Generation next

G e n e r at i o n n e x t A public seminar aimed at understanding the unique health and wellbeing challenges facing generations Y & Z — and how these challenges can be met. Supported by Topics Covered in the Generation Next Seminars Bullying • Internet & Cybersafety • Depression & Mental Health Sex, the Media & Young People • Parenting Information & Advice Presented by Email us your questions before the event! questions@ gennextseminars.com Includes a 1 hour Q&A panel australia’s leadinG experts on Children & teenaGers in one eVent Dr Michael Carr-Gregg Adolescent Psychologist Dr Sally Cockburn GP, Health Commentator Medical Adviser, Girlfriend Magazine Susan McLean Cybersafety Expert Paul Dillon Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia Dr Ramesh Manocha GP, Founder & Chairman Julie Gale Founder of Kids Free 2 B Kids Writer and Performer $ per person 45 For more information visit the website gennextseminars.com 132 849 G e n e r at i o n n e x t For parents, relatives, public & concerned citizens s pe akers Dr Ramesh Manocha GP, Founder & Chairman Dr Ramesh Manocha is a GP, medical researcher and educator. He has been involved in the education of health professionals for over 10 years, especially in the area of women’s and children’s health. Concerned about the rising tide of mental, social, emotional illness evident in young people, and the evergrowing challenge faced by their parents and others that love them but lack the skills necessary to provide useful guidance in an increasingly complex world, he has designed this seminar in close consultation with the leading experts in each field. Paul Dillon Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia Paul Dillon has been working in the area of drug education for the past 25 years and continues to work with young people and their families across the country. He has been contracted by many agencies and organisations to give regular updates on current drug trends within the community. He has recently published a book ‘Teenagers, Alcohol and Drugs’, released nationally in February 2009. Paul is regarded as a key social commentator in Australia, and has appeared on a wide range of television programs including Sunrise, Today and A Current Affair discussing topical issues. Julie Gale, Founder of Kids free 2 B Kids Writer and Performer Julie Gale is a comedy writer and performer and has performed her One Woman Shows at the International Melbourne Comedy Festival. Julie is the founder of Kids Free 2B Kids and has been raising public and corporate awareness about the sexualisation of children since February 2007. She has generated great media interest about the issue and has appeared on television, radio and in newspaper articles throughout Australia and internationally. Julie brings a distinctive and impactful satirical style to this controversial and sensitive topic. About Generation Next Generation Next is an exciting new national seminar series exploring the unique pressures, needs and healthcare and sociological challenges facing Australian teenagers, adolescents, parents and anyone working with young people. Generation Next is unique, not only in the relevance of its topics and quality of its presenters, but in its advocating practical solutions. Anyone attending a Generation Next seminar will walk away armed not only with expert insights into issues confronting young people, but workable answers to problems. Teenagers, Alcohol & Drugs Many parents, like their children, access information on drugs from inappropriate sources such as the media and as a result there is a great deal of mythology around drugs and their use. This presentation will attempt to give accurate, up-todate information on what we know about young people, alcohol and drugs in Australia. It aims to empower parents with some basic information about current trends in alcohol and other drugs to assist them to have meaningful conversations with their child when responding to queries that may be raised. Sexualisation of Children in the Media Is It Good For Them? From a very early age children and young teens are bombarded with sexually suggestive imagery and messages from both the media and their social environment. Parents often feel powerless to protect their kids from this involuntary onslaught. Julie Gale will discuss what the ‘sexualisation of children’ means and how it is impacting on kids. She will provide visual examples of what our children are exposed to on a daily basis and talk about what actions we can take to help create change. topiCs ASK THE EXPERTS! Email us your questions prior to the event in your city questions@gennextseminars.com. The expert panel will deal with the most common and important questions during the seminar. Want brochures for your friends, colleagues, school or organisation? Call Sam at Healthed on 1300 797 794 Media Contact: Natasha (02) 9436 2088 Partner programme: Is your organisation concerned with the welfare of Australia’s young people? There are opportunities for stakeholders, sponsors and advertisers to connect with like-minded people who are concerned about the welfare of the next generation. Contact us to find out if your organisation may be able to work with the Gen Next team. Call Craig Reegan on 1300 797 794 The above program is an indication of topics and speakers only and is not the final schedule. Program was correct at time of printing and is subject to change without notice. See www.gennextseminars.com for updates. G e n e r at i o n n e x t For parents, relatives, public & concerned citizens Susan McLean has an extensive background in law enforcement (26yrs), and is considered an expert in the area of Cyber Safety and young people. As the mother of 3 children, she is acutely aware of the issues from both a parental, school and legal perspective. Susan is unique in her vast knowledge of this subject and in August 2006, she travelled to the U.S.A, where she undertook advanced study in the area of cyber safety, completing courses available to the FBI and other specialized Law Enforcement agencies. She also spent time working with the Dallas Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) taskforce team. Dr Sally Cockburn is a GP and has over 25 years experience in clinical practice but she is better known through her 18 year national media career as Dr Feelgood, in particular as a sexual health advocate. She has hosted her own national radio and TV programs and currently hosts Talking Health on radio 3AW Melbourne and appears on Channel Seven’s Morning Show. She also writes the Sexual and Health Q&A for Girlfriend Magazine. Sally is currently Chair of Family Planning Victoria and Patron of Marie Stopes International Australia and has also been a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences Monash University. Sally is also the mother of a teenage daughter. Michael is one of Australia’s highest profile psychologists. After 7 years as an Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne, Michael now runs a successful private practice in Melbourne. He is the author of 5 best selling books on adolescents and a founding member of the National Centre Against Bullying, an official ambassador for the National Depression Initiative – Beyondblue, Reachout, as well as Mindmatters. He is a columnist for Girlfriend Magazine and is a regular on Fairfax Radio, Sunrise and the Morning Show on Channel 7. Internet and Cybersafety The Internet, social networks, mobile phones, texting and the technology gap between parents and young people Generation Next have access to and are accessible by many millions of people worldwide. The historic benefit of being geographically isolated from the rest of the world may once have provided advantages for our safety, but in Cyberspace there are no boundaries. Members of Generation Next are often not aware that their words and/or photos which may have been intended for a small audience sometimes find their way to a larger one, often with unexpected and undesirable consequences. The issue of cyber bullying, and the exchange of inappropriate images, is emerging as the number one issue confronting the safety and wellbeing of young people and the wider community. The offences and offenders are diverse and the primary vulnerable population is young people. Hey Mum, Meet My First Boyfriend! Talking Sex – A Parent’s Survival Guide We all want our children to be well equipped to deal with the issues that life throws at them. And as parents we all are eager to pass on our wisdom and experience. However, when it comes to sex, it’s different. Let’s face it, our own education on the topic was probably less than satisfactory and so much has changed in the world since we were young. How do we know if we are saying the right stuff ? Dr Sally Cockburn with her vast experience as a GP and educator will navigate us through the minefield of talking sex with young people and give us the tools we need to have THOSE conversations with confidence. Current Challenges in Youth Mental Health It is a fact that 75% of all mental health problems develop under the age of 25. Alarming new figures have revealed that one in four young people are battling a mental illness, with many problems triggered by drug and alcohol abuse. In 2008 over 26.4% of young people aged 16-24 had a mental health disorder alongside anxiety disorders (15.4%), affective disorders (6.3%) and substance use disorders (12.7%). Last year, for the first time, leading mental health experts declared a “state of emergency” in youth mental health. More young Australians than ever before are at risk of suicide, self-harm and substance abuse, yet only 27.5% seek help from a service. As a result, many young people suffer in silence, unaware that their distress is not normal. This presentation outlines some of the reasons why this is happening and what parents, schools and the community can do about it. facebook.com/group.php?gid=44171197749 myspace.com/generationnextseminars topiCs s pe akers Susan McLean Cybersafety Expert Dr Sally Cockburn, GP, Health Commentator Dr Michael Carr-Gregg Adolescent Psychologist G e n e r at i o n n e x t For parents, relatives, public & concerned citizens City Sydney Venue Clancy Auditorium, University of NSW Building C24, Gate 9, kensington, nsW 2033 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, John Batman theatre 2 Clarendon street, south Bank, ViC 3006 Adelaide Convention Centre, hall e north terrace, adelaide, south australia 5000 UQ Centre, University of Queensland, exhibition hall Building no. 27a, union rd, st lucia Qld 4072 Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre, riverside theatre, 21 mounts Bay rd, perth, Wa 6000 Date Sat, 23 May Sat, 13 June Sat, 27 June Sat, 5 Sept Sat, 28 Nov Session 6pm –10pm 6pm –10pm 6pm –10pm 6pm –10pm 6pm –10pm loCations Melbourne Adelaide Brisbane Perth More sessions may become available subject to demand. Please check our website for more details. Duration 30min Topic Internet & Cybersafety – Understanding the Internet, social networks, mobile phones, texting, the technology gap between parents and young people and how to make cyberspace safer for our young people. The Portrayal of Sex in the Media and Its effect on Young People – What can we do to protect their mental and emotional health? Teenagers, Drugs and Alcohol – Strategies to minimize harm. Understanding Sexuality of Today’s Young People – constructive strategies to reduce risk, encourage responsible behaviour and keep the lines of communication open. Mental Health of Young People – What we need to know and do. Panel – Common questions and issues and how to deal with them. Send us your questions, see “Ask the Experts” below. proGram 30min 30min 30min 30min 60min tiCketinG $ per person 45 For tiCkets Visit gennextseminars.com & CliCk on the tiCketek links or phone tiCketek on 132 849 asK tHe exPerts! email us your questions prior to the event in your city to questions@gennextseminars.com the expert panel will deal with the most common and important questions during the seminar. 132 849 Phone 1300 797 794, Fax 1300 797 792 Mail PO BOX 500 Burwood NSW 1805 Website gennextseminars.com