Raising Our Boys To Be Good Men
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Q&A time for the panel. Click on the photo for more images from the night.
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On 13 July 2015, the Royal Commission into Family Violence opened. Tony Nicholson, CEO of the Brotherhood of St Laurence, one of the guest speakers at the SBCSJN evening last year on Homelessness, is a Commissioner at this Enquiry. At the end of our Homelessness evening, Tony was asked about how our society can stop homelessness. Tony did not hesitate to point out that stopping/reducing family violence will stop/reduce homelessness.
He also provided his opinion that the process of stopping family violence, and social violence in general, is to educate and role model for our boys to learn other ways of managing conflict, avoiding aggression and to develop and maintain positive and productive relationships.
As a result of his comments about how to stop homelessness, The St Bernard’s College Social Justice Network decided that our next event would look at how we, as parents, a school and a community can impact our boys to achieve meaningful and fulfilling lives. Hence our topic of “Raising Our Boys to be Good Men."
The night was a huge success with a full auditorium of parents, children, students, grandparents and friends listening and learning from these great speakers:
The Pecha-Kucha style panel discussed themes of: the influence and impact of positive relationships, role models, conflict resolution skills, adolescent mental health and the importance of community in young peoples’ lives.
Thank you to all who attended! It was a fantastic night. Principal Tony Paatsch summed it up beautifully in the school newsletter:
St Bernard’s College Newsletter, 14 Aug 2015
From The Principal, Tony Paatsch,
“Congratulations to the SBC Social Justice Network on the “Raising our Boys to be Good Men” evening held on Wednesday. We heard from Assistant Commissioner of Victoria Police Tess Walsh, mental health advocate Professor Patrick McGorry AO, Ben O’Toole from the Step Back and Think Foundation, Scott Holmes from the YMCA and Old Collegian and Youth Justice Worker, Andrew Gurrisi. A crowd of almost 400 found the speakers informative, entertaining and perhaps most importantly, challenging. As an EREA school one of the touchstones we aspire to is “Justice and Solidarity” and this event was a powerful example of this commitment in action. In my introduction to the evening I commented that I had seldom felt so proud to be part of the St Bernard’s community as on that night. I commend the work of the SBCSJN in putting this event together and hope that many more parents and students will choose to be part of this Network. “
He also provided his opinion that the process of stopping family violence, and social violence in general, is to educate and role model for our boys to learn other ways of managing conflict, avoiding aggression and to develop and maintain positive and productive relationships.
As a result of his comments about how to stop homelessness, The St Bernard’s College Social Justice Network decided that our next event would look at how we, as parents, a school and a community can impact our boys to achieve meaningful and fulfilling lives. Hence our topic of “Raising Our Boys to be Good Men."
The night was a huge success with a full auditorium of parents, children, students, grandparents and friends listening and learning from these great speakers:
- Professor Patrick McGorry AO - Orygen & headspace
- Tess Walsh - Assistant Commissioner, Victoria Police
- Scott Holmes - YMCA
- Ben O’Toole - StepBackThink
- Andrew Gurrisi - SBC Old Boy & Youth Justice Worker
The Pecha-Kucha style panel discussed themes of: the influence and impact of positive relationships, role models, conflict resolution skills, adolescent mental health and the importance of community in young peoples’ lives.
Thank you to all who attended! It was a fantastic night. Principal Tony Paatsch summed it up beautifully in the school newsletter:
St Bernard’s College Newsletter, 14 Aug 2015
From The Principal, Tony Paatsch,
“Congratulations to the SBC Social Justice Network on the “Raising our Boys to be Good Men” evening held on Wednesday. We heard from Assistant Commissioner of Victoria Police Tess Walsh, mental health advocate Professor Patrick McGorry AO, Ben O’Toole from the Step Back and Think Foundation, Scott Holmes from the YMCA and Old Collegian and Youth Justice Worker, Andrew Gurrisi. A crowd of almost 400 found the speakers informative, entertaining and perhaps most importantly, challenging. As an EREA school one of the touchstones we aspire to is “Justice and Solidarity” and this event was a powerful example of this commitment in action. In my introduction to the evening I commented that I had seldom felt so proud to be part of the St Bernard’s community as on that night. I commend the work of the SBCSJN in putting this event together and hope that many more parents and students will choose to be part of this Network. “
