Stepping into a foreign environment and creating instant connection with a unique audience is but one of the many challenges faced by a guest speaker. Or at least a good one. Said environment has to be massaged into a space in which the audience can

The ‘idea’ of a guest speaker is wrong.Flat out wrong.You don’t need a guest speaker.You need a guest listener. Questioner. Sharer. You need someone who can read the room.Create an atmosphere.Be themselves-vulnerable.And connect. All easier said than done. But never more necessary than now-after what

Edgey. My results however speak for themselves. Young people appreciate the opportunity to be spoken with not too. Whilst staff appreciate the expert skill sets of a highly experienced educator capable of reading a room and creating an atmosphere that allows for ‘real talk’.You won’t

They present with color and flare that can raise eyebrows. They often choose to push back against authority which can lower eyebrows. And they can be corralled by “general rules”-or labels. They are often called lazy. Disengaged. Apathetic. They’re resilience is questioned. As is their

Not in education,on the street or in the home. Unfortunately, lines of communication (connection) constantly fail for any number of reasons. There are however some “rules” by which connections are more likely to be made and the desired “result” achieved and they all stem from

Author Malcom Gladwell popularized the ‘rule’ that 10,000 hours of intensive practice provides for mastery of ones craft whether that be playing the violin,computer programming or public speaking. Gladwells rule doesn’t delve into the quality of the teaching behind the practice or other important contributing

The global pandemic has highlighted that life is not linear.And neither is education. The disruptions felt throughout our communities can at the very least serve as a catalyst for change.Our (education systems) schools need to shift.Dramatically. Appreciating the value of (communication) relationships.The influence of music

A note to all Year 12 students – Do not stress about your ATAR score-at this time or otherwise. Few people (if any) will ever ask of it. Focus instead on the learning/study process itself and controlling your input/s around it… …and being kind to

That notion is driven by adult economic ambition and convenience. Nothing more. Young people gut out countless challenging scenarios every day. With and without adult assistance. Abuse.Politics.Divorce. Economics.Limitation. Circumstance. Pandemics.And labels.

Some conversations are just plain hard.Raw and uncomfortable. They often lead to equally challenging questions and comments. Particularly when the audience is young.Younger than you.And younger than me. The mainstream media.Social media.Reality. Global debt.Property prices.Anxiety. Relationships. Divorce.Hope. Technology. Escapism.Government. The environment.Fear. Young people can’t hear