2003

Friday 6th June 2003 - PLEASE NOTE: CONFERENCE CANCELLED
Parents, Carers, Grandparents Encouraged to Attend Annual Conference
The Federation of Parents & Friends Associations in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is hosting its annual Parent Conference from Friday 20th to Saturday 21st June at Monte Pio, the Country Comfort Hotel in Rutherford.

This year's conference includes an extensive program of workshops and a session with well-known Australian child psychologist Dr John Irvine. Dr Irvine will be present on Friday afternoon (2:00pm) to entertain and amuse parents with his great wit and insight into parenthood.

'Dr John' as he is affectionately called, is the author of six very successful books which are written in an easy to read, easy to do style. The 'Happy/Sad Face' system which features in his book A Handbook for Happy Families offers parents a useful and effective disciplining tool, while promoting the ability for families to have fun and laugh together.

Dr Irvine features in radio segments on stations throughout Australia and contributes articles to a number of papers and magazines.

"His talks at previous Parent Conferences, while being filled with much practical information for parents, have been delivered with side-splitting humour and leave parents with the feeling that maybe they are not doing such a bad job after all", says Mrs Linda McNeil, Parent Resource Officer.

"All of the Conference workshops are designed to equip parents or carers with the tools they need to navigate the minefield of effective parenting."

Some of the workshop topics are: technology, English and Maths, Primary and Secondary social issues, how to approach your high school, vocational education, child protection legislation, health and nutrition, new 7-10 curriculum, fundraising issues, the new K-12 Religion Syllabus, and parents and spirituality.

The conference runs from 8:30am to 4:00pm on Friday and 8:30am to 3:00pm on Saturday. Cost is $50 for one day only and $65 for the full two days. The old world charm of Monte Pio and its beautiful grounds provide the perfect backdrop for the conference and accommodation is available at the hotel for $120 night including breakfast.

The Conference is being organised by the Parent Education Working Party, a sub-committee of the Federation of Parents and Friends Associations in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

Annual Parents and Friends Association
Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle Conference
20-21 June 2003
Monte Pio, the Country Comfort Hotel, Rutherford

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