CONCURRENT SESSIONS - DURING THE CONFERENCE

Rock and Water in Primary Schools
presented by Master Instructor Nick van Deudekom

This two day workshop will be supported by a lesson book containing dozens of lesson plans and colour photos. This workshop will assist in developing classroom teacher’s implementation skills when working with children from 5 years of age through to 11/12 years of age. Presented by Nick van Deudekom.

Nick van Deudekom Biography

Nick van Deudekom has studied physical education at the Univerisity of Physical Education in Amsterdam and is an enthusiastic and inspired Rock and Water Master Instructor. He has spent the last 5 years implementing the Rock and Water Program in primary schools in the Netherlands and has taught over a thousand Rock and Water lessons to his children.

 A2

How to implement Rock and Water in your school
presented by Master Instructor/s - Rob Schofield and Carl Marshall

The Rock and Water programme has become an integral part of the curriculum in many schools across the world. Master Instructors Carl Marshall and Robin Schofield will present their experiences of developing Rock and Water in schools, as well as looking at the experiences of schools across New Zealand and Australia.

This interactive workshop will look at ways of making Rock and Water an integral part of your school or organisation. We will look at schools where the programme has become embedded within the curriculum, what are the key steps for this success to occur, and what problems have been encountered along the way. Participants will be encouraged to share their experiences, as well as examine the organisation in which they work, identify strengths and weaknesses and formulate a plan for a positive way forward.

Robin Schofield Biography

Director of Rock & Water New Zealand Ltd

Robin is a Resource Teacher Learning and Behaviour
Robin has been an RTLB (Resource Teacher Learning and Behaviour) since 2000 and was hand-picked by Freerk Ykema to be a Master Instructor. He receives extensive regular training with the program founder, Freerk Ykema and the four Australian Master Instructors. Robin is  delivering Rock and Water programs in primary and secondary school settings on an almost daily basis, as well as providing training and mentoring for teachers, youth workers and  other adults.

Carl Marshall Biography

Carl Marshall is a Master Instructor with the Rock and Water Program. He is currently engaged as a consultant for the Rock and Water Program by the Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle.
Carl was born in Kiel, Germany, educated in Scotland, England, America and Australia. He completed his education at the University of Canberra. He has been teaching for 27 years. He has extensive experience in education, has taught in two states, and been involved in the Rock and Water Program for 10 years. He has successfully taught students across a wide range of ages and academic abilities, including those in academic enriched programs as well as to students with mild physical and intellectual disabilities. He is presently teaching in the Far North Coast of NSW at Murwillumbah High School. Most recently, he is pursuing an interest in emotional intelligence as well as the development of the brain. He has been recognized for his ability to reach students who have been disengaged from their education and he has a genuine passion for life which comes through when he teaches.

Rock and Water - Sons and Dads
presented by Dr Ian Lillico

This is an interactive workshop where participants will be asked to share their perceptions of the current father/son relationship in Australia. Ian will explain the crucial need that boys have for appropriate role models in order to combat all forms of violent behaviour, cyber and off-line bullying. Many children (especially boys) are now desensitized to violence and Ian will discuss methods of reconnecting them through Rock and Water and appropriate touch. Ian will outline the consequences of father hunger when boys separate emotionally from their mother figure and provide participants with effective strategies to use at home, at school and in the workplace.

Ian Lillico Biography

Dr Ian Lillico (father of three sons) is the former Principal of City Beach High School in WA (recently retired) and international consultant in gender, boysÕ education and middle schooling. He has done action research in gender throughout Australia and New Zealand from 1992 and in the Northern Hemisphere during his Churchill Fellowship in 2000. He has been with the Education Department of WA for 31 years and has held the positions of Teacher, Head of Department, Deputy Principal and Principal.

Ian is the founder and CEO of the Boys Forward Institute. He has a PhD (Education), is a National Fellow of The Australian Council of Educational Leaders (ACEL) and was the ACEL 2006 National Travelling Scholar. He now provides professional development for teachers, parents, students and a host of other organizations throughout Australia and internationally. His website is www.boysforward.com

Overview of Rock and Water Autisum Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
presented by Master Instructor Marc Boas and Freerk Ykema

The Rock and Water Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) concurrent session will discuss this unique Rock and Water approach that helps children (and adults) who are diagnosed with ASD to develop more body-emotional and self awareness. This session will explain how the Rock and Water program can assist in increasing self control and assertiveness, to develop body language awareness, to encourage better communication skills and to decrease feelings of anxiety. Freerk Ykema and Master Instructor Marc Boas have developed a new manual with many adaptations and new exercises.

Freerk Ykema's biography

Freerk Ykema is the founder of the Rock & Water Program. He has worked as a Physical Education and Remedial Teacher and Counsellor at Schagen in the North of the Netherlands in a comprehensive school. In 1995, Freerk trialled the Rock and Water course at his school to help address boys' motivation and self-confidence. Rock and Water is a most well known course in the Netherlands and has become a standard subject in the curriculum of many Dutch schools. The program won a national award in The Netherlands for targeting boys’ education. Freerk is currently training teachers in countries throughout the world to deliver the Rock and Water program to help boys (and girls) achieve their real potential.

See Pre/Post Workshop tab for Marc Boas' biography

Rock and Water for young people who have experience trauma
presented by Master Instructor - Tim Brenton

This interactive workshop will explore the effectiveness of delivering the Rock & Water program to young people who have experienced trauma.  Across Australia, young people who have experienced trauma are more at risk of becoming disengaged from learning, their community and disconnected from their inner-self.   This workshop will explore the core issues for young people living with trauma and the potential issues teachers and youth practitioners may encounter when working intensively with them.

Tim Brenton, the presenter of the workshop will discuss the consequences of disrupted attachment and how exercises from the Rock & Water program can act as a catalyst for change.  Tim has vast experience delivering the Rock & Water program to young people aged from 5 to 25.  Tim will talk about his experiences delivering Rock & Water in new arrival schools for children living as a refugee, children attending category 1 (low socio-economic areas) primary and high schools and young people receiving the program through a youth support agency.  The workshop will include strategies to integrate Rock & Water in a various settings such as schools, youth agencies, community groups and young people’s homes. 

Tim will explore strategies for Rock & Water presenters to engage young people into the program in an emotionally and physically safe manner.   The session will actively demonstrate exercises from the Rock & Water program to support young people manage issues such as self-perception, behaviour and their emotions. 

Tim Brenton Biography

Tim Brenton is a founding Director and Manager of Services to Young People for the South Australian based company, Connected Self.  Tim has been instrumental in developing a brand of Rock and Water strongly recognised and used in South Australian schools and youth agencies. Connected Self has transformed elements of the Rock & Water program into other forms of intervention such as mentoring and case management for young people.

Tim currently delivers the Rock & Water program to young people across Australia, in particular South Australia.  Since 2004, Tim has delivered the Rock & Water program in private and public schools, remote aboriginal communities, boarding schools, rural communities and youth agencies (government and non-government) across the country.  Tim is a Master Instructor for the University of Newcastle and currently delivers Rock & Water training in South Australia.   Tim is a former professional basketballer, Senior Youth Worker and Special Programs Coordinator for the South Australian government and is married with two beautiful daughters. 

Rites of Passage in the 21st Century.
presented by Arne Rubinstein

What is a Rite of Passage ( ROP ) ? Why are we hearing more and more about ROP in the media? Why did all indigenous societies and communities have ROP for thousands of generations?   This session will look at how ROP exist already but so often create wounding instead of growth in the individual. We will explore the elements of a ROP and outline how they can be utilised in our lives today.   We will look at the difference between how a child thinks and is motivated, Child Psychology, and how a healthy adult thinks and is motivated, Adult Psychology. For everyone who has children or works with children this will be an enlightening presentation not to be missed.

Arne Rubinstein Biography

Dr Rubinstein was a General Practitioner specialising in Adolescent Health and Emergency Medicine for 15 years. In the 1990Õs he ran designed and ran innovative drug prevention and sex education programs in High Schools in Northern NSW. In 2000 he sold his medical practice and became the founding CEO of The Pathways Foundation, a unique organisation that creates contemporary Rites of Passage for adolescent boys and girls and which now runs in 8 locations nationally.

Dr Rubinstein has studied extensively on the topic of Initiations and Rites of Passage in communities around the world. He was a senior facilitator at the first international conference on Rites of Passage in Hawaii in 2008 and he has written a model outlining the fundamental differences between ÒNormal Boy PsychologyÓ and ÒHealthy Man PsychologyÓ, those differences being the reason why all indigenous societies initiated their boys.

Arne has designed and facilitated multiple workshops and run seminars in Australia and internationally..

In 2008 he received a nomination for Australian of the Year and in 2007 he was a finalist for the Australian Non Profit CEO of the Year.

Currently Dr Rubinstein is the CEO of Liminal Space, a social enterprise set up to support young Australians to reach their full potential by creating strong and supportive family and community relationships through teaching key life skills and facilitating a Rite of Passage.

Research Project Outcomes Rural Adolescent Males participating in the Rock and Water Program presented by Paul Edwards

This session explores results from research conducted as a component of Paul’s Doctoral studies. Students (187 participants in total) from four rural schools engaged in the RWP throughout three action research cycles over a 12 month period.  Focus groups were conducted with each group of participants at sessions five and nine of the RWP. Participants were asked a number of questions relating to what they thought about the RWP and how anger and aggression impacted upon their lives. These focus groups were transcribed verbatim and analysed via thematic content analysis yielding some interesting and positive results.

Paul Edwards Biography

For 9 years Paul worked in child and adolescent mental health where he fulfilled the role of Clinical Nurse Consultant. Paul has worked closely with young people struggling with issues such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, psychosis, suicidal and self-harm ideation, and problematic anger. Paul has a Master of Nursing (Mental Health), a Diploma of Christian Ministry and is currently completing his Doctoral studies. For the last 5 years Paul has been the Facilitator of School Ministry at Coffs Harbour Christian Community School leading groups of students to volunteer in Balinese orphanages, teaching at North Coast Ministry Training College, and continuing to deliver counselling and programs for young men. Paul is happily married with four children.

Rock and Water in Physical Education and Sports
presented by Master Instructor Ray Messer

Ray Messer Biography

Ray Messer is a Master Instructor with the Rock and Water Program, a Consultant on Adolescence and Education and a Student Welfare Coordinator at Parade College, an all boys secondary college in Melbourne (~1800 students).

Ray has been in education for 16 years teaching in both co-ed and single sex settings here in Australia and also the UK. He has spent time overseas investigating educational trends and issues. Ray has undertaken undergraduate studies in Melbourne, Canada and is currently completing a Master of School Leadership at the University of Melbourne.

Ray has a real passion for connecting with young people and helping them through the maze of adolescence.

Rock and Water for Girls and Women
presented by Master Instructor Linda Gereads

While girls and boys display many similarities, they also display some profound differences. Both genders undergo different socialisation experiences and are confronted with quite significant and varied developmental stages. This concurrent session will discuss how the Rock and Water program incorporates special exercises, with a unique focus on supporting girls, to make positive individual choices and to discover personal fulfillment and purpose in life.

Linda Geraeds Biography

Linda Geraeds has 16 years experience in the social sector working with children, young adults and adults. She works one on one and with groups. In her capacity as trainer and social worker Linda focuses on 'empowerment': to support people in their quests to dare living life connected to their inner strength and feelings.

Linda is a qualified social and educational worker who has gained extensive knowledge in Chinese health philosophy, body-mind work, massage therapy and voice dialogue. She is a certified teacher in self-defense and Rock & Water master-instructor.

Rock and Water; Enhancing Learning Activities for Boys
presented by Master Instructor Brian Hayes

Is there something wrong with our boys, or is there something wrong with the way we educate our sons in the modern age? Rock and Water clearly works well with boys, because it connects with the learning style that many boys prefer. It engages them from the start, it is inclusive, and it is enabling.

Brian Hayes has been a passionate educator for 26 years, as a History Head teacher Deputy Principal and now a professional Rock and Water consultant and martial arts multi school owner. He is an advocate for developing pedagogy that is more boy-friendly. He will take the Rock and Water perspective, and show how the strategies that work so well in Rock and Water, can enhance learning outcomes in the classroom as well. There is a cognitive dissonance between what boys and young men know and feel in their ÒgutsÓ and what they actually do in a learning, work or social context. Brian will show how the three themes of Communication, Courage and Mindfulness can be applied throughout the school, to avoid the mismatch of the male learning style with many educational practices.

With understanding of how boys think and learn, we can provide positive learning opportunities. Brian will also overview some of the new methods and strategies that are proving to work well in schools that are doing well with boys.

Brian Hayes Biography

Brian Hayes is a teacher with over 25 years experience in high schools, as a history teacher and deputy principal. Brian is a Master Rock and Water trainer for the Family Action Centre, and has taught the program in schools through out NSW and interstate since 2001. After extensive training with Freerk Ykema, Brian became the first Australian 3 day presenter, and has presented accreditation courses all over Australia since 2007.

Brian is currently responsible for presenting the 3 day accreditation program in NSW, ACT, Northern Territory and Tasmania. A 6th Degree Black Belt in Karate, and a world champion in his karate method, Brian is currently principal of the Hunter Valley Martial Arts Centre, Newcastle with a student body of over 550 students. He has extensive experience in developing programs to improve outcomes for boys, with a particular focus on pedagogy and strategies to enhance social and emotional development.