We all aspire to genuinely positive relations in the various contexts of our lives. However, we frequently find ourselves beset by conflict. This might be catalysed by specific incidents or a legacy of historic injustice, trauma or betrayal. Regrettably some of our best intentions for dealing with harm can makes things worse.

The good news is that there are a range of mindsets and evidence-based effective processes which we can use to work through conflict, repair harm and set relations right. Many of these have deep roots in indigenous cultures, Christian theology, and contemporary Restorative Practices.

This Zoom workshop will introduce these approaches from Ven. Canon A/Prof Uncle Glenn Loughrey, (Provincial Archdeacon - Reconciliation, First Peoples Recognition and Treaty, A/Prof. ANU and Artist in Residence, St Paul's Cathedral Melbourne), Michael Wood (Anglican Priest and Restorative Practices Facilitator, Australian Association for Restorative Justice) and Anna Tydd (Director and Founder, One Resolve); and provide space for conversation about how this work could be developed in churches.

Workshop Speakers

Glenn Loughrey is a Wiradjuri man living on Boonwurrung country. He has wide ranging experience in social and support roles with the Salvation Army, Royal Australian Navy, Lifeline, school chaplaincy and business. Glenn is the first Indigenous Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral and is currently Archdeacon for Reconciliation, Indigenous Recognition and Treaty for the Anglican Province of Victoria. He is an Honorary Professor at the Australian National University, Crawford School of Public Policy and a member of many boards and committees including the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Council (NATSIAC), the Community Advisory Committee of the Australasian College of Pathology (including its Māori and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Working Group) and the Non-Victorian Traditional Owners Group (Treaty).

Glenn was a founder and Elder of the Murnong Indigenous Gathering Place in Melbourne’s Inner East and has initiated the Empower-To-Teach website. He is also a practising artist (finalist in 5 major art prizes) and an accomplished author and co-author of 3 books.

Michael Wood is an Anglican Priest and Restorative Practices Facilitator. He is a member of the national committee of the Australian Association for Restorative Justice. Michael’s first book, “Practicing Peace: Theology, Contemplation, and Action” provides a theological foundation for Restorative Justice as a practice of peace. The book was shortlisted in the Australian Christian Book of the Year Awards in 2023.

Anna Tydd is a highly experienced restorative facilitator, solicitor and policy advisor with a deep commitment to understanding and mitigating factors that enable harm and conflict to occur in organisations. Her career has been devoted to the prevention of harm to children and adults and the provision of a compassionate and just response to those who have been harmed.

Since 2005, Anna has worked in administrative law as a senior solicitor and policy advisor on three governmental inquiries in relation to abuse occurring in institutional contexts, two of which have been Royal Commissions (Australia and Aotearoa, New Zealand) together with the Murphy Inquiry (Dublin, Ireland). Anna has also held national executive roles in relation to safeguarding and responses to those harmed in institutional contexts.