Creating Compassionate Communities

Addressing child sexual abuse and sexual violence, and the resulting trauma in our communities, is everyone’s business. Come along and find out what we know is contributing to this growing problem, how this impacts individuals and communities, and explore with us, what you can do about it in your sphere of influence. Communities built on foundations of compassion and respect help equity and safety for all to flourish. 

Why does this conversation matter?

It is important that we understand what key messages from society are impacting children and young people’s developing brains and what is influencing their future attitudes. We are aware that pornography consumption for example by young people, and the ease of access, is at what could be considered at pandemic proportions.

We should be concerned about our children educating themselves through the lens of this type of media, and potentially assuming what is portrayed in pornography represents how intimacy is experienced, and expressed in relationships, without the life experience or critical thinking capacity to understand this distortion of reality.

We invite you to join Dr Michael Flood, Maree Crabbe, Kayelene Kerr, Dr Carolyn Johnson, Dr Stuart Shanker and other speakers to engage in a conversation to explore how we can influence building better brains so to speak, where children do not have their capacity to self-regulate, or the optimal development of positive self-concepts compromised by these challenging times in which we all live.

**Early Bird Pricing Extended to 9 September - get in quick to secure your place**

Program

Download the full Conference Program here: https://www.phoenix.asn.au/tra...

*Program subject to change - please follow us for any updates/changes in the lead-up to the conference.

How do we create compassionate communities together?

What is shaping our society? How do we build respect and compassion? How do we influence young minds and hearts surrounded by social media messages and pornography that are contrary to supporting the development of respect, or fostering compassion for others, or demonstrating that love and kindness are the foundation on which healthy relationships are built?

Come join the conversation with Phoenix.

It is concerning that children are often accessing pornography as a medium for educating themselves about sex and relationships, only to then erroneously assume from what they see that a lack of respect, and the use of coercion, aggression, and violence is considered ‘normal,’ and expected, and acceptable. The outcome of this can have long-term negative consequences for that child and for society. Children using online platforms looking for this material are also at significant risk of exploitation and further harm.

Why do we do what we do?

We aim to do better in our approaches in supporting children and young people’s development, including the development of their concepts of self and gender roles. Learning about the neuroscience of self-regulation is also important in terms of understanding a child’s brain development. It is important for primary carers and those working with children have insight and understanding about their ability to influence a child through the process of co-regulation. This knowledge can also assist workers with the prevention of vicarious trauma.

Phoenix is committed to creating compassionate communities through advocacy, education, and support.

Meet the Presenters

Joining us on Wednesday 12th October 2022, at the Novotel Perth Langley Hotel, we have some incredibly special representatives from the sector bringing important insights about how to address current challenged confronting our communities.

https://www.phoenix.asn.au/tra...

Dr Michael Flood

Dr Michael Flood is an Associate Professor in Sociology at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Australia. He is an internationally recognised researcher on men, masculinities, and violence prevention. Dr Flood is the author of Engaging Men and Boys in Violence Prevention (2018) and the lead editor of Engaging Men in Building Gender Equality (2015) and The International Encyclopedia of Men and Masculinities (2007).

Maree Crabbe

Maree Crabbe is the co-founder and Director of the Australian violence prevention project, 'It’s time we talked' (formerly Reality & Risk: Pornography, young people, and sexuality), Maree has worked with young people – and on issues affecting them – for over 25 years. During this time, she developed and delivered programs focusing on sexual violence prevention, sexual diversity, pornography, sexting, and the prevention of sexually transmissible infections.

Kayelene Kerr

Kayelene Kerr is recognised as one of Western Australia’s most experienced specialist providers of Protective Behaviours, Body Safety, Cyber Safety, Digital Wellness and Pornography education workshops. Kayelene has featured on Australian and international television broadcasts, radio programs and in print media. Kayelene is passionate about the prevention of child abuse, sexual exploitation, and sexual violence, drawing on over 24 years’ experience of study and law enforcement, investigating sexual crimes, including technology facilitated crimes.

Dr Carolyn Johnson

Dr Carolyn Johnson has 40 years’ experience as a social worker delivering clinical service to clients, managing, and supervising professional staff, individually and in groups, teaching, developing curricula, researching, writing, and advocating for social change. She co-authored the “Columbus Program,” introducing differential case management for cases involving child abuse and Family and Domestic Violence in the Family Court of Western Australia.

Dr Stuart Shanker

Dr Stuart Shanker is Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Psychology, internationally celebrated speaker, thinker, and writer. Dr Shanker is one of the world’s leading authorities on self-regulation. Stuart trained intensively in child psychotherapy under Stanley Greenspan; he was the Director of the Milton and Ethel Harris Research Initiative at York University; President of the Canadian Council of Early Child Development; Director of the Council of Human Development; and has served for many years as an advisor to Government and education organisations across Canada and internationally. Stuart founded the Self-Regulation Institute, where he currently serves as Science Director to continue his research into self-regulation. Stuart went to Oxford University in 1975 to study the philosophy of mathematics, but by the time he left in 1986 his main interests were early childhood brain development and learning.

Louise Lamont

Louise Lamont has held senior positions over the last 30 years in the community services sector and with State and Federal Government in the fields of family and domestic violence (FDV), child sexual abuse, sexual assault, and family law. Louise is an experienced trainer delivering to allied professionals, and the Judiciary. Louise is currently CEO of Phoenix, and she was recently appointed to the Advisory Group for the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse. Louise completed an accreditation process in the Shanker Method™ of Self-Regulation with Canadian neuroscientist Dr Stuart Shanker. The Shanker Method™ became the foundational influence and underpinning of the Trauma Transformation program she developed for Phoenix.

Coby Greer

Coby Greer has 25 years of experience in human services. She is a counsellor (Ma. Counselling), clinical supervisor, psycho-educational trainer, certified yoga teacher, a Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga facilitator and is currently studying a post-graduate diploma in Family and Relationship Therapy. Coby believes that wellness and wellbeing are a right for all and is passionate about supporting people in their healing through the self-transformative practices of evidence-based psychological therapies; trauma-informed somatic modalities and complementary therapy.

Further announcements about speakers and activities, stay connected by following us on humanitix, social media or via our website: https://www.phoenix.asn.au/tra...

Join this important conversation with Phoenix and the wider sector.