NEWS
Term 1, 2012
Registrations are now open for our Term 1 programs at Rose Park, Tea Tree Gully and Stirling, which get under way in Week 1 and run for 10 weeks.
Please phone 8264 2311 for further details and registration forms.
September 2011 - Mercedes College
Simon delivered two seminars on the use of the Emotional Roundabout to Year 9 students at Mercedes College.
Tuesday 27th September, 2011 - St John's Grammar
Simon addressed the Year 11 students at St John's Grammar on the importance of resilience in handling life's challenges and setbacks.
Thursday 25th August, 2011 - Magill Primary School
Simon gave talks to parents of two age groups; Resilience for 2-8 year olds and Resilience for 9-13 year olds.
June 9th &10th, 2011 - Prince Alfred College
“Positive Education Training”
Simon ran a program to allow participants to become accredited to teach Positive Education in their schools.
He has been running resilience programs for students since 2001 and has most recently used Adelaide students in 2010 to develop a program to meet the needs of the students of today.
The program enables students, in Years 4-8, to develop the psychological flexibility and emotional resilience to “rescue themselves” when faced with life’s challenges, as well as building and developing their personal strengths.
Thursday 9th December, 2010 - ABC Radio 891
Spence Denny interviewed Simon on the topic of whether parents, and Father Xmas, should give children everything on their wish-list for Xmas.
Simon emphasised that children need to be able to appreciate that we don't always get everything that we want and it is good to learn this from a young age.
He also said that parents who try to get children every present on the list are putting themselves under an enormous amount of pressure.
Thursday 2nd December, 2010 - Immanuel College, SA
A half-day seminar was given to the Year 8 staff at Immanuel College in preparation for their use of the Optimistic Kids program with all Year 8 students in 2011.
Thank you to Lucy Warnock for the invitation.
Saturday 20th November, 2010 - Gifted & Talented Children's Association of SA
Simon presented a session for the children at GTCASA, teaching them some resilience skills mixed in with a few fun video clips.
Thanks to GTCASA for the opportunity to once again be involved.
Thursday 30th September, 2010 - Port Adelaide Football Club, Alberton
Simon and Russell Ebert ran a group at Port Adelaide Football Club for Planet Teal Members.
The talk was entitled "Finding and using your Strengths."
Children and parents took part in the activities and enjoyed a tour of the new Alberton training facility afterwards.
Thanks to Aaron Tuckfield and Darren Adamson for making this event possible.
Thursday 19th August, 2010 - Busselton, Western Australia - Strengths, Optimism and Positivity Conference
Simon provided the keynote address at this conference, attended by professionals who work with children; including teachers, school counsellors, pastoral care workers, psychologists, chaplains and social workers.
He also presented an evening seminar for parents of the region.
Then he might have gone sightseeing...
Wednesday 11th August, 2010 - Optimistic Kids Part of Port Adelaide Football Club Community Redevelopment
The Federal Minister for Sport Kate Ellis and SA State Minister for Recreation and Sport Michael Wright today officially opened the redeveloped Allan Scott Power Headquarters at Alberton.
The redevelopment provides for greater community access to the Power’s Headquarters, including a dedicated community classroom, and a vastly upgraded indoor training facility for the players, which will also be used by school and community groups on a daily basis.
In his speech Power President Brett Duncanson said “We will be running some sessions with ‘Optimistic Kids’ focused on developing mental strength and resilience.”
Tuesday 29th June, 2010 - Schools Ministry Group (SMG) Conference 2010
Simon presented, "Optimism - The Key to a Successful Life" to school chaplains and pastoral care workers.
It was his first presentation of the new "Emotional Roundabout" tool that he has developed to assist children in handling challenges and difficult situations in an easily understood way.
Simon is grateful to the SMG for asking him to speak at this event.
2ND WORKSHOP LOCATION
We are pleased to announce that our 10 week course now has a second venue.
In addition to Rose Park Primary School the course is now being run at St Catherine's School in Stirling, commencing in Term 4, 2010 (Thursday 14th October, 4pm-5.30pm).
We are looking forward to providing a service to the Adelaide Hills region.
Please contact us on 8264 2311 for a registration form.
Thursday 22nd April, 2010 - Term 2 program began
Thursday 22nd July, 2010 - Term 3 program began
Thursday 14th October, 2010 - Term 4 program began
Friday 12th February, 2010 - Monash University
Simon presented a talk on the Optimistic Kids/Penn Resiliency Program at the Australian Positive Psychology and Well-Being Conference at Monash University in Melbourne.
Thursday 28th January, 2010 - Radio Interview
Simon was interviewed by Amanda Blair on radio station 5AA.
Thursday 21st January, 2010 - Radio Interview
Simon was interviewed by Carol Whitelock on radio station 891 5AN.
Thursday 19th November, 2009 - Prince Alfred College
Simon delivered a one-day seminar to the Year 10 cohort, focussing on identifying and using their personal strengths.
Jason Davenport, player number 41 from Port Adelaide Power, attended and gave his insights into the topic from the standpoint of an elite footballer.
Thank you to Stephen Clohesy, Director of Student Life at Prince Alfred, for the opportunity.
Thursday 22nd October, 2009 - Rose Park
4.15-5.15pm, and then weekly for six weeks
Exciting New Initiative: "Positive Parents, Resilient Kids"
To support parents, we have introduced a Parent Programme “Positive Parents, Resilient Kids”.
The programme teaches parents the same skills the children have learnt during OK sessions with the aim of reinforcing resilience training in the home.
It also highlights the importance of how your wellbeing impacts on your children’s wellbeing.
Thursday 15th October, 2009 - Rose Park Primary School
10 week resilience course commenced at Rose Park Primary School, at 4 pm.
Karen Davies is running the Rose Park course.
August, 2009 - Farrell Flat Primary School
Karen Davies and Lisa Carlino (Honours Psychology student) delivered the Fast Track Program to Farrell Flat Primary School.
Karen and Lisa reported that they had a fabulous time delivering the three week course to the Grade 5, 6 and 7 students and their teachers.
Tuesday 11th August, 2009 - Fast Track Course, Alberton
For those parents wanting to develop their child’s mental toughness further, Simon ran a Fast Track course for kids in Year 4 to Year 7.
Alipate Carlisle (Power player) brought his experiences and guidance on the importance of mental toughness in his life and career in the third week of this course.
Tuesday 4th August - Rostrevor College
Simon presented a talk entitled "Surviving (your child's) adolescence" to parents from Rostrevor College, Glenunga International High School and Charles Campbell Secondary School.
This talk was part of the DECS: Parents as Career Partners evening.
Sunday 2nd August - Cora Barclay Centre
Karen Davies delivered a one-day intensive seminar to hearing-impaired kids and mentors from the Cora Barclay Centre.
It was a privilege to work with this group of kids at this class-leading centre.
Thursday 23rd July, 2009 - Rose Park Primary School
10 week resilience course commenced at Rose Park Primary School.
Karen Davies is running the Rose Park course.
Tuesday 7th July, 2009 - Port Adelaide Football Club, Alberton
Simon Andrews and Alipate Carlisle (Power player) delivered an interactive talk for parents and kids on July 7th at Alberton at 4.30 pm.
The talk entitled “Building resilience in your children" gave an introduction to life skills that are increasingly relevant and important for every child.
Saturday 4th April, 2009
Simon delivered a session to the Year 6 and 7 students attending the Gifted & Talented Children's Association of SA.
This is the third time Simon has been asked to run a session at GTCASA and is very pleased to be involved.
March, 2009
Simon recently appeared on Adelaide's A Current Affair for the second time. The story is about leaving kids at home alone. Click on the link here to view the story.
Thursday 5th February, 2009
Reporter Amanda Bachmann from A Current Affair visited the Optimistic Kids group, filming Simon and the kids in action.
The story aired on Friday 13th February.