2010 TESTIMONIALS
OUR DELEGATES HAD INSPIRING WORDS TO SAY ABOUT POSITIVE SCHOOLS 2010.
MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO GAVE US FEEDBACK
Excellent.
Mariette Cowley
Department of Indigenous Affairs
Fantastic! I think this was the third?? or second one I had been to. Next time I will stay for two days!
Natalie Tarr
Department of Education
Fantastic. The trade fair was also invaluable. I learnt a lot and meet some wonderful and admirable people. Great networking.
Lee Jones
Disability Services Commission
A fantastic day- extremely well worth being a part of. The speakers chosen on Day 2 were of the highest standard and I gained so much information and ideas to take back to my school and staff. Also I really liked the displays and all of the information that was available to participants there. Thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to next year's conference.
Anne Hart
Waikiki Primary School
Very nicely put together program, with terrific presenters
Jonathan Stone
Avenues Education
The whole day ran very smoothly and I had a wonderful and informative day. It was very well organised.
Tamara Utting
Westminster Education Support Centre
I REALLY enjoyed the conference. I cannot say enough about how captivating & inspiring it was to listen to & meet Jane Elliott. She is a woman of such integrity & empathy & I really feel that that came through in her presentation. I was amazed by her revelations about the Mercader map & have since viewed the map for my own benefit & identified what Jane was referring to. Jane's talent for engaging an audience seems so effortless. Many thanks for her passion, inspiration, enthusiasim & insights.
Cat Fraser
Agencies for South West Accommodation (ASWA) INC
It inspired me in an area that is not particularly a passion but a fallen into type situation. A new lease on what I may be able to make a difference in.
Kylie Marsh
Canning Vale College
As mentioned I think it would be worthwhile having teachers in the classroom showing what they do.
Jeanette Hutchison
Donnybrook District High School
Excellent. Well run, good venue, all speakers of high calibre.
Robyn Heath
Wade High School Griffith NSW
Extremely good.
Lyndy Richmond
Yalgoo Primary School
I really enjoyed the conference and feel that the two days covered such a range of topics and were a terrific learning experience. i look forward to attending next year.
Hannah Thomas
Parkerville Children and Youth care
A valuable PD that all staff in particular student services teams should attend.
Nicole Kelly
Tom Price SHS
A great Conference to inspire and motivate me to continue in the work I am doing to promote health and wellbeing outcomes for our young people
Yvette Harrison
Narrogin DEO
I really enjoyed my two days & feel priviledge to have been able to spend a day with Jane Elliot on Thursday. Your conference was a Delight and one big Ah...haa moment. Thankyou words which do not say enough. Tim Hardy-Atkins - Educator & Psychologist Canning College.
Tim Hardy-Atkins
Canning College
Great venue, fantatstic food, well organised and very professionally run. Timing was great and variety of topics covered was excellent also.
Ainsley Hullett
Ursula Frayne Catholic College
professional yet relaxed.
inspiring speakers.
well paced.
workshops with practical applications back at our schools.
As a Principal I travelled from Melbourne with two other staff members. This is a considerable investment of time and money. It was worth every minute and every cent.
Thank you!
James Daly
St peter Julian Eymard Primary School, Mooroolbark, Victoria
Very happy - Great idea to have a real quality speaker on day 1 - a marqee presenter, definitely a key to the event -- The sit down lunch far better environment to get people networking..
Mark McLay
St Arnaud Primary School
I am grateful to you for bringing Jane here as a presenter. I found the presenters and the trade / information stands incredibly usefula nd valuable source of information. It is a fantastic forum for building a stronger support for youth and educators in out community.
Nice work I personaly will encourage more of my peers to attend next year.
Louise Grant
Private Psychologist
The most valuable two days of professional learning and personal improvement I have had this lifetime!!!!
For those people who were unable to attend, whatever their professional or personal standing, they have no idea of the opportunity that passed them by.
Denise Reynolds
Moerlina School
Very enjoyable experience but I felt it didn't maximise the time that was available, especially travelling from Victoria day 1 was disappointing for its use of time but valuable in its content.
John Painter
Berwick Fields Primary School
The conference was very good. It was great that so many of the presentations were solution based, not just presenting problems.
Joanne Smith
John Paul College, Kalgoorlie
A fantastic opportunity that was well organised and valuable.
Georgie Anderson
Kojonup District High School
Loved it. I was engaged all the time. The speakers were first rate and the information excellent. It was a wonderful opportunity to talk to teachers from all over Australia and from different school settings. It really focussed on the student and this is what teaching is all about.
Margaret Israel
Mac.Robertosn Girls' High School Melbourne
Excellent well done.
Brett Halter
Diocesan Catholic Education Office, Rockhampton
I found the presentations extremely valuable. There are lessons to be learnt from the presentation and how individuals can help in dealing with issues impacting on people of colour.
Mariette Cowley
Department of Indigenous Affairs
Conference was fantastic! Organisation and conference registration was excellent. Key note speakers were motivational and provided a life changing perspective! It is something that I will take with me and apply for life.
Natalie Tarr
Department of Education
OUR DELEGATES LET US KNOW THAT POSITIVE SCHOOLS OFFERS VALUABLE AND INSPIRATIONAL PRESENTERS
I found the event invaluable. Jane Elliott was someone I studied many years ago and to finally hear and meet her was awesome.
Lee Jones
Disability Services Commission
Jane Elliott is incredibly inspiring. Anyone who says that you shouldn't meet the people you admire because they won't live up to your expectations hasn't met Jane. I recall seeing her in The Eye of The Storm when I was 12yrs old. I'm now a 29yr old social worker, & I've never forgotten seeing that footage. To actually sit & listen to her up close & in person, & then to meet her after her presentation was a once in a lifetime experience. I felt so energised & inspired after listening to her.
Cat Fraser
Agencies for South West Accommodation (ASWA) INC
It was refreshing to have people willing to express their viewpoints on the problems we have in society and possible ways to make a difference as part of our roles that we have within society.
Carl spoke with knowedge and passion a powerful combination in a difficult context.
Jane was confronting but with a sense of humour and compassion that allowed us to move through the guilt and defences to really hear and appreciate the messages of such vital importance to the future of the world.
Kylie Marsh
Canning Vale College
Jane was a very compelling speaker with an interesting way of presenting.
Jeanette Hutchison
Donnybrook District High School
Absolutley wonderful!!
Robyn Heath
Wade High School Griffith NSW
I really enjoyed the presentation by Jane Elliott. What an amazing speaker and someone who is truely passionate about what she believes in. I think that there could have been better use of the time such as starting earlier or going later as Jane appeared to have a lot to say and many people had questions to ask.
Hannah Thomas
Parkerville Children and Youth care
Jane Elliott....what an inspiration. All schools need more of this focus.
Nicole Kelly
Tom Price SHS
This was a historical moment. An opportunity to listen to a speaker who has had such an influence on shaping what we do in schools and communities to combat racism.
Jane was so generous with her time and made herself available to speak to individuals.
Yvette Harrison
Narrogin DEO
Jane Elliot's presentation was breath taking & awe inspiring. It's the best PD in my career as an educator. She kept my attention & made me think & re-think my perspectives. She has the abilty to help you understand the gravity of racism & prejustice as a current predicament in our society - we clearly have a long way to go but I feel as one person I can make a difference & am making a difference. I also liked Jane's stand on "being an educator, as apposed to a teacher". So empowering : )))
Tim Hardy-Atkins
Canning College
Jane was challenging. Her message is undisputably importnat but her style took some getting used to. That was ok-it's good to be challenged and to be left thinking long after the event.
James Daly
St peter Julian Eymard Primary School, Mooroolbark, Victoria
Jane was great --
Mark McLay
St Arnaud Primary School
Jane was inspirational and I feel grateful for having the opportunity to hear here, thank you so much for getting her here!!
the information stands for the two days were great
Louise Grant
Private Psychologist
After listening to Jane, I left day 1 feeling I had been on an emotional rollercoaster ride with the most inspiring presenter I have seen. The reactions from other members of the audience, being mixed, proved she had delivered food for thought to everyone and challenged peoples ideas/ideals. Not only her passion but her methods to justify her beliefs with many and varied references and pertinent 'props' from her humble bag helped her powerful arguement. She was totally humbling.
Denise Reynolds
Moerlina School
Jane Elliott was inspirational, thought provoking, deeply valubale and I will forever be thankful for hearing her speak. We got in the car at the end of the day and could not stop debating/analysing our own beliefs, judgements, teaching practices and life situations. It was a truly rewarding experience, thank you.
Georgie Anderson
Kojonup District High School
It was wonderful to have a whole day with Jane Elliott. She is inspirational and it was great to have an opportunity to talk with her. She was very generous with her time.
Margaret Israel
Mac.Robertosn Girls' High School Melbourne
Jane was very powerful and challenging.
Brett Halter
Diocesan Catholic Education Office, Rockhampton
I would like to thank the organisers and say what a great job they did.
Mariette Cowley
Department of Indigenous Affairs
Jane Elliott was woderful!!!!
Tamara Utting
Westminster Education Support Centre
Again Jane Elliott was the highlight for me and was my primary reason for attending the conference. Her wit, enthusiasim and insight into the realms of society that often go unnoticed is incredible and her ability to engage the audience so effortlessly is amazing.
I found that Karl O'Callaghan offered some very interesting insights into the past, present and future role of police and schools in the lives of families and young people.
Cat Fraser
Agencies for South West Accommodation (ASWA) INC
A mix of topics but all intertwined with our wellbeing as people and educators.
Our school has the Autism Extension Program and Kara's contribution was well presented and full of useful strategies and information.
Kylie Marsh
Canning Vale College
Presentations were of an extremely high calibre, informative and inspiring.
I have always respected the Police and in my school, work closely with them. Karl O'Callaghan demonstrated that he is an informed leader determined to improve our community.
I was so impressed by Wilson MCCaskill that I purchased the complete set of materials for myself. I hope to be able to work them into our school approaches.
Lyndy Richmond
Yalgoo Primary School
I really enjoyed listening to Donna Cross
Cyber bullying is prominant in all the schools i work in so i would have loved to hear more.
Karl O'Callaghan was brilliant and made some really interesting comments.
Hannah Thomas
Parkerville Children and Youth care
Donna cross and her team are fabulous. It would have been great to have more time devoted to this part of the conference. Seemed to rushed for all presenters and glossed over things to fit the time frame.
Nicole Kelly
Tom Price SHS
Although the time was limited for the speakers their presentations were informative and engaged the audience.
I am certyainly going to follow up on three of the speakers for our district needs.
Yvette Harrison
Narrogin DEO
Karl O'Callaghan presentation was fabulous - wonderful to hear the level of intelligence expressed about how police are endeavouring to connect with youth community. I appreciated his comments about screening youth are growing up without the benefit of face to face conflict resolution skills - as I am a 45 year old "screener" I recognize this dilemma but would say to anyone you could teacher conflict resolution skills in a screen environment if like me you choose to engadge in that environment.
Tim Hardy-Atkins
Canning College
Karl O'Callaghan was an absolute stand out! His presentation was articulate, relevant, informative, positive and inspiring. I was so impressed by his intellect and ability to pitch his speech perfectly for the audience. He really appears so in touch with everything that is going on and I sat in admiration of his approach throughout the entirity of his presentation. I have been singing his praises and telling everyone I've seen what a wonderful, insightful man he is and terrific speaker!
Ainsley Hullett
Ursula Frayne Catholic College
All great but Karl O'Callaghan was a standout for me-would make a great future keynote speaker.
James Daly
St peter Julian Eymard Primary School, Mooroolbark, Victoria
All presenters addressed their topics sharing as much relevant information as possible in the time allowed. Obviously, being professionals in their field they have much more to share.
Denise Reynolds
Moerlina School
Karl O'Callaghan and Donna Cross were excellent!
Georgie Anderson
Kojonup District High School
I have to say that this was the best conference I have attended. We are having to do a reporting back at school to the whole staff and I think that we will have so much valuable information to convey. The focus on positive schools and student well being is so important and often conferences are simply about the subjects you teach, not about the students.
Margaret Israel
Mac.Robertosn Girls' High School Melbourne
I though Karl was enertaining and had some great messages.
Brett Halter
Diocesan Catholic Education Office, Rockhampton
Karl O'Callaghan was inspirational.
Marika Ferguson
Avenues Education
It was great to come to a conference day that presented some new ideas and info. Everything ran smoothly and on time. The only downside for me was that there were quite a few sessions/workshops that I couldn't attend, that I would have liked to, due to several sessions running at the same time.
I guess that means I'll have to try and come back next time for the ones I missed.
Linda Brough
Woodbury Boston Primary School
Fantastic presenters, great ideas from experienced 'experts' in the field. Lots that I will be taking back with me to my school.
Overall, a fantastic and highly valuable day!
Angela Coci
Mercedes College
Highly enlightening yet also challenged my own standpoint. Will definately take more positive action from now on (already started!!)
Pauline Galley
John Wollaston Anglican Community School
Just that Wilson attitude and philosophy really resonates with me.
The news on cyber bullying (Donna Cross) was really scary, but informative and gave us strategies to address problem.
Genevieve Caddy
Success Primary School
Most were valuable information.
Michelle Holmes
Broomehill Primary School
I think there was a lot of positive talk about Jane Elliott and I would have liked to have seen the day one presentation. She is an amazing woman and I believe what she has done to help highlight prejudice is fantastic.
Heather Carey
Australind Senior High School
The most i got out of the conference was from Karl O'Callaghan and Donna Cross. They were fantastic and i wish they spoke for longer. This would've made my time at the conference more worth while.
Vicky Follington
Mundaring Christian College
Karl O'Callaghan made some great points and he was very aware of how braoder contextual issues impact on the everyday lives of young people and their families.
Emma Christy
Bairnsdale Secondary College
William McCaskill, what a performer, well done.
Lynette Hamilton
Warnbro Community High School Education Support Centre
In reflection I believe that Karl has named some of the biggest issues facing our young people and our society and his honest searching for answers was impressive. Encourages me to seek opportunities for engaging with young people more often.
Anne Porter
St Joseph's School Kununurra
I really enjoyed the address by Karl O'Callaghan. We need to work together with other service industries such as the police to address the issues surrounding schools and society today.
I also really enjoyed the session on anxiety and wanted the session to go for longer and find out more.
Rachel Monamy
Camboon Primary School
I could have heard Jane for the two days. I did however find the presentations so helpful on a personal level and a professional level.
I am so glad I was able to hear Wilson McCaskill through the impromptu stand in.
Wendy Lailey
St Andrews Catholic School, Clarkson
Karl O'C was excellent
Richard Pengelley
UWA
Wilson McCaskill was my highlight of the day. Inspirational and so practical. I have already started implementing his Ideas into my classroom.
Holly Miller
Christ Church Grammar School
I think Donna Cross should have been given more time to present her proposed solutions to the cyber bullying issues, as we have all heard the current problems.
As Student Wellbeing C00dinator I was attending to the conference to hear solutions.
Karen Gunther
Glen Eira College, Caulfield East, Victoria
Wilson's impromptu presentation was fantastic and very thought provoking.
Brett Kipling
Esperance District Education Office
The presenters were marvellous, obviously expert in their respective fields, passionate about their topic, and able to deliver such that we picked up their meaning easily
Jonathan Stone
Avenues Education
I have since taken part in a personal development day with Wilson McCaskill.. Great workshop..
Tamara Utting
Westminster Education Support Centre
Andrea's workshop was extremely informative and engaging. Her experience and passion for protective behaviours certainly came through in her presentation. I would definitely want to hear Andrea speak again in the future.
Moria's workshop was very informative and provided a lot of new, up to date information and research around substance use and young ppl.
Carla was also informative and engaging. Her presentation left me with some ideas for implementation back @ the agency I work for.
Cat Fraser
Agencies for South West Accommodation (ASWA) INC
Enjoued them all as they are relvant to needs and directions of our school.
Kylie Marsh
Canning Vale College
Lucy and Rosie were so passionate and inspiring they made me want to go and implement their program right away. They had a very age appropriate model for working with children and young people which has clearly made them true leaders in tackling bullying in the school.
Hannah Thomas
Parkerville Children and Youth care
Thankyou To your Organisational team for putting on an outstanding 2 day conference - it was a treat I will rave about for sometime. As I work in a senior school setting many of your presentations were accessible to me. As there are a small community of Senior schools with adult clients I would be intersted in hearing about tertiary student support services and how they address positively, student and staff satisfaction & retention practices. Once again thanks for a terrific conference - Tim
Tim Hardy-Atkins
Canning College
e:lieracies was an unexpected bonus. I knew nothing about it before going in but came out feeling very positive, informed and inspired by the great things people are putting into place to engage our young people creatively. So many wonderful options and fantastic ideas and an extremely well polished and articulate speaker as well.
Ainsley Hullett
Ursula Frayne Catholic College
Andrea was outstanding , really punchy == to the point -- Most annoying with people regularly coming in late for at least `5 minutes after starting .. and then one of those people left early-- if a system could be set up so that latecomers could enter and sit at rear so as not to disturb others it would be good.
Mark McLay
St Arnaud Primary School
I enjoyed the interactiveness of the SMART skills workshop. The opportunity to meet others, discuss issues and share ideas made for a relaxed and informative session.
Denise Reynolds
Moerlina School
