Navigating the Maze

Never before, in the history of education, have more students had access to so many resources’. The use of electronic communication technologies is expanding rapidly (instant messaging is growing at a rate 30% faster than email did at its inception). This wonderful range of new technologies offers enormous educational potential for both teachers and students but also some serious challenges.

Students are starting to develop a ‘moral compass’ with which to navigate their way through cyberspace, but have limited experience in assessing risk and predicting and weighing up the potential consequences of their behavioural choices. It’s important to provide schools with the support they need to address these challenges, risks and potentials.

Student wellbeing is an integral component of safe and connected environments where learning and social success flourish, and all forms of bullying are reduced.

Previous attendees will look forward to the gala dinner , this time to be held on Friday night . . . and those who were there last year will remember the fabulous Elwood Dads' Band who got even the most reluctant dancers up on the dance floor!

What's on the Program?

The 2010 conference offers an informative, entertaining and thought-provoking two-day program of speakers, workshops and 'schools showcase', focusing on:

• What is cybersafety – and why it matters to students and families
• New research from Australia and overseas on cybersafety and cyberbullying
• Approaches to address and manage cyber risks in the school community
• Effective strategies to increase student wellbeing in your classroom and school
• Cyber safety and the law – where schools stand
• Peer relationships to enhance student wellbeing and reduce bullying
• Engaging parents and families
• Developing partnerships – the school community and beyond
• What is working in schools – stories from the classroom

Other conference benefits include

• Large trade display featuring the latest products and services for the education sector
• Networking opportunities with peers and experts
• Themed gala dinner (Friday evening)
• Excellent facilities and top-quality refreshments
• ‘Schools Showcase’ offers opportunities to experience innovative and successful approaches taken by schools as they have worked to build wellbeing and address negative behaviours on and offline

Who should attend?

This conference is relevant for teachers, leaders and wellbeing coordinators from primary and secondary sectors, educational psychologists and school counsellors.

Keynote Speakers and Presenters

Shaheen Shariff

Dr Shariff is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec. Her appointment is in leadership, policy studies and education law, informed by human rights, legal pluralism, tort law and constitutional law. She has published numerous journal articles and has recently published a book on cyber-bullying.

Michel Boivin

Michel Boivin is Professor of Psychology and Canada Research Chair on Child Social Development at the School of Psychology of Laval University. He is a member of the executive committee and director of the Research Unit on Children's Psycho-Social Maladjustment (GRIP). His main research interests concern children' social behaviours, peer relationships, and school adjustment.

Stephen Constantino (TBC)

Dr Constantino provides national leadership in engaging families in the educational lives of children as a conduit to improved student achievement.
Dr. Constantino founded Family Friendly Schools

Bill Belsey

Bill Belsey is President of Bullying.org Canada.
He is the creator and facilitator of www.bullying.org, the world’s most-visited and referenced website about bullying. He was the originator of the annual Bullying Awareness Week. He currently teaches grade five at Springbank Middle School.

Donna Cross

Donna Cross is a Professor of Child and Adolescent Health at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia and Director of the Child Health Promotion Research Centre. Her key research interest is youth-based health intervention research. She has conducted primary prevention and school-based intervention research throughout the USA as well as Canada, Russia, Estonia, Japan and Israel, with organisations such as WHO, UNICEF and the American Health Foundation.

Helen McGrath

Dr Helen McGrath lectures part-time in the School of Education, Faculty of Arts and Education at Deakin University, Melbourne. She is also a writer and researcher. She has a private practice as a counselling and educational psychologist, working mainly with educational systems, schools and health-focused centres in Australia and internationally.

Fiona Stanley (TBC)

Professor Fiona Stanley heads two major organisations headquartered in Perth, Western Australia.
She is the founding Director of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, a multi disciplinary research facility that investigates the causes and prevention of major childhood diseases and disabilities.
She is also the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, a national organisation of researchers, practitioners and policy makers that has been established to improve the health and wellbeing of Australia's young people.
Her professional focus stems from an alarming deterioration in key health indicators for children. Her aim is to secure a national commitment to an agenda to significantly improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

How much will it cost to attend?

Early bird prices finish on 31 December 2009.

How can I book?

Book your seat to the NCAB Conference online at the NCAB website