The focus for this conference is: The place of professional group work in the next decade. The theme will explore new developments in group work programs. While group work is viewed as an efficient and effective tool for change, it is still often under resourced, taken for granted, poorly supervised and receives less attention for research or evaluation. Despite these challenges, many organisations have started to focus on improving their evaluation processes and better understand what actually creates change in their group work programs. It is now being recognised in research, that best practice programs combine new research from neuro-biological approaches (mindfulness) while building relational connections between group members and responding to the broader social issues that impact on group members’ lives. Often family based programs work best when they work simultaneously with the children and parents (either in the same or separate group programs).
This conference explores how the above connections are applied to dynamic group work in various target groups and contexts. The conference, like past events, will be an opportunity to network and revalue the pleasure of working with people in groups. The whole conference embraces the design and utilization of group work and allows for the experience of excitement, ‘ah..ha’ moments, exchanges with peers, application of new understandings, improved observation of the subtle changes that occur in groups and fun.
2011 SPEAKERS...
Professor Ian Hickie on Professor Ian Hickie on the mental wealth of nations: Population-based and group based approaches to maximising our cognitive and behavioural potential Rachel Collis on the use of mindfulness in everyday group work programs Kevin O’Sullivan on using group work to support change in the Department of Corrective Services Andrew King on using relationship connections in group programs to significantly change life experiences
This conference explores:
New directions in group work that meet the diversity of community needs The interconnection of neuro-biological science and relational connections and its impact on positive mental health through the use of group work Accreditation of group leaders The IGL Endorsement Process to improve the standard and completion of group work program development Creative ways to build connections in a society that has an increasing number of people living alone Working in groups with the mandated clients Working with domestic violence groups. INSTITUTE OF GROUP LEADERS (IGL)... IGL consists of group leaders who have met certain standards of competence in group leadership and who wish to sustain and extend their knowledge and skills through membership. The Institute began in 1982 as a collection of group leaders from mental health and welfare agencies in Sydney with a vested interest in developing quality group leadership. A steering committee of members from the NSW Association for Mental Health, Relationships Australia NSW, Interrelate, Unifam and the NSW Health Department were instrumental in the initial development. Private practitioners and UnitingCare Burnside, and the Community Educator's Network in Taree have also played a significant role in the later years. Registration as a Community Advancement Society was achieved in September 1985.
Today IGL is recognised as the membership accrediting body for group leaders in NSW and ACT. It provides training courses in group leadership and on-going education workshops.
For more information about IGL membership or training workshops please contact - Sue O’Brien on
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or 0425 285 163 or visit www.igl.org.au
THIS CONFERENCE IS FOR... Group facilitators who lead group programs in community organisations, Community Health Services, Corrective Services Programs, Youth Services, Mental Health and Child Protection ProgramsWorkplace trainers who use and wish to further develop group work processes and techniques
KEYNOTE CONFERENCE FACILITATORS... Professor Ian Hickie From 2000 to 2003 Professor Hickie was CEO of beyondblue: the national depression initiative, and from 2003-2006 he served as its Clinical Advisor. In 2003, he was appointed as the Executive Director of the Brain & Mind Research Institute (BMRI). Professor Hickie was appointed to the Prime Minister’s Australian National Council on Drugs in 2007, and has led the BMRI as a founding member of the new National Youth Mental Health Foundation (‘headspace’). Also in this year, Professor Hickie was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. From 2008-2013, Professor Hickie is one of the first round of new NHMRC 2008 Australian Fellows. In July 2008 he was appointed to the Federal Health Minister’s new National Advisory Council on Mental Health, and in November 2009 he received the Research Australia National Advocacy Award for his work in mental health.
Rachel Collis Rachel Collis is the Director of RJC Consulting (Australia) Pty. ltd. Rachel provides workshops; keynote speeches; coaching; tailored 360 feedback surveys and group and team facilitation. She has been working in the area of supporting people to create rich and meaningful lives for over 20 years. She is deeply passionate about it.
Kevin O’Sullivan Kevin O’Sullivan is a clinical psychologist and group facilitator who has worked in a number of settings including general practice, community mental health and corrections. Kevin trained in the UK, spending time at the Institute of Group Analysis at the Tavistock Clinic, and came to Australia in 1994 to set up the Violence Prevention Program (now the Violent Offenders Therapeutic program) for Corrective Services NSW. In 2004 he was appointed Director of the Offender Programs Unit in Corrective Services NSW, a unit that oversees the implementation of evidence-based intervention programs across NSW. Kevin has an enduring interest in how people manage to change and how they maintain this change to create better lives and both his clinical work and his research are about assisting people to do this. He taught group work for a number of years at the University of Western Sydney and currently directs an innovative group process training course in collaboration with Macquarie University.
Andrew King Andrew King is a consultant trainer and program developer in group work, working with men and strengths based practice. He is the Deputy-Chairperson for the Institute of Group Leaders and a specialist trainer in group work and trains professionals throughout Australia in ‘working with men’. He is also an experienced practitioner and has published a range of professional articles. Andrew’s work career has involved working with teenagers who have drug and alcohol problems, young people with a mental health issues, parenting education, coordinating a large fathers’ centre and managing training for professionals interested in group work or working with men. Until recently, he was employed as the Men’s Services Manager for MensLine Australia (Crisis Support Services). Click here to obatin a PDF Conference Promotion Flier with all workshops and paper presentations
Paper presentations Sharon Turton CAPA - onnecting Kids: The Journey: ‘Connection’ in the group setting Anne Vranisan CatholicCare Melbourne -Creating a Climate for Change - the Challenges of Post Separation Parenting Groups Angharad Candlin CatholicCare Sydney - Keeping it outside the box: using creativity and diversity to reach marginalised parents Liz Sanders UnitingCare Burnside - Newpin Inside: Meeting the Needs of Parents in Prison John Bartram & Sharron Matayalo CatholicCare Sydney - The Forgotten Body Lorraine Holland and Janet Sallabank NSW Dept of Corrective Services Offender Programs and Services - The Emerging Role of the Program Facilitator James Ferguson, Deborah Jenkin and Neysa Burns NSW Dept of Corrective Services- Messy Women: adapting DBT group work to reach a previously unreachable group of forensic clients Angharad Candlin & Karolyn Ellis CatholicCare Sydney - Facilitating Change in a Cold Climate Irene Gaffney & Tim Broady Relationships Australia - Research, Family Violence and Groupwork Workshop presentations Cath Lancaster & Jacquie Milburn Womens Health in the North - Collected Wisdom - Facilitated Family Violence Groupwork with women Chiara Rodolfi & Edielson Miranda STARTTS - Expression and Healing through an Afro-Brazilian Art Form Judy O'Donovan, Roma Sheen, Justine Goldin & Alison Cornish Early Intervention Program, The Benevolent Society - Pregnancy and Beyond: Facilitating the development of reflective capacity through peri-natal group work Andrew King Groupwork Solutions - Developing IGL endorsed group work programs Annette Coulter Centre for Art Psychotherapy -Art-based activities for groups Serah Geenberg-Kraft The Benevolent Society - Increasing carer resilience through psycho-educational group work: The role of Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI) Kerrie McFadden Relationships Australia - The Us Kit - Tools for Family Based Groupwork Ross Fairbank Groupwork Solutions & the Australian Institute of Male Health Studies - Dads 2 be Heather McAlpine Relationships Australia - "Sorry seems to be the hardest word" Stephanie Ingram, Deb McEvoy-Herbert & Vanessa Sheer Learning Links - Innovative service delivery provides timely empowerment for parents Muffy Churches ASK Learning - Maximising Personal Potential Julie Holt 'Wattle Place- The NSW Support Service For Forgotten Australians - A Healing Retreat For The 'Forgotten Australian's' Andrew King Groupwork Solutions - The power of new perspectives - Using physical sculpture in group work Vicki Parkes Relationships Australia - Diversifying Delivery - Adapting F2F Education Programs to Teleconference and Online Mohamed Dukuly, Susan Cunningham & Elizabeth Schaffer STARTTS - Families in Cultural Transition: An alternative healing process Theo Chang & Tony Trimingham Family Drug Support - Family Drug Support's Stepping Stones to Success - Group work that works for families supporting alcohol and other drug dependents
CONFERENCE COST... Costs (GST is not applicable) Option A: Early Bird (expires on 29 May 2011) - Conference registration IGL Member: $280.00 Non-IGL Members:$330.00 Option B: Full conference registration
IGL Members: $310.00 Non-IGL Members: $360.00 Option C: Student rate (full time student) 1 day cost: $165.00
Option D: Day rate: $200.00
To register – visit www.igl.org.au Payments can be made when you register on the internet. All registrations will receive a tax invoice.
ACCOMMODATION... Local conference accommodation can be www.wotif.com.au.
TRANSPORT... Travel by train to Town Hall Station, Sydney is recommended. Car parking is located close by in the Hilton Hotel, 488 George Street, Sydney but they may have expensive daily rates.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT... Sue O’Brien The Institute of Group Leaders
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
0425 285 163
Andrew King
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
0437 546 560