Details of the workshops are below, for more information or to book a seat please contact:

Wagga Wagga Uniting Church
Phone: 02 6921 4275
Email: wwuca@bigpond.com.au
Post: PO Box 609 Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
Registrations close April 30, 2010

About The Program

Raising Difficult Children is a program designed to assist parents set in place behaviour management strategies for their child, raise their own level of parenting skills and self-esteem, while developing competence and accountability in the child.  It has been specifically designed for use by parents and professionals working with children exhibiting social, educational and behavioural problems including learning disabilities, sibling dislocation, asperges, dispraxia, ADHD, hyperactivity, poor social skills & peer relationship problems, mental illness, and temperament problems.

The program provides an introduction to the concept of difficult temperament, effective discipline routines, management strategies, and constructive ways to help children become competent.

The book and program were designed by Dr. Peter Powell, psychologist and his wife Brenda. For the past seventeen years they have been providing group facilitation, individual family counselling, and professional seminars to parents and and professional.  Their family history, over at least three generations, provides them with insights from their own individual journeys.

About The About The Presenters

Rev. Dr. Peter Powell is an Accredited Minister of the Uniting Church in Australia,  Registered Psychologist and Clinical Member of the NSW Commission for children and young people. He is currently the Executive Director of the Pastoral Counselling Institute, Dr. Powell’s speciality  arises from his personal family experience.  In his practice he has counseled  families  coping with the dilemma of learning difficulties, poor socialisation skills and difficult temperament.

He has pioneered work in behaviour management for adults, particularly for couples where AD/HD impacts their relationship.  He is currently working on the issue of adult learning difficulties and Differential Diagnosis, exploring the ways in which unrecognised learning difficulties undermine traditional counselling and learning approaches.

Brenda Powell  is the Social Educator for the Pastoral Counselling Institute and co-author of Raising Difficult Children©.  Brenda’s background in business, both in Australia and overseas, as well as experience in group dynamics brings a practical focus to the program.   Her experience as both mother and grandmother brings a personal perspective to the program and parents benefit from the practical expertise she brings to her excellent workshops.
She is regularly contracted to provide training to professional staff who have children in their care:  after-school carers, social workers, child care workers, pre school teachers, both primary and high school teachers, welfare workers, foster parents and agency workers.

About The Book

Dr. Paul Whiting (Formerly Senior Lecturer and Head of the Children’s Centre at the University of Sydney) says of the book

“I have read the new edition of Raising Difficult Children” with a great deal of pleasure, because it is so easy to follow, and so intensely practical.  Of course it recognises the results of research, but it puts those results into practice where parents and teachers are in reality.  The text is frequently punctuated with examples and plans that we can immediately relate to, or that are so like our own situation that we can easily transfer the principles.

A book like this could only be written by people like Peter and Brenda Powell – Peter who grew up as a difficult child (and succeeded) and then with Brenda faced the challenge of raising difficult children.  Readers will refer to this book again and again as they determine to accept that “Parenting is Hard Work” (as the opening chapter declares) and make the commitment to invest that hard work in the lives of the children for whom they have responsibility.  The result will be rewarding for both adult and child.”

Workshop Dates:

Monday May 3, 2010
Public Seminar – Wagga Wagga
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Venue: Wagga Wagga City Council Conference Room
Cost: $5 entry (Tickets available at door. Books available for purchase at the event)
For the general public, parents, teachers, friends, family, grandparents, educators, anyone.

Tuesday May 4, 2010
“Working With Difficult Children”
Time: 9:15am – 3:00am
Venue: Romanos, Fitzmaurice Street, Wagga Wagga
Cost: $50.00 (includes workshop, venue, book, morning tea. Lunch to be purchased in the restaurant below or byo)
For Social Workers, Youth Workers, Doctors, Parents, Counsellors, Carers, anyone working with children.

Tuesday May 4, 2010
Public Seminar – Coolamon
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Venue: Coolamon Uniting Church, Coolamon
Cost: $5 entry (Tickets available at door. Books available for purchase at the event)
For the general public, parents, teachers, friends, family, grandparents, educators, anyone.

Wednesday May 5, 2010
“Teaching Difficult Children”
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Venue: Wagga Wagga City Council Conference Room
Cost: $10 (Books available for purchase at the event)
For teachers, educators of children and young people, current education students at CSU, lecturers, parents.

Thursday May 6, 2010
“Raising Difficult Children” – Wagga Wagga
Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm
Venue: Wagga Wagga City Council Conference Room
Cost: $50 ($60 per couple. Cost includes, a copy of “Raising Difficult Children,” Morning Tea, Lunch, Coffee/Tea)
For parents, foster carers, grandparents, carers, guardians of children.

Thursday May 6, 2010
Public Seminar – Culcairn
Time:7:00pm – 9:00pm
Venue: Culcairn Uniting Church, Culcairn
Cost: $5 entry (Books available for purchase at the event)

Narrandera Workshops have been canceled due to lack of registrations

Download Information Brochure: Raising Difficult Children Workshop Brochure (pdf)

The Aims of Kids Camp Out
An event in which leaders can bond with children from their own churches.
A chance for children to meet other Christians from their own town and other towns for fellowship and fun.
A time for children to consider the claims of Christ for themselves.
A way for leaders to give their children a weekend away without having to carry the whole burden of organisation and finance by themselves.
A time for leaders to enjoy each others company, gain some new ideas and link up with others in children’s ministries.

The Venue and Date of Kids Camp Out 2010
Kids Camp out will be held at the Narrandera Race Course in Narrandera starting at 1.00pm Saturday 27th March and finishing at approximately 1.00pm Sunday 28th  March 2010.

Download Forms:

Download: Group Coordinator’s Information (pdf file)

Download: Camper Registration Form (With boy on front) (pdf file)

Download: Camper Registration Form (With girl on front) (pdf file)

Download: Elective Coordinator Information (pdf file)

Download: Group Registration Forms (pdf file)

Download: Teenage Helper Application Form (pdf file)

Download: Leader’s Registration Form (pdf file)

Download: Invitation to next KCO Meeting (pdf file)

Download: Prohibited Employment Declaration Form (pdf file)

Download: The whole lot of forms compressed into a zip file (zip file)

Venue: Kooba Station, Darlington Point, NSW

CRYC’s River Camp for 2010  will be held at Kooba Station, Darlington Point from March 5th -7th.  We’re really looking forward to this year’s camp and getting to have a lot of fun whilst we all minister with the young people attending…
Our guest speaker this year is Bradon French.  Bradon has been the youth worker for North Rocks Uniting Church for a number of years and very recently has been called to the shores of Balgowlah Uniting Church as their Youth and Children’s Ministry Worker.  Bradon has been speaking at a number of camps, more recently participating as a member of a bible study team for the National Christian Youth Convention and the Hunter Valley Easter Camp. Bradon brings with him a number of years experience, a good sense of humour (but don’t tell him I said that) and a passion for young people and Christian discipleship.

For potential Leaders we’re planning to hold the River Camp leader’s training day on the 20th of February at Narrandera Uniting Church in Narrandera. The program will begin at 1:00pm with a bbq lunch followed on by worship, prayer and leader’s training, please write it in your diary and keep the afternoon free.  The meeting is a great time to meet other leaders and pray about the ministry of River Camp and is really important for all leaders to participate in prior to the camp. We should be finished by about 5:00pm.

Download Forms:

Download: Promotional Poster (pdf file)

Download: Leader’s Application Form (pdf file)

Download: Camper’s Registration Form (pdf file)

Download: The whole lot of forms in one .zip file (zip file)

Venue: Smithers Beach, Tocumwal, NSW

Speaker:

Download Forms:
Download: Camp Promotional Flyer (pdf file)
Download: Camper Registration Form (pdf file)

The Synod requires volunteers involved with programs for children and young people, especially leaders, to attend a 3.5 hour training session. Ministers, youth workers. SRE teachers and those staff who have contact with children should also attend this training.

Each participant will be provided with a work book. The topics covered will include:

• Child abuse and mistreatment and why it happens,
• Child protection laws in NSW,
• Appropriate behaviour with children and young, people in congregational activities,
• Dealing with inappropriate behaviour in a volunteer,
• Responding to a child or young person who may be at risk, of harm from a caregiver’s behaviour.

People who are familiar with child protection issues through their work may be interested in becoming trainers themselves – for their own congregation or for others in the Presbytery. A Trainer’s Guide will be provided.

Janet Scott will deliver the training. She is the Child Protection Coordinator with the Board of Education. If you have any questions or concerns, she may be contacted on  janets@nsw.uca.org.au

Register by contacting Darren Wright – 0438380007. 0269719657. djwright@netspace.net.au

Child Protection Training Poster (pdf)

Children need many essential experiences to build the competencies that will help them manage life – the good, the bad and the ugly. This common sense, practical model will reassure those who work with children that what they have always known to be important in the early years of a child’s education – are still important! The 10 building blocks model that Maggie has created will resonate with anyone who works with families.

From Maggie’s extensive experience of working with adolescents for over more than twenty years she has created an innovative, dynamic model for families, schools and communities to build resilience and
connectedness for 12-25 year olds. Adolescents need adult allies to help them navigate the tricky waters of the teenage years – the art of guiding, encouraging empowerment while strengthening self esteem and personal autonomy is one that can be learned. This model explores the shift in raising children to raising teenagers, and what works and what won’t.

Workshops:

Real Kids in an Unreal World – building resilience and self esteem in todays children

Tuesday 7th July – 7.30 – 9.30
Griffith Leagues Club
$20 per head

Maggies seminar will explore how the 10 essential building blocks will build resilience in all children from birth to 12 years.  These building blocks cognitive, psychological, emotional and social health of children for life.  Her informative, insightful and entertaining seminars inspire parents to make small changes for young children – small things become big things later in life.  This 2 hour presentation is for parents, teachers, carers, health professionals, family consultants and counsellors.

Adolescents Unplugged – Understanding the Bumpy Ride from child to adult!

Wednesday 8th July – 7.30 – 9.30
Griffith Leagues Club
$20 per head

Maggies introductory seminar will empower both adolescents and those who care for them( parents, teachers and professionals) to make better choices that will improve the cognitive, psychological, emotional and social health of young people.  Maggie has worked with young people for over 30 years and has an enormous passion for keeping children and adolescents alive and capable of realising their unique life potential

More Information:

Book into the seminars by Contacting the Dorothy Wade Centre for Early Learning on: 02 69626833

Download Publicity Brochure: Maggie Dent – Real Kids in an Unreal World Brochure

Campers jump on a bus on the Friday night, pick up our gear then head to camp Wandiligong to get to know each other, have fun, rest and prepare for the full day ahead of them.

Saturday sees the campers rise early and head to Mount Hotham where we have a full day in the snow either skiing, tobogganing, snow boarding, snow fighting or downing lots of hot chocolates.

Sunday we have a slow(ish) start to the day before we start heading home via Beechworth for lunch and lolly shopping…

It’s a non-stop fun filled weekend, if you’re up for the snow we’d love to have you along!

Pricing Structure:

People can join us for the weekend and choose between ski, snowboard, toboggan or just snow fighting.

The Trip cost includes transport, food, accommodation, administration as well as the Ski lift ticket includes a full days access to the ski lifts and one lesson at Mount Hotham.

If campers don’t want to ski or snow board they must tell us on their registration and will only need to pay the trip amount (you can still toboggan if you do not pay the ski pass).

Pay the complete amount with your registration, if you do have issues with funding the trip please do contact us.

• Student (up to and inclusive of year 12 only) Ski Lift Ticket and Trip – $130
• Adult Ski Lift Ticket and Trip – $130

Download the forms below and pass them around:

• Snow Camper Registration Form 2009 (pdf file, click to download)
• Snow Camp Publicity Brochure 2009 (pdf file, click to download)

Time: 11:00am to 3:00pm

Venue: Ganmain Uniting Church, Ganmain, NSW

BYO Lunch

Specifically for people involved in teaching SRE (Special Religious Education), but open to all working with children and young people this training course will introduct people to issues around:

• Child abuse and why it happens
• Child Protection laws in NSW
• Appropriate behaviour with children in congregational activities
• Dealing with inappropriate behaviour by a volunteer
• Responding to a child who may be at risk from a parent or caregiver’s behaviour.

Download: Child Protection Training Poster

Please contact Darren on djwright@netspace.net.au to RSVP for the event

Kids Camp Out is an inter-denominational camp for children in school years 3 to 6 in the Riverina. It is run by a committee which consists of people from a number of churches and communities including the Uniting Church, Baptist, CRC, Fusion and from all over the Riverina including Narrandera, Griffith, Matong, Ganmain, Wagga Wagga and Barellan

The Aims of Kids Camp Out

• An event in which leaders can bond with children from their own churches.
• A chance for children to meet other Christians from their own town and other towns for fellowship and fun.
• A time for children to consider the claims of Christ for themselves.
• A way for leaders to give their children a weekend away without having to carry the whole burden of organisation and finance by themselves.
• A time for leaders to enjoy each others company, gain some new ideas and link up with others in children’s ministries.

The Venue and Date of Kids Camp Out 2009
Kids Camp out will be held at the Narrandera Race Course in Narrandera starting at 1.00pm Saturday 28th March and finishing at approximately 1.00pm Sunday 29th March 2009.

Information Pack:

Download the Coordinator’s Information Pack: Kids Camp Out 2009

We’re really looking forward to this year’s camp and getting to have a lot of fun whilst we all minister with the young people attending…

Come along and join in on the fun which will include canoeing, beach volleyball, swimming, music, camp concert, adventure, hiking, water slide, great music…!!!

Bring a friend, heck, bring 10!

Download forms and information:

• CRYC River Camp Brochure
• CRYC River Camp Publicity Poster
• CRYC River Camp Camper Registration
• CRYC River Leader Registration