March 2008
From Strength to Strength
What an incredible line-up for the forthcoming Family & Community Strengths Conference! The first national Indigenous F&CS (14-16 April) features Muriel Bramblett (Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care), Wheturangi Walsh-Tapita (Massey University, NZ), Michael Yellow Bird (University of Kansas Lawrence, USA) and Chris Sarra (Indigenous Education Leadership Insititute).
The three days overlap with the fifth Australian F&CS (16-18 April), which is also packed with amazing, high-quality speakers. Our keynotes include Tim Costello (WorldVision), Lois Smidt (Beyond Welfare, USA), Dennis Saleeby (University of Kansas, USA) and Paul Ferris (Kavanagh College, NZ).
The conference is heavily booked, but places are available. You can register at the conference website or call the Family Action Centre on 02 4921 17743 for more details.
Going further with fathers
A two-day workshop, Going Further with Fathers, aimed at practitioners, clinicians, managers and policy advisers will take place on 14 and 15 April. Hosted by Richard Fletcher and Stewart Anderson, the workshop says of fathers, "Attendance (getting them in the door) is good but it is not good enough. Because we want what is best for fathers and their families we cannot be satisfied simply to get a few fathers to attend a few sessions or programs. In this workshop we will be tackling the more complicated elements of fathers’ work which are necessary for sustainable change."
Download a copy of the workshop brochure, or call Richard Fletcher on 02 4921 6401.
Rock & Water
There are still a few places available on the current Rock & Water tour. For a full list of workshop dates and venues, go to the Rock & Water website.
Jess's story
We always end with a good-news story in each edition of the FAC eNews, and this month's story is one of best yet.
Sixteen-year-old Jess lives on a caravan park in NSW. Jess's childhood was transient and, in spite of being targetted for the Gifted and Talented class, Jess hasn't been to school since Year 7. However, Jess continued to educate herself through independent study. She writes poetry, stories and song lyrics, and uses the library regularly. She reads anything and everything, her favourite book being Pride and Prejudice.
Following encouragement and support from the FAC's Caravan Project Support Worker, Jess is now working on her Certificate of General and Vocation Education (equivalent to Year 10) through a flexible curriculum.
Be inspired by Jess's Story, and read her amazing poem Tiger Eyes.