Workshop Program
#ParentsinEd
MONDAY 19 OCTOBER
Time
Session details
10am - 12 noon
Option 1: Sharon Witt – No body’s perfect: Tackling body and self-image
issues with our young people
Sharon Witt is a Secondary Educator, Author, Media Commentator and Motivational
Speaker. For more information about Sharon, please visit www.sharonwitt.com.au
In this session, Sharon will unpack many of the key influences on our young people in
relation to Body Image and self-esteem and strategies that can be utilised with the young
people. You will take away with you practical tools as well as a multitude of resources to
support you raising your children.
Option 2: Jodie Benveniste – Learning early: Supporting your child’s
learning in their early school years (1-1.5hrs hour)
Jodie Benveniste is a psychologist, parenting author, TEDx speaker and parenting
commentator. For more information about Jodie, visit jodiebenveniste.com
In this session, Jodie will discuss
 How children learn
 How to support your children’s learning
 Your role as a parent
 Rituals and routines at home that support learning
 Comparing your child to other children – or why not to compare
 Behaviour and discipline at home – what you can learn from how they do it at
school
Option 3: Sharona Edwards – Reading, Writing and Spelling in the Early
Years: Providing Parents with Guidance and Practical Ideas
Sharona Edwards is a primary school teacher passionate about teaching children to read.
For more information about Sharona, visit www.schoolstart.com.au
In this session she will discuss:
 How to support a child to become and independent reader
 The different ways children learn how to spell
 Foundational reading and writing skills that set a child up for success
 Practical and easy ways to support a child with the above skills.
Time
Session details
12:30pm-2:30pm
Option 1: Sharon Witt – Raising resilient girls
Mon 19 October
Sharon Witt is a Secondary Educator, Author, Media Commentator and Motivational
Speaker. For more information about Sharon, please visit www.sharonwitt.com.au
During this 2 hour presentation (including time for discussion and questions), Author and
Secondary Educator Sharon Witt, will provide key skills and strategies our girls need in
order to be resilient, strong and capable young women. Key topics include:
 Developing Emotional Intelligence
 Navigating difficult relationships
 Conflict management skills
 The personal values and attitudes we want to foster in our girls
 Developing positive relationships
Option 2: Nature Play SA
Nature Play SA aims to make unstructured outdoor play in nature an everyday part of
childhood. More information about Nature Play SA can be found at natureplaysa.org.au
This session will outline the way parents can promote opportunities for children to explore
the environment and engage with nature. This session is best aimed at parents of children
in the early years.
Option 3: Sharona Edwards – Reading, writing and spelling in the early
years: providing parents with guidance and practical ideas
Sharona Edwards is a primary school teacher passionate about teaching children to read.
For more information about Sharona, visit www.schoolstart.com.au
In this session she will discuss:
 How to support a child to become and independent reader
 The different ways children learn how to spell
 Foundational reading and writing skills that set a child up for success
 Practical and easy ways to support a child with the above skills.
Workshop Program
#ParentsinEd
TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER
Time
Session details
10am - 12 noon
Option 1: Helen Nowosilskyj – Life with or without university
Helen Nowosilskyj is the Pathways Coordinator at Immanuel College, Novar Gardens and
prior to this worked for Western Futures, School Business Partnership Broker, a service
providing career development and transition support services for young people aged
between 13 and 19 into further education, training or employment.
This session will provide parents with information about the different career options
available to their children, whether it is University, TAFE, a trade or employment and how
parents can help their children with planning for their future careers.
Option 2: Kerry Parker – Cyber safety
Kerry Parker is the Policy Advisor within the Department for Education and Child
Development. Kerry’s session will provide parents with resources and tips to promote
cyber safety in the home, what to look out for in the online environment and how parents
can support what is being done in schools.
Option 3: DECD and SAASPC - Volunteering in DECD schools
Ever wanted to volunteer in Department for Education and Child Development (DECD)
schools but are unsure what roles are available? Had questions about Police Checks?
Wanted to know more about governing councils or other committees you can join?
This session will be jointly presented by the SA Association of School Parent Clubs, Heidi
Unferdorben, Senior Policy Officer (Volunteers) and Toni Richardson, Policy Advisor
(Governance).
12:30pm-1:30pm
Option 1: Carol Toole – Strengthening family and community engagement
in student learning (1 hour)
Carol Toole is the ICAN Partnership for Learning Coordinator based in Gawler. She
regularly delivers training to schools and governing councils about the Family-School
Partnership Framework.
This session will empower parents to partner with schools and the local community to
improve educational outcomes for young people. This session will cover:
 An introduction to the Family-School Partnership Framework
 Explores the resource – a ‘toolkit’ of research and practical strategies
 Introduces good practice and successful case studies
 Explains the step by step process to take locally responsive action.
Time
Session details
12:30pm-2:30pm
Option 2: SHine SA - Let’s talk about relationships and sexual health in the
Tues 20 October
secondary years
We live in a highly sexualised world. We need to ask ourselves what knowledge, skills and
strategies do our children and young people have to make meaning of their relationships
and sexuality. For more information visit www.shinesa.org.au
This workshop is aimed at building the confidence of parents and carers to talk about
relationships and sexual health and to complement what is taught at school. Topics to be
addressed are:




Respectful relationships
Sexualised message in popular culture including pornography
Safer sex – consent, STIs & contraception
Further support and information
Option 3: DECD and SAASPC - Volunteering in DECD Schools
Ever wanted to volunteer in Department for Education and Child Development (DECD)
schools but are unsure what roles are available? Had questions about Police Checks?
Wanted to know more about governing councils or other committees you can join?
This session will be jointly presented by the SA Association of School Parent Clubs, Heidi
Unferdorben, Senior Policy Officer (Volunteers) and Toni Richardson, Policy Advisor
(Governance).
Workshop Program
#ParentsinEd
THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER
Time
Session details
10am - 12 noon
CANCELLED - Option 1: Dr Stacey Fox – Parent engagement in learning
Dr Stacey Fox is the Manager, ACACY Convenors and Networks. She manages training
and implementation of The Common Approach, a resource kit that supports universal and
secondary practitioners to engage with parents about their children’s wellbeing. For more
information visit, www.aracy.org.au/about-us/our-people.
Option 2: SHine SA - Let’s talk about relationships and sexual health in the
primary years
We live in a highly sexualised world. We need to ask ourselves what knowledge, skills and
strategies do our children and young people have to make meaning of their relationships
and sexuality. For more information visit www.shinesa.org.au
This workshop is aimed at building the confidence of parents and carers to talk about
relationships and sexual health and to complement what is taught at school. Topics to be
addressed are:




12:30pm-2:30pm
Puberty
Respectful relationships
Sexualised message in popular culture
Further support and information
Option 1: Autism SA – Transitioning children with ASD to school
Autism SA is the recognised leader for helping families and individuals living with Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD). More information about Autism SA can be found at:
www.autismsa.org.au
This session will provide parents with practical advice about
 The challenges that some children will face as they transition (starting preschool,
preschool-primary school, primary school-secondary school)
 The support available to students, to teachers and to parents
 Tips to make the transition easier
Time
Session details
12:30pm-2:30pm
Option 2: Jodie Benveniste – Learning early: Supporting your child’s
Thurs 22 October learning in their early school years (1-1.5 hours)
Jodie Benveniste is a psychologist, parenting author, TEDx speaker and parenting
commentator. For more information about Jodie, visit jodiebenveniste.com
In this session, Jodie will discuss
 How children learn
 How to support your children’s learning
 Your role as a parent
 Rituals and routines at home that support learning
 Comparing your child to other children – or why not to compare
 Behaviour and discipline at home – what you can learn from how they do it at
school
Option 3: Rosa Bollella – All about the SA Certificate of Education (SACE)
AND Peter Mader – The changes in the labour market and how schools are
adapting to the challenge
These sessions are aimed at parents of secondary aged children.
Rosa Bollella is the SACE Officer for Schools and will provide information on the SACE to
enable parents to support children in their subject choices.
Peter Mader is President of the South Australian Secondary Principals’ Association. In
2007, Peter was a member of the implementation team responsible for the introduction of
the new South Australian Certificate of Education. In this capacity he co-managed the
design and delivery of the professional learning program for leaders in 260 secondary
schools across all three education sectors. Peter’s session will look at the future of work in
Australia and how schools are preparing students for emerging roles.
Workshop Program
#ParentsinEd
EXPO PARTNERS
 The Gifted and Talented Children’s Association of SA
 Parenting SA
 Autism SA
 Hospital Education Service
 Better Behaviour Centres
 South Australian Association of School Parents Clubs (SAASPC)
 The Federation of Catholic School Parent Communities
 Catholic Education South Australia
 The Association of Independent Schools of South Australia
 The Department for Education and Child Development