Wellbeing before Learning - Adelaide Thinkers in Residence - SA ...

Afternoon Breakout Session 1 – Hall E
Classroom reality: Positive Psychology in practice
What do educators need to know about the relationship between wellbeing and educational achievement
- in the broadest sense? How does this change the way we think about our interactions and approaches to
children and young people? In this session, panel members will bring this topic to life - in the classroom,
what does it look like, feel like and sound like?
Afternoon Breakout Session 2 – Meeting Room 2
Positive education’s role in training for future employment
How well are young people prepared for the psychological challenges and opportunities of the modern
workplace? Do we need skills for work or skills for wellbeing? Are we driving this “either or” when really
we need both? What must schools, universities, training institutions, unions, and employers know and do
as they prepare young people for productive and rewarding careers in a flourishing economy?
chair: Margot Foster, Program Manager, Teaching for Effective Learning,
Department of Education and Child Development
Margot Foster has worked in the South Australian public education sector for 33 years – in the early, primary
and middle years in complex schools as classroom teacher, science coordinator and school leader, and then
in a range of leadership positions. She is sought after as a speaker and currently works regularly with school
and preschool leaders across SA, engaging them in professional learning regarding educational leadership,
pedagogy and learning design.
chair: Michelle McQuaid, Executive Director for Human Capital,
PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia
Michelle is an award-winning researcher, teacher and designer, who is passionate about bringing out the best
in people. Having worked for leading organisations in London, New York and Australia and completed her
Masters in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, Michelle’s recent adventures include:
training more 1,000 employees in using their Strengths to improve engagement and productivity;
and delivering positive business workshops for more than 100 business executives with Martin Seligman and
David Cooperrider..
Panel:
Casey Bell, Early Childhood Teacher,
Kalaya Childrens Centre
Casey has worked at Kalaya Children’s Centre for
the past three years, under the uncompromising
guide that the wellbeing of the children in her care
is paramount to every decision. In addition to this
is the wellbeing of the children’s families and the
kindergarten community as a whole. She loves
spending her days with the children dancing,
digging, reading, painting and chatting.
Walter Barbieri, Teacher, St Peter’s College
After growing up in Milan and performing on
Europe’s theatre festival scene, Walter Barbieri found
his calling in teaching. With Honors and Masters
Degrees in English and Drama from Exeter University,
Walter has taught in three different countries, refining
his skills as a Leading Practitioner in Devon, UK. Since
2009, he has been teaching English at St. Peter’s
College, Adelaide, whilst juggling a PhD at Flinders
University.
Anne Hampshire,
Head of Research and Advocacy,
The Smith Family
Anne has a background in education, research,
social policy, and service innovation. She is currently
Head of Research and Advocacy at The Smith
Family, a national children’s charity providing long
term-support for disadvantaged children and young
people’s participation in education. Anne has over
20 years’ experience working across the community
and government sectors, including at national, state,
regional and local levels. Anne has researched and
written in a range of areas, including young people,
children and families, and social capital.
George Vickers-Willis, Student,
Geelong Grammar School
George Vickers-Willis is also School Captain at
Geelong Grammar School in 2012. Originally from
Torquay on Victoria’s south coast, George started
at the School in Prep and currently boards full-time
in Senior School. George is a keen guitarist and a
member of the School tennis and football teams.
Audrey Kent and Thomas Milham, Students,
Birdwood High School
Audrey and Thomas are Year 9 students involved
in Birdwood High School’s Academy of Innovative
Learning. This flexible personalised learning
programme has relationships at its core, resulting in
high levels of engagement and achievement.
Panel:
Stephen Meek, Principal,
Geelong Grammar School
Stephen Meek has been Principal of Geelong
Grammar School since 2004, having previously
been Headmaster of a school in the UK for 9 years.
At Geelong Grammar, he has overseen an ongoing
collaboration with Dr Martin Seligman to develop
Positive Education - a whole school approach to
teaching and learning the skills of wellbeing from
Early Learning to Year 12.
Raymond Spencer, Chair,
Economic Development Board
In 2009, Raymond Spencer returned to Australia
follows 35 years of living and working in the USA,
India and Europe. Raymond is Chairman of The South
Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
(SAHMRI), Chairman of Capgemini’s Financial Services
Global Business Unit (FS GBU) and Chairman
of Signostics Limited, a director of Rubicon Technology,
Inc. (RBCN) a NASDAQ listed manufacturer of
advanced electronic materials and a partner and
member of the investment committee in three US
based venture funds.
Bethia McNeil, Programme Leader for Youth
Transitions, The Young Foundation
Bethia McNeil is Programme Leader for Youth Transitions
at the Young Foundation, based in London.
Bethia leads work around youth leadership, employability,
social and emotional learning, and the impact
of services for young people. Bethia has previously
worked in post-16 teaching, training and youth policy.
Phillipa Duigan, Director ICAN and Mentoring,
Department of Education and Child
Development
As Director, Youth Engagement and Inclusion, within
Aboriginal, Student and Family Services in DECD,
Pip is leading a state wide team implementing a
significant expansion of the successful school and
community partnership model, Innovative Community
Action Networks (ICAN) and the broadened Student
Mentoring and Youth Development through transitions
programs within DECD schools. Pip has a deep
passion for and wide experience in working with
disadvantaged students, through extensive leadership,
policy development and program management
roles.
WBL-6.indd 8-9
2/20/12 11:05:00 PM