Expert Speakers
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg
Adolescent Psychologist
Michael is one of Australia’s highest profile psychologists. After 7 years as an Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne, Michael now runs a successful private practice in Melbourne. He is the author of 5 best selling books on adolescents and a founding member of the National Centre Against Bullying, an official ambassador for the National Depression Initiative - Beyondblue, Reachout, as well as Mindmatters. He is a columnist for Girlfriend Magazine and is a regular on Fairfax Radio, Sunrise and the Morning Show on Channel 7.
Julie Gale
Founder of Kids Free 2 B kids, Writer & Performer
Julie Gale is a comedy writer and performer and has performed her One Woman Shows at the International Melbourne Comedy Festival. Julie is the founder of Kids Free 2B Kids and has been raising public and corporate awareness about the sexualisation of children since February 2007. She has generated great media interest about the issue and has appeared on television, radio and in newspaper articles throughout Australia and internationally. Julie brings a distinctive and impactful satirical style to this controversial and sensitive topic.
Susan McLean
Cybersafety Expert
Susan McLean has an extensive background in law enforcement (26yrs), and is considered an expert in the area of Cyber Safety and young people. As the mother of 3 children, she is acutely aware of the issue from both a parental, school and legal perspective. Susan is unique in her vast knowledge of this subject and in August 2006, she travelled to the U.S.A, where she undertook advanced study in the area of cyber safety, completing courses available to the FBI and other specialized Law Enforcement agencies. She also spent time working with the Dallas Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) taskforce team.
Paul Dillon
Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia
Paul Dillon has been working in the area of drug education for the past 25 years and continues to work with young people and their families across the country. He has been contracted by many agencies and organisations to give regular updates on current drug trends within the community. He has recently published a book ‘Teenagers, Alcohol and Drugs’, released nationally in February 2009. Paul is regarded as a key social commentator in Australia, and has appeared on a wide range of television programs including Sunrise, Today and A Current Affair discussing topical issues.
Prof Stephen Touyz
Eating Disorder Specialist, Co-Director,
Peter Beumont Centre for Eating Disorders
Stephen is a world leading expert on eating disorders. Research is now showing that early detection and intervention is an important predictor of recovery from eating disorders. This means that teachers, health and welfare professionals now have an important role to play in the effective detection and treatment of this condition. The different types of eating disorders that can affect both girls and boys will be described, how to tell if a child or teenager might have an eating issue, and what to do about it. Importantly, the early warning signs are described, especially the warning signs before the warning signs! The importance of cooperation between schools, teachers and health professionals will be emphasised.
Maggie Hamilton
Author and Researcher
Examine why our children are living in an increasingly sexualised and commercialised environment, what sort of pressures they are facing, and where these pressures come from. Discover the effects of these influences even on pre-schoolers and tweens. Most importantly find out what teaching, health and welfare professionals can do to inform and protect this vulnerable new generation.
Andrew Fuller
Andrew Fuller, The Resilience Foundation Fellow, Departments of Psychiatry, Uni of Melb, Ambassador for Mind Matters
Andrew has recently been described as an ”interesting mixture of Billy Connolly, Tim Winton and Frasier Crane” and as someone who “puts the heart back into psychology”. As a clinical psychologist, Andrew Fuller works with many schools and communities in Australia and internationally, specialising in the wellbeing of young people and their families. He is a Fellow of the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Learning and Educational Development at the University of Melbourne. Andrew has been a principal consultant to the national drug prevention strategy REDI, the ABC on children’s television shows, is an Ambassador for Mind Matters and is a member of the National Coalition Against Bullying.
Melinda Hutchings
Author, Speaker & Eating Disorders Expert
Melinda describes the complex first-hand experience of being a sufferer of an eating disorder. Her personal account will provide a uniquely useful insight into how young people can slide from seemingly innocuous behaviours into a frank disorder, and then the inner challenges associated with recovery.
Angie Wilcock
Educator/Facilitator
With a history of international sporting representation in track and field, multiple NSW and Australian Championships and records and dual City-To-Surf wins, Angie understands what it takes to reach one’s potential in any field – including education. Her motivation and desire to achieve and her ability to motivate others ultimately led her into the field of education. Working as a primary school teacher, Angie has had experience with teaching children from Kindergarten through to Year 6. She initially identified a need to bridge the gap in information for both parents and students in transition to high school and developed her first program to address this need.
Melinda Tankard Reist
Author, Speaker & Commentator
Melinda Tankard Reist is a Canberra author, speaker, media commentator, blogger and advocate for women and girls. Her third book is Getting Real: Challenging the Sexualisation of Girls (Spinifex Press, September 2009), already in its third printing.
Melinda has recently initiated a new grassroots campaigning movement, Collective Shout: for a world free of sexploitation, to expose corporations, advertisers and marketers who objectify women and sexualise girls to sell products and services.
Melinda is a regular guest on Channel 7’s Morning Show, and has made recent appearances on Sunrise, ABC Q&A and The Gruen Sessions. Melinda is named in Who’s Who of Australian Women and the World Who’s Who of Women.
Melinda Tankard Reist’s Website »
Dr Toni Noble
Teacher, Psychologist, Researcher and Teacher Educator
In her work in education, Dr Toni Noble draws on her experience as a teacher, psychologist, researcher and teacher educator. She is Adjunct Professor in the School of Educational Leadership at the Australian Catholic University in Sydney and is widely known in the education arena as the co-author with Dr Helen McGrath of many practical best selling teacher resource books. These books include Eight Ways At Once on differentiated instruction; Different Kids, Same Classroom, Bullying Solutions (co-editor: all royalties to NCAB) and the BOUNCE BACK! A Classroom Resiliency Program. The BOUNCE BACK!program is the 2003 winner of the Robin Winkler Award for applied research in Community Psychology awarded by the Australian Psychological Society. Her newest book (available in July) with Helen McGrath on student engagement is titled HITS and HOTS (High Impact Teaching Strategies & Higher Order Thinking Strategies). Dr Noble is working on the Australian Government's (DEEWR) revised National Safe Schools Framework that is being rolled out into all schools later this year. Dr Noble was also a Principal Investigator on the Australian Government's (DEEWR) 2008 Scoping Study on Student Wellbeing. She has been awarded a Carrick Citation for her outstanding contributions to University teaching in the field of educational psychology and teacher education. She is on the Advisory Board for National Centre Against Bullying, Wellbeing Australia and the Australian Positive Psychology Association.
Dr Naomi Crafti
Community Development/Education Officer, Eating Disorders Victoria
Naomi Crafti is a member of the Australian Psychological Society College of Counselling Psychology, with over 16 years experience working in the area of eating disorders and body image. While an academic at Swinburne University Naomi conducted research into the development and therapeutic intervention of eating disorders and supervised the Mindful Moderate Eating Group program at the Swinburne Psychology Clinic. She began working as the Community Development/Education Officer at EDV in 2009. In this role Naomi enjoys the opportunity to speak and interact with a variety of people about understanding and managing eating disorders, enhancing self-esteem, developing a positive body image and celebrating diversity.
Lyn Worsley
Psychologist, The Resilience Doughnut
Lyn Worsley is a registered psychologist who works in private practice with families, children and adolescents. She has a background as a registered nurse, an early childhood educator, a youth worker and was a teacher for over 10 years. Lyn is the Director of Alpha Counselling Services and uses a counselling approach which enables families and individuals to find constructive solutions to difficult situations. She regularly teaches at the Brief Therapy Institute of Sydney where her practical workshops on 'what works with kids' are popular. Lyn is the author of The Secret of Strong Kids. The Resilience Doughnut which provides ways of helping children and young people through stressful times. She is a well known speaker at conferences and has presented her Resilience Doughnut process across Australia and in many countries around the world.
Dr Ramesh Manocha
GP, Founder & Chairman
Dr Ramesh Manocha is a practising medico and researcher at the School of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia where he also completed his PhD in medicine. He has national prominence as an educator and promoter of women’s children’s health, adolescent wellbeing, complementary and traditional medicine. He is actively involved in professional education and health promotion in both the public and private sectors. He lectures to public and professional audiences internationally on his research, its practical, individual and social ramifications. He is the founder of Generation Next.
