Program
FULL PROGRAM
HAP24 DAY: NOVEMBER 2nd, 9-5, 2024
Verbrugghen Hall, Conservatorium of Music
8:20 Registration: Music
If music be the food of love, play on
Be inspired by the Madeleine Easton and Conservatorium students as they welcome you to the Conservatorium of music with the uplifting orchestral music of Bach. Madeleine has forged a unique career as a baroque and modern violinist, concert master and conductor
Madeleine Easton and Conservatorium High School Students
8:55 Welcome & Acknowledgement of Country– Tony Steel CEO, VI Conferences
9:00 Intro & Opening – MC Jocelyn Brewer, Psychologist
HEALTH, HAPPINESS & WELLBEING
9:15 Promoting Positivity: Navigating the Landscape of Wellbeing Science
Join Dr. Suzy Green, a renowned expert in Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology, for an insightful session delving into the realms of wellbeing science. Suzy will sift through the abundance of information, distinguishing between proven methodologies and speculative notions. Discover what we know works for many and uncover areas ripe for further exploration. Suzy will equip attendees with practical self-coaching strategies, and bridge the gap between theory and practice, as we prescribe positivity for a brighter future.
Dr Suzy Green – Clinical and Coaching Psychologist, founder of The Positivity Institute.
9.35 The Devil You Knew – why your best days are ahead of you
Depression devastates the lives of countless people, sending families into crisis and weakening the ties that hold communities together. What is it? Where does it come from and what are the common myths and misconceptions surrounding it? Each of us can find our unique path to healing and live fulfilling lives on our own terms.
Professor Ian Hickie, Co-Director, Health and Policy at The University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre
9:55 A contemplative exploration of art and nature
In today’s world our focus is often fractured. This makes it harder to connect with what we love most. The Art of Deep Looking offers short simple practices centred on works of art and experiences with nature. These practices help us lean into our innate awe and wonder, by connecting deeply and intimately with our lives.
Steve Pozel, Creative Director, The Art of Deep Looking
10:15 Embracing Health and Happiness for Life
Living longer does not necessarily mean a happier, more satisfying life. Increased lifespans only provide the potential for longer happiness. To realise that potential we need to also increase our healthspan, which is the number of years someone is healthy without chronic and debilitating disease.
Dr Gordon Spence will discuss how the number of years lived in good health matters more than the number of candles on our birthday cake. He will address why we struggle to commit to healthy lifestyle change and provide strategies for sustained healthy behaviour change.
Dr. Gordon Spence, Healthy Ageing and Performance Psychologist & Anita Smith – Organisational Psychologist
10:35– 11:05 Morning Tea
FINDING INNER PEACE IN A TROUBLED WORLD
11:05 Panel discussion – Compassion and Mindfulness for Inner & World Peace
Professor Ian Hickie, Nickolas Yu, Emily Knowles
Moderated by Jenny Steadman, Co-National Director, Potential Project
11:35 Personal stories – strategies for survival, resilience and hope
In a story of resilience and hope for the future, Ukrainian refugees, Tetiana and her daughter Anastasiia share their inspiring story of survival as they escape war-torn Ukraine and build a life in Australia from the kindness of others.
Anastasiia & Tetiana Pyshna
11:55 The What, Why and How of Gratitude
There are a number of evidence-based approaches to cultivating well-being, and the ‘attitude of gratitude’ is one of these. This presentation will explore the key elements of gratitude along with the scientific benefits. Enjoy a guided gratitude practice to help energise, uplift and activate a ‘positivity bias.’
Nickolas Yu, Humankind Australia
12.15 The Power of Connection for Trauma
As Gabor Mate says “Safety is not the absence of threat. It is the presence of connection”. Drawing on the Centre’s work with veterans and their families over the last five years, Timothea will discuss the power of intensive meditation training and the group process in transforming the effects of trauma.
Timothea Goddard, Openground: the Australian Centre for Mindfulness and Compassion – a registered charity offering programs for mental health
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch
TOOLS & TECHNIQUES FOR WELLBEING
1:30 Personal story – an inspired life
Since her husband Chris O’Brien’s death from brain cancer in 2009, Gail has dedicated herself to bringing his vision to life at the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse hospital. Amidst her grief for her husband and also her eldest son, Adam, who died suddenly in 2011, Gail stepped forward to fill the gap left without Chris, as well as harness the lessons of her husband’s and son’s illnesses and deaths.
Gail O’Brien AO – Director & Patient Advocate, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse
1:50 The potential of virtual reality technology to enhance wellbeing
Hear about cutting edge-research as Jill Bennett demonstrates her innovative VR productions for transforming trauma and distress – including the world’s first VR app for suicide prevention, Edge of the Present, a virtual environment that improves mood and reduces hopelessness.
Scientia Professor Jill Bennett, Australian Research Council Australian Laureate Fellow, Director of the feltExperience & Empathy Lab, and the Big Anxiety Research Centre, UNSW
2:10 Fireside chat: A better future for younger Australians: Delay is not an option
The barriers to children and young people’s happiness and wellbeing are well known – yet poorly addressed by governments. This moderated conversation is with renowned psychiatrist, Professor Patrick McGorry, AO, and acclaimed writer and mental health researcher, Stephanie Dowrick, PhD, D.Min. It will stretch beyond identifying the problems that individuals and their families face daily to an informed discussion about how we might see this alarming curtailing of potential as a community and societal challenge. Young Australians are the future of this nation. Recognition of their ‘right to thrive’ must coincide with greater protection of all human life, and our physical environment.
Professor Patrick McGorry, AO, Professor of Youth Mental Health, U.Melb, Executive Director of Orygen Institute, Melbourne, & Dr. Stephanie Dowrick, award-winning writer and activist, author most recently of Your name is not Anxious: A very personal guide to putting anxiety in its place.
Moderated by Jenny Steadman, Co-National Director, Potential Project
2:45 Creating a culture that is supporting and caring for young people
Blake supports young people and their wellbeing in his roles with the Department of Education, Caretakers Cottage and CatholicCare. Learn how Blake has built his charity “Ripple Movement” from its first project in Gosford Hospital children’s ward to the various initiatives the charity delivers today. Blake will share stories of hope about some of the young people he is supporting.
Blake McGee, Youth Worker, Conservatorium High School
3:00 Afternoon tea
3:30 Building psychological strengths
Vijay works with athletes to ensure they have the mental strength and resilience for success in elite sport. Learn how this can be applied to everyday life by enhancing your psychological strengths through mental skills training, utilising mindfulness based practices and evidence based psychological principles.
Dr. Vijay Kumar, Coaching Psychologist, researcher
3:50 Pecha Kucha –four presentations of 20 slides x 20 seconds
Embodying Radical Compassion Explore the connections between creativity, vulnerability and curiosity. Kristina shares insights of her transdisciplinary ways of self-cultivation by working with inner and outer; hard and soft; light and shadow.
Dr. Kristina Mah, Artist
What cycling/trekking 30,000kms across five continents taught me about happiness? From Himalayan mountain top monasteries to remote Pygmy villages in Africa and everywhere in between!
Melo Calarco, High Performing Coach
Zen Declutter and your ‘Hurry Hurry Monster’
Valiant stories of overcoming home CHAOS, or ‘Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome’. Start by listening with fondness to our ‘Internal Family’, and the miracles begin.
Cecilia Macaulay, Decluttering expert
Inspiring Joy: How everyday leaders cultivate happiness
Explore real-life examples of leaders who cultivate happiness. See how their inspiring actions create positive environments and discover how you can follow in their footsteps.
Liane McGrath, Managing Partner, Gram Consulting Group
4:20 How helping heals
As a guest speaker on ABC National’s Life Matters Radio program, Derya Gunzel frequently encounters topics such as loneliness and coping with stress and anxiety. Derya will talk about how to best support people and provide practical strategies to enhance overall wellbeing. She lives and works by the ethos that how we respond to life’s situations makes all the difference.
Derya Guzel, Director Psych leaders, Principal Psychologist
4:40 Music as a tool for wellbeing
Nadia Piave is a teacher, performer and concert producer who will discuss her own continuing journey to happiness through the lens of her teaching studio, her continued performing life, why harmony and heterophony can walk side by side, and why the most important sound in music is often neglected.
Nadia Piave Conservatorium of Music musician/performer
5:00 Conference End
