their skills and job prospects.
This presentation will focus on the services the JSC’s can provide to assist young people to transition into employment and further training. Find out how your organisation and students can connect with the JSCs to obtain practical advice on training and employment opportunities, career advice and apprenticeship and training information.
About the presenter:
Robert Palmer is a Client Engagement Officer with Thornlie Jobs and Skills Centre. Prior to the launch of the WA Jobs and Skills Centres Robert worked with South Metropolitan TAFE and has over 10 years of experience in providing Career Development Advice to young people and VET students in the Perth Metropolitan Area.
Robert has post graduate qualifications in Career Development and is a Professional Member of the Career Development Association of Australia (CDAA). For the past 6 years he has served on the CDAA WA Division Management Committee.
Option D
Need a “C”- Come to the sea! 1 Week = 1 WACE Unit
Michelle Reidy-Crofts
Education Manager – Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation
Joined by
Engagement Forum WA Scholarship recipients
Ahoy-Step aboard. With differentiated interactive activities we will transport you onto a voyage with STS Leeuwin ll. Discover how the Youth Development program encourages core skills for work by engaging teams to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills.
Leeuwin offers a School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) provider developed endorsed program- Youth Explorer Voyages (PLYEV) for students to achieve up to 3 WACE units plus ADWPL and ADCS are also achievable for your students and to demonstrate well rounded learning on their WASSA.
About the presenter:
Michelle Reidy-Crofts is the Education Manager for the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation. Michelle has degrees in Psychology and Secondary Education and is promoting all the benefits of the Leeuwin including 1 Week = 1 WACE unit, and just encouraging everyone to embrace a lifetime of adventure!
Option E
Working With Children & Young People with Trauma Experiences
Fiona Harlond, Lori Sharpe, Michelle Clough
Department of Communities, Child Protection and Family Support
This workshop style presentation is designed to support teaching and support staff working with children who have experienced trauma. It will cover:
- The impact of trauma on brain functioning and development
- Ideas and strategies that support engagement in learning and
- Summary of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
Participants will receive a resource package including links to further resources and tips sheets for use in the classroom.
The presentation is from a child-in-care perspective and it is hoped that participants will further enhance their understanding of the impact on the brain caused by trauma and the effect on children’s ability to learn, socialise, self-regulate and effectively reach their potentials. Discussion will also include how teachers can support children in school academically, socially and emotionally. There will also be the opportunity to discuss why and how children come into care, the processes undertaken by CPFS to support families and the importance of foster carers. Handouts include classroom strategies to support mis-behaviours in the classroom with an emphasis on asking ‘What has happened to this child rather that ‘what is wrong with this child?’.
About the presenters:
Fiona is the Department’s Principal Education Officer. Lori, Education Officer works in the Peel District and Michelle, Education Officer works in Midland District.
Option F
The HEAT Program; Healthy Expressions of Anger for Teens
Shantelle Botha
Womens Health and Family Services
Come and learn about The HEAT Program (Healthy Expressions of Anger for Teens) which is currently being run at High Schools across Perth. This innovative 8 week program is an early intervention, strengths based, solution focused program that incorporates CBT, ACT, Music Therapy and Mindfulness. It has had tremendous success in multiple high schools across Perth in helping teens improve their emotion regulation skills, self-awareness, communication skills, conflict resolution skills, values and moral development, and teaching them healthy ways to express their emotions, in particular, anger. Learn about why this program has been so successful, how you can have the HEAT Program run at your school/organisation, how you can be trained as a HEAT Program facilitator, and how you can access The HEAT Program App! Furthermore, you will get a chance to participate in activities demonstrating how The HEAT Program applies ACT techniques in an engaging way, and learn how to introduce mindfulness to the most resistant teens!
About the presenter:
Shantelle received a Bachelor of Psychology degree from Murdoch University, specialising in social, health, and developmental Psychology. Shantelle has also completed a Professional Diploma in Nutritional Therapy.
Shantelle currently works for Womens Health and Family Services as a counsellor, and the lead facilitator of The HEAT Program. She also runs workshops for adolescents on bullying, and the impact social media is having on their self-worth and body image, and is very passionate about empowering youth to be the best version of themselves.
Breakout Session Three
Option A
Making a Difference: School Based Engagement Programs
Paul Matthews
Department of Education
This session will provide participants with information about alternative school based and school funded sustainable engagement programs, designed to fit specific school contexts, to support young people disengaged and at risk and/or those with significant behavioural patterns requiring additional intervention.
The session will provide information about:
- Context specific alternative school based programs to meet the needs of at risk students,
- Exploring, identifying, establishing and evaluating alternative engagement programs,
- Recognising the needs of at risk students and opportunities to connect them with learning for future opportunities
About the presenter:
Paul is currently a Principal Advisor with the Department of Education. He has held principal roles in three secondary schools in Western Australia and most recently, the Northern Territory. Increasing his sphere of influence to enhance outcomes for students across the State is the inspiration driving his current role.
Option B
Focussing Collaboratively on Relationships; The AYIP Education Program
Ashton Kealy & Jamie Barr
Save the Children
The Armadale Youth Intervention Partnership (AYIP) is a cross-sector partnership that believes if we get the right support, to the right young people, at the right time, we will create significant savings in expenditure on tertiary services and enable young people to thrive. This presentation looks at how the AYIP Education Program provides tailored, intensive educational support for 10-12-year olds identified as having significant complex needs. We explore how young people and their families are identified early and are supported to engage with the AYIP Education Program and a range of holistic services through a unique, intensive relationship-building approach.
About the presenters:
Jamie coordinates the Youth Partnership Project’s Armadale Youth Partnership (AYIP); a place-based early intervention model preventing young complex needs from engaging with the youth justice system. He began seventeen years ago in Glasgow through charity Scottish Sports Futures, young People embroiled in gangs, territorialism and knife crime. Since moving Australia in 2011, Jamie designed and delivered the award winning Ignite program through the City of Armadale and has been a champion of collaboration in local youth services.
Ashton is the Team Leader for the AYIP Education Program, which supports young people in a tailored educational setting based on the six AYIP design principles. She has worked with young people across remote, urban and international settings, and believes in the power of young people to help create and shape sustainable change for themselves and their communities. Ashton has completed tertiary studies in community development and counselling.
Option C
Creating Futures; Communicare’s inclusive services approach in supporting young people
Monica Sharma, Rahul Verma, Kane Boyatzis & Mario Tufilli
Communicare Inc.
Communicare is a dynamic not-for-profit organisation that continues to distinguish itself as a provider of innovative, high-quality services and programs. The presentation will highlight the following suite of youth – at-risk programs and services being delivered by Communicare:
- Transition to Work Program
- Parents Next Program
- Work for the Dole Program
- Mentoring/Therapeutic Services
- Alternative Education Programs
Communicare, through the integration and delivery of tailored services and programs, provides an inclusive environment that is helping to break the cycle of disengagement and provide opportunities for youth at-risk, to transition into education, training and/or employment.
About the presenters:
Monica is Senior Manager with Communicare with leadership responsibility for employment programs including: Transition to Work, ParentsNext, Work for the Dole and a Global Workforce. Prior to joining Communicare, Monica was Manager – North West Metro Adult Community Corrections with the Department of Justice, and held senior positions in the United Kingdom including Program Director for the London Criminal Justice Partnership and managerial positions with Her Majesty’s Prison Service. Monica holds a LL.B Law Hons Degree and a Master Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Rahul is currently Coordinator Transition to Work with Communicare managing the Transition to Work Cannington and Armadale sites. Rahul, through numerous positions at Communicare, has worked under various employment focussed contracts like Job Services Australia and Jobactive, and as A Global Workforce project coordinator and Acting Coordinator Multicultural Services, within the Community Services Directorate. Rahul holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Business from Massey University, Auckland.
Kane is a registered psychologist with AHPRA and a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). He has experience working in a variety of settings including employment services, disabilities, complex traumatic injuries, workplace rehabilitation and youth and family intervention. Kane is currently working with youth and their families in the South-East region of WA through Communicare’s ‘Building a Balance’ program and as a clinician with headspace Armadale. This work involves assessment and intervention for adolescent issues including: depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, eating disorders, bullying, anger management, behavioural issues, school refusal, grief and loss, family separation/conflict, adjustment issues, gender identity issues, etc.
Mario is currently Director Education Services and Principal of Communicare Academy, a Curriculum and Re- engagement in Education (CaRE) School. Mario also has extensive experience with public education, having worked within diverse school community contexts across a range of roles.
Option D
Career Development is Everybody’s Business
Shirley Parer
Department of Education: Curriculum Support Branch – Careers Education Unit
This session will provide participants with information and key resources to support young people to:
- develop the skills, capabilities and attitudes required to navigate life and the future world of work
- explore, identify and evaluate learning and work pathways
- recognise opportunities and connect learning to future life and work opportunities
- engage in individual pathway planning (self-awareness, career exploration and action planning)
About the presenter:
Shirley is a Principal Consultant with the Curriculum Support Branch and represents the Department on national working parties for career education and career development and she is a member of the executive committee of the Career Education Association of WA. Shirley has led the development of key career development resources for the Department and she designs and delivers professional learning to support the implementation of career development and individual pathway planning in schools. At the core of her work is the drive to impress on all that work with young people that career development is everybody’s business.
Option E
The Gender Identity Burger; A Youth Peer Education Approach to Diverse Gender & Sexuality Education
Julia Morgan & Kai Schweizer
The YEP Project, YACWA
Approximately 1 in 25 young people identifies as trans or gender diverse. Despite this, youth workers report a lack of confidence in discussing gender and sexuality with young people. In YACWA’s Biennial Youth Sector Survey, 47% of youth sector respondents stated they wanted more training on gender and sexuality topics and how best to engage with LGBTQIA+ young people and 63% reported young people at their services raised issues related to LGBTQIA+ topics. In response, the YEP Crew Peer Educators, including LGBTQIA+ crew members, have developed a Gender Identity Toolkit workshop for the WA youth sector.
The Gender Identity Burger model is a unique tool designed specifically for this workshop. The model is an accessible framework that enables both young people and youth sector workers to understand the nuances of sex assignment at birth, gender identity, gender expression, and sexuality. Since its launch, the workshop has reached youth workers, medical professionals, program coordinators, educators, students, and young people in regional and metropolitan WA.
YEP Crew Peer Educators will be presenting this new gender and sexuality model as a workshop during the Engagement Forum WA.
About the presenters:
Kai is a sexual health peer educator at the Youth Affairs Council of WA, specialising in diverse sex, sexuality, and gender inclusive education. He proposed and collaboratively designed the Youth Educating Peers Project’s workshop on Trans and Gender Diverse Sexual Health. In addition, he is co-founder of the Youth Pride Network; WA’s peak advocacy body by and for LGBTQIA+ young people in metro and regional WA.
Julia is 23 and passionate about a range of issues which impact young people. She began volunteering as a youth mental health mentor and facilitator before finding a job with the Youth Educating Peers Project delivering sexual health and blood borne virus education to young people and the youth sector. During this time Julia completed a Graduate Diploma in Health Promotion and developed a passion for advocacy. Since then she has undertaken a role committee member for the Youth Pride Network advocating for the rights of LGBTIQA+ young people and has an advisory role in the National Youth Commission into Youth Employment and Transitions.
Option F
Beyond School Transitions; Evidence Based Programs and New Innovations
John Gelagin and Janine Kannemeyer
The Smith Family
The Smith Family has recently released research demonstrating that school attendance and achievement are indicators of Year 12 completion and post-school outcomes. This research confirms the importance of strategies focussed on improving student attendance, right across primary and secondary schooling.
In this workshop, we will give an overview and run activities from some of our evidence-based programs including:
- Career Related Learning in Primary Schools initiative;
- Early School Leavers program;
- Work Inspiration; and
- Cadetship to Careers
These are aimed at supporting disadvantaged young people to attend school, complete Year 12 and be in work or study post-school.
About the presenters:
John started his career as a lawyer and had a career in law, business management and consulting before changing career direction in 2010 to become the CEO of a small charity for young people impacted by mental health issues. He joined The Smith Family in 2015 to run initiatives supporting young people to navigate the transition from school to work. He was an extra in the movie “Highlander” and Coffs Harbour U12 tennis champion.
Janine is the Beyond School Transitions Project Manager at The Smith Family and facilitates the delivery of the Work Inspiration and Post School Options programs across the country. Janine’s experience has encompassed apprenticeship and traineeship management, facilitating graduate work placements, human resources, partnership brokering, and implementing career development initiatives for high school students. Janine has served on the Career Development Association WA Committee, and co-owns a video production business ICIRIS Weddings.
Breakout Session Four
Option A
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Juvenile Justice
Professor Carol Bower
Telethon Kids Institute
A ground-breaking Telethon Kids Institute study, which revealed that almost every young person being held in the Banksia Hill Detention Centre had some form of neuro-disability, has sparked concern and conversation across Australia and the world. The Banksia Hill Project, carried out over two years, was the first study in Australia to assess and diagnose young people in a youth custodial setting for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). This presentation will provide an overview of the study design, assessment outcomes, workforce training requirements and recommendations for the future.
About the presenter:
Carol has qualifications in medicine, epidemiology and public health. Her research has a strong focus on investigating causes and effects of birth defects and on translating research findings into public health policy. Leading examples are the prevention of neural tube defects (promoting folic acid supplement use and mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid) and research on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
Option B
Improving Student Engagement Through Education & Health Partnerships
Angela Moffatt, Michael McAllister, Nicole Lambert & Kaye Garrett
Department of Education WA
This presentation will provide an overview of the 4 schools that sit under the umbrella of Schools of Special Educational Needs being Medical & Mental Health; Disabilities; Behaviour & Engagement; and Sensory. The session will explore the various programs and their work to engage young people with their learning and how schools can gain access to these support services.
About the presenters:
Angela is an Associate Principal with the School of Special Educational Needs: Medical and Mental Health (SSEN:MMH) who provide educational support to students whose medical and/or mental health presents difficulties in accessing their regular education program and facilitates their entry or return to a program that best meets their ongoing needs. Support is provided to all government and non-government school students throughout the state. Our school in partnership with Health also provides professional learning for schools on various health conditions.
Michael is an Associate Principal with the School of Special Educational Needs: Disability (SSEND) who support staff in Western Australian Government Schools to enable students with disability (diagnosed or imputed) to access the curriculum on the same basis as their peers through research and evidence based practice and to promote inclusive learning environments. SSEND operates on a capacity building model, providing consultancy, targeted professional learning, intensive student support and assistive technology.
Kaye is an Associate Principal within the School of Special Educational Needs: Sensory which provides statewide support for children with hearing loss and/or vision impairment from birth to the completion of school. Support includes the Early Childhood services, Visiting Teacher services, targeted professional learning and consultation.
Nicole is an Associate Principal with the School of Special Educational Needs: Behaviour & Engagement who provide support to schools for students around a collaborative partnership to manage complex and challenging behaviours. Our schools also provide professional learning suites in classroom management and positive behaviour support.
Option C
Providing Integrated Mental Health Support in an Alternative Education Setting
Adam Cuthbertson & Dr Sarah Parkin
Youth Futures WA
Young people within alternative education programs often encounter barriers to accessing mental health support. This presentation will provide an overview of the barriers for young people in accessing psychological assessment and treatment, and outline how integrated mental health support within the alternative education setting can eliminate some of these barriers. The presenters will outline how their role as Clinical Psychologists within an alternative education program provides both individual clinical support to young people, as well as systemic intervention in collaboration with the education program, families and other relevant systems.
About the presenters:
Adam combines clinical training in psychology with a youth work background. His career has included roles in a range of settings, from psychiatric hospital and mental health clinics, to homelessness and outreach services. His current practice draws on this experience to engage and support those young people who would otherwise not access mental health services.
Sarah is a Clinical Psychologist currently employed by Youth Futures WA implementing assessment and intervention to at risk youth in alternative education settings. Sarah’s career has focused on working therapeutically with children, adolescents and families, with a special interest in attachment and trauma.
Option D
Theatrical Response Group; Tackling big issues through community strength & collaboration
Zac James & Danielle Antaki
Theatrical Response Group, youth arm of Constable Care Child Safety Foundation
Experience a Theatre of the Oppressed workshop and how Forum Theatre can be used as a tool to work through youth/community issues.
Each year the Theatrical Response Group facilitates several Forum Theatre Intensive programs with young people in both Metro and Remote schools exploring challenging issues such as bullying, family violence, drug and alcohol abuse, youth mental health and suicide prevention.
Using the Forum Theatre creative process, participants collaborate to create scenarios exploring important issues that end in a moment of crisis. These scenarios are then ‘Forumed’, bringing everyone into the conversation to find positive solutions.
About the presenters:
Zac Is a TO Wongi/Yamatji man and has recently moved into the position of TRG Co-ordinator. As a graduate of WAAPA he has moved through the realms of Acting, writing and music, solidifying his passion for community health and creatively helping to find positive pathways for Australia’s youth.
Having previously worked as Artistic Director at Powerhouse Youth Theatre in Sydney’s South West, Danielle has extensive experience as a director, performer, teacher and writer. Over the years she has written, directed and produced several Forum Theatre programs with young people and diverse communities, including using it as a tool to work with members of the homeless community with Milkcrate Theatre (Sydney).
Option E
City of Belmont- Safeguarding families domestic violence advocacy service
Dr Ellie Tighe & Dr Karen Martin
Ruah Community Service & University of Western Australia
The Belmont Safe-Guarding Families Advocacy (BSGF) Program is a collaborative project between Ruah Community Services, City of Belmont and Belmont Police. The service aims to promote safety and perpetrator accountability through the provision of domestic violence advocacy services, offered in partnership with the Police. Initial findings indicate the service has potential to promote early identification and intervention in domestic violence cases to prevent escalation in risk.
We will present initial findings from our service evaluation relating to the impact of the service on changes in perceived victim risk (self-assessed); accommodation stability; and the confidence of women experiencing domestic violence to plan for their own safety, access support from the police, and report risks posed by the perpetrator to child protection services or engage in formal legal perpetrator accountability responses.
About the presenters:
Ellie has been Ruah’s Evaluations Advisor for the past 1.5 years. Previously, she has worked on research and evaluation projects related to working womens’ rights in South Asian clothing supply chains (India and Bangladesh) with clothing retailers, universities and the International Labour Organisation. Moving to Perth in October 2016, she has been applying her skills in research and evaluation to coordinating internal and external impact evaluation projects at Ruah Community Services and works closely with Karen Martin on the quantitative data analysis components of the Safeguarding Families service evaluation.
Karen’s passion is to assist with improving the mental and physical health of vulnerable and disadvantaged populations and is engaged in lecturing and at the UWA School of Population and Global Health. Karen founded the Western Australia Trauma-informed And Restorative Schools Collaboration (TARSC WA); a collaboration of multidisciplinary professionals dedicated to increasing awareness about the impact of trauma on children and adolescents. Her research covers diverse fields including psychological and post-traumatic distress, domestic violence, mental health, loneliness, and health in homeless and refugee populations.
Option F
Adding Value to the Youth Sector in Mandurah
Tracey Johnson
City of Mandurah
The presentation will highlight how collaboration with other organisations creates more outcomes for young people and adds value to the youth sector as a whole. It will showcase great outcomes such as the RYDE program and the youth-led consultation culminating in the Making Waves Youth Forum. We will cover the range of programs delivered at the youth centre, in the community and schools that engage young people as well as talk about the importance of stepping back and creating opportunities to network in the sector and think about what is needed locally.
About the presenter:
Tracey Johnson is the Coordinator of the Youth Development Team in Mandurah and is passionate about making a difference. Trained as a Social Worker she worked in the mental health and trauma fields before moving on to discover the opportunities and value of leadership coaching. She has also worked as a trainer and in community development. This diverse experience has created a belief that change is really possible for community if we work together.