Nathan Wallis is a grandfather of three, father of three and foster father to many more. His professional background includes early childhood teacher, child therapist, social service manager, university lecturer and neuroscience trainer. He has developed a reputation as a lively and engaging speaker who uses humour and plain language to make this complex topic come to life.

Covid has put all of us in an unpredictable environment and this has added layers of complexity to an already complex time of life - especially for children and teens already dealing with issues around anxiety and depression. During adolescence parts of the teenage brain are “shut for renovations”. This is the part of the brain responsible for regulating the teenager’s moods, for understanding consequences, maintaining focus and for thinking about the well-being of others. And the ‘teen’ years can start as early as 9 and end anywhere from 18 to 32 years of age!

However, the good news is that there are clear tips and practices from the research that can help and enhance our teen’s ability (and yours) to cope with this tricky time and minimise the stress for everyone. Understanding the changes that are taking place will help you to navigate successfully these important and formative years.

Marist College Ashgrove would like to extend a warm welcome to the parents of MCA, Mt St Michaels and Stuartholme to join us for an evening listening to Nathan present on ‘The Teen Brain’. Nathan will share strategies with participants to achieve better relationships and better outcomes for the children and teens we work and/or live with!