Positive Schools 2023 Live and in Person Events

Australian educators know how important it is to support mental health and wellbeing in all students. Yet, knowing and doing are very different things.

In 2023, we focus on the ‘how’ of putting wellbeing ideas and knowledge into sustainable and realistic action in our classrooms and schools; in an equitable, inclusive and realistic way.

Positive Schools 2023

More information below about each of the conference days or continue down the page to see who's presenting!

Pre-conference Wednesday – Love to Learn with Dr Helen Street

Attend a packed pre-conference workshop exploring the factors that turn good intentions into realizable actions. We set all manner of goals with our students, including those that focus on academic, social, emotional and behavioural outcomes. Yet, despite our best intentions, actioning our goals can be challenging at best. In this interactive workshop, Helen unpacks the latest research showing us how to keep our students motivated and engaged with all aspects of their learning.

Main Day Thursday – Measures of Success

An unmissable morning exploring competency, performance and measures of success. Dr Helen Street looks at the factors predicting high performance in students, and how they link to wellbeing. Principal Janis Coffey challenges what it means to be well educated. Health psychologist Professor Grant Schofield supports healthy eating as a foundation for wellbeing in Brisbane and Sydney. And the world’s foremost motivation expert Professor Richard Ryan helps us to better support motivation in our students in Melbourne and Perth.

Thursday Workshops

Choose from five Thursday afternoon workshop streams offering practical and interactive sessions. Support your own wellbeing with Daniella Falecki. Better understand the impact of ‘striving for excellence’ with Rev Richard Pengelley in Sydney and Perth. Learn communication skills with our team of clinical psychologists. Understand the impact of your own stories on your teaching and learning with Michael Hardie. Discuss real world applications of contextual wellbeing with fellow educators in all states.

Main Day Friday – Communication that Counts

A full day applying all that we know about effective communication and relationship building to our classroom and school communities. Child and adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg helps us to talk and listen to teens. Our host, educator Charlie Scudamore encourages us to ‘build on what works’ in our schools. Educator, John Hendry, brings 50 years of mastering relational education to conflict and aggression. Explorer Tim Cope brings inspiration to the Melbourne and Perth stages with his personal tales of adventure.

We will also be welcoming new presenters in every state, to help us to better communicate with young people who are struggling with trauma, challenged by their neurodiversity or coming to terms with their LGBT identity. How do we communicate effectively and authentically with young people in a world that excepts no mistakes?

It is not enough to know that wellbeing matters in our classrooms and schools; we need to know how to realistically and sustainably put ‘wellbeing into action’.

Presenters 2023

More to come!

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

Talking with Students

All States-Main Stage

Dr Helen Street

Competency and Success: How Good is Good Enough

All States - Main Stage and Pre-Conference workshop

Jo Pengelley

The Art and Science of School Refusal-Creating a Full School Approach - Talking to School Refusers

All States-Main Stage

Ben Sacco

‘I’m Safe, I’m Here, I’m Listening:’ A Practical Guide to Effective Classroom Communication (ALL STATES-MAIN STAGE)

Tim Cope

On the Trail of Genghis Khan: An Epic Journey Through the Land of the Nomads

VIC & WA MAIN STAGE

AJ Betts

The Courage of Vulnerability
MAIN STAGE ALLL States

Charlie Scudamore

Putting Passion into Practice

DAY TWO Host & MAIN STAGE

Daniela Felecki

“Who is responsible for teacher wellbeing?”

WORKSHOP All States

Janis Coffey

Designing the Culture You Desire: A Conversation with a 150-yr-old Futurist

All States-Main Stage

John Hendrey

The role of effective communication in preventing and managing bullying and aggression

NSW, VIC & WA

Prof Grant Schofield

Supporting Student Engagment and
Performance with Healthy Lifestyles
Prof. Grant Schofield QLD/NSW

Rev Richard Pengelley

DAY TWO HOST MAIN STAGE & WORKSHOP (NSW & WA)

Dr Brenda Heyworth

‘Student Emotions in the Real World and Teachers’ Too!’

ALL STATES

Hannah Diviney

"I'll Let Myself In."
Supporting Inclusive Education in a Realistic and Meaningful Way

QLD/NSW

Ted Bradshaw

How to talk to kids with meaning and purpose
All States

Matthew Johnstone

‘A Thousand Words: The Power of Art for Understanding Complex Issues’
HOST QLD & NSW + WORKSHOP

Lizzie Williamson

The Power of Microbreaks: Boosting Student Learning and Teacher Wellbeing MAIN STAGE & WORKSHOP NSW

Paul Graham

Positives, Challenges &
Practicalities of Developing &Implementing a Whole-School Wellbeing Model
(WORKSHOP QLD & VIC)

Michael Hardie

Your Story: Exploring Past Teacher Experience as a Driver of Current Classroom Dynamics

Sarah Macdonald

Dog-Assisted Learning. -
Education, Engagement & Ethics
(WORKSHOP ALL STATES)

Samantha Heron

Intergenerational Connection – Bringing Community Back Together for better mental health

Jesse Diggins & Dr. Nathan Castle

Do we Need a Psychologist? Exploring the Ways in which School Psychologists can Support Teachers and Leaders, and Produce Positive Change in Students.

David Hewitt

The Mindful School Pathway

Mindful Meditation Australia

ALL STATES

Ben Russell

Respectful Relationships for
Enhanced Student Wellbeing.
Beyond Outdated School Dances

QLD & NSW Workshop

Dr Lauren Gardner

Universal Prevention
Programs for Adolescents
Targeting Substance Use.
The Matilda Centre for Research

Amy Leigh-Rowe

Universal Prevention
Programs for Adolescents
Targeting Substance Use.
The Matilda Centre for Research

VIC

Don't want to pay by Credit Card?

Does your School or College require an account/Invoice ?

Scan the QR code or click the button below and fill in the CONFERENCE REGISTRATION form.

OR, scroll down to pay by Credit Card

Alternatively contact

josh (at) positiveschools.com.au

Click HERE to receive an account/ Invoice or scan the QR code and recieve and invoice

Dates and Pricing Options

All pricing is in AUS dollars

EARLY BIRD

Single Day

$268.00

ex 10% gst & 1.5% CC charge

Attend one day of the Positive Schools 2023 In-Person Conference.

^{Brisbane BCEC 7/8/9 June 2023}

^{Sydney SMC 25/26/27 Oct 2023 (note these are new dates)}

^{Melbourne MCEC 8/9/10 Nov 2023}

^{Fremantle Rydges 22/23/24 Nov 2023}

CHOOSE ONE FULL DAY FROM:

1. The Pre-Conference workshop 'Love to Learn - supporting sustainable action and long-term learning engagement ' with Dr Helen Street

2. Main Day One (Thursday) - A morning of keynote presentations with a focus on 'Understanding and supporting measures of success and increased competency'; plus an afternoon of workshops supporting wellbeing and positive mental health across five streams.

3. Main Day Two (Friday) - A full day of keynote presentations, interactive discussion and inspiration supporting 'effective communication'. How do we talk to kids so that they listen. and listen to them so that they talk?

EARLY BIRD

Two Days

$510.00

ex 10% gst & 1.5% CC charge

Attend two days of Positive Schools 2023 In-Person Conference.

^{Brisbane BCEC 7/8/9 June 2023}

^{Sydney SMC 25/26/27 Oct 2023 (note these are new dates)}

^{Melbourne MCEC 8/9/10 Nov 2023}

^{Fremantle Rydges 22/23/24 Nov 2023}

CHOOSE TWO FULL DAYS FROM:

1. The Pre-Conference workshop 'Love to Learn - supporting sustainable action and long-term learning engagement ' with Dr Helen Street

EARLY BIRD

All three days

$755

ex 10% gst & 1.5% CC charge

Attend the FULL Positive Schools 2023 In-Person Conference.

^{Brisbane BCEC 7/8/9 June 2023}

^{Sydney SMC 25/26/27 Oct 2023 (note these are new dates)}

^{Melbourne MCEC 8/9/10 Nov 2023}

^{Fremantle Rydges 22/23/24 Nov 2023}

CHOOSE ALL THREE DAYS:

1. The Pre-Conference workshop 'Love to Learn - supporting sustainable action and long-term learning engagement ' with Dr Helen Street

Love to Learn

Pre-Conference Workshop with Dr Helen Street

Pre-Conference Workshop LOVE TO LEARN

supporting sustainable action and long-term learning engagement in young people

with Dr Helen Street

BCEC, Brisbane 7^th June

SMC, Sydney 25^th October

MCEC, Melbourne 8^th November

Fremantle Rydges’ Hotel, Perth 22^nd November

One of the biggest predictors of school success, is learning engagement. Moreover, research tells us that learning engagement supports better wellbeing at school, better attendance, less antisocial and risky behaviour and more positive mental health*. It could be said that when a student is engaged in their learning, they have an increased capacity to thrive socially, emotionally and academically.

But how do we effectively support learning engagement in our students? How do we get kids to not only want to learn, but be engaged with their learning, for the long term?

In this full- day workshop Helen draws on her academic research into motivation and goal pursuit, along with 20 years’ experience working in schools to support learning and wellbeing.

The day will be divided into three sections with breaks and refreshments provided:

8:30 – 9:00 – Registrations, tea and coffee

9:00 – 10:30 – Session One – Beyond Knowing

How do we shift our students from deciding to do something, to actually doing it?
What does current research tell us about how best to move someone from intention to positive behaviour?
How can we understand and support perceived behavioural control?

10:30 – 11:00 – Morning tea

11:00 – 12:30 – Motivational Factors, Goals and Needs

If learning does not have to be fun to be engaging, what does it need to be?
What is autonomous motivation and how does it relate to learning engagement?
How does the way in which we understand and set long term goals influence learning engagement?

12:30 – 13:30 – Lunch

13:30 – 15:00 – The Power of Self- Belief and the Meaning of Success

How can we better understand and support self-efficacy?
What is the relevance of our temporal horizons and other powers of perception?
How can we better conceptualize and support self-belief in young people?

Positive Schools Timetable 2023

THURSDAY 8:45 – 15:30

Very Special Opening Performance

Welcome to Positive Schools Main Day One

MAIN STAGE

8:45

Opening Performance

9:00

Welcome to Positive Schools Main Day One

Rev Richard Pengelley, St Mary’s Anglican School for Girls (QLD & WA)

Matthew Johnstone, Drawn from Experience (NSW & VIC)

9:10

Competency and Success: How Good is Good Enough

Dr Helen Street, Positive Schools Chair & University of Western Australia (All States)

9:45

Two-Minute Moves with Lizzie Williamson (NSW)

9:50

Brain Rules for Human Potential: the Science and Practice of Hormesis

Professor Grant Schofield, Auckland University of Technology (QLD & NSW)

Universal Prevention Programs for Adolescents Targeting Substance Use

Amy Leigh-Rowe (VIC) and Dr Lauren Gardner (WA)

The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use,

The University of Sydney

11:00

Designing the Culture You Desire: A Conversation with a 150-yr-old Futurist

Janis Coffey, North-Eastern Montessori School, Melbourne (All States)

11:40

Five Minutes with CBTTed

Ted Bradshaw, CBTTed, UK (Online presentation All States)

11:50

Student Emotions in the Real World and Teachers’ Too!’

Dr Brenda Heyworth, Child and Family Psychiatrist (All States)

WORKSHOP STREAMS SESSION ONE – 13:30 – 14:25

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

Loss and Grief in Australian Schools - PART ONE

(The Mackillop Institute - All States)

“Who is Responsible for Teacher Wellbeing?” (Daniela Falecki – All States)

The Cost of Excellence (Richard Pengelley - QLD & WA)

The Power Of The Image: The Art of Making Complex Ideas Simple

(Matthew Johnstone – NSW & VIC)

Respectful Relationships for Enhanced Student Wellbeing. Beyond Outdated School Dances

(Ben Russell - QLD & NSW)

The Mindful School (Mindful Meditation Australia – ALL STATES)

Dog-Assisted Learning - Education, Engagement & Ethics

(Canine Comprehension – VIC & WA)

**************************

WORKSHOP STREAMS SESSION TWO – 14:35 – 15:30
CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

Loss and Grief in Australian Schools - PART TWO
(The Mackillop Institute: Anne Henderson - QLD, NSW, VIC and Kellie Goes, - WA)

Your Story: Exploring Past Teacher Experience as a Driver of Current Classroom Dynamics (Michael Hardie – All States)

A Practical Approach to Emotions & Behaviour (Dr Brenda Heyworth – QLD)

Thinking Traps (Ben Scoll – QLD & NSW)

The Power of Microbreaks: Boosting Student Learning and Teacher Wellbeing
(Lizzie Williamson – NSW)

Intergenerational Connection – Bringing Community Back Together for Better Mental Health (Samantha Heron – NSW)

Positives, Challenges and Practicalities of Developing and Implementing a Whole-School Wellbeing Model (Paul Graham – VIC)

Community Health Nurse in Primary School Program
(Elyse Jones – VIC)

Do We Need a Psychologist? (Jesse Diggins & Nathan Castle – VIC & WA)

The Sound of Wellbeing - Supporting Classroom Wellbeing with the Power of Music
(Nic Cullum – WA)

Menstruation and Mental Health
(Felicity Roux – WA)

FRIDAY 8:45 – 15:30

Very Special Opening Performance

Welcome to Positive Schools Master Class on Effective Communication

MAIN STAGE