Programs and Care - Weekday Programs
SAGE - Successful Ageing with Growth and Enhancement
Conducted By Renowned Psychotherapist Dr Francis Macnab
Sir Lloyd Geering address at SAGE - Wrestling with God and myself in my Younger years and Old age.
The aim of SAGE is to encourage people over 45 to learn psychological insights to help them age more effectively and enjoyably.
Many people are in flight from the prospect of growing old. Sooner or later, it has to be faced that growing older (getting beyond 50) is an important vital intelligence.
Psychologically GOOD AGEING depends on:
- Strategies to cope with the big stresses of the post-50 years.
- Reshaping the meaning of life when the old meaning starts to corrode.
- Dealing with the fears that flit through these years.
- Living well, with and without your fantasy relationship.
- Knowing the books to read, the music to listen to.
SAGE is all about growing old positively, focusing on opportunities and challenges rather than what we don't have or have missed out on.
Sessions include:
- A lecture defining the SAGE psychology of the topic for the day;
- A case study related to the lecture;
- A facilitated group discussion;
- A large group summation;
- Lunch and refreshments.
This program is supported by 
Mingary - Creating Successful Life Events
For the last eight years, the CSLE program has been successfully teaching positive psychology to people who want to make the most of their lives. These interactive small group workshops are for people who want to create their own happiness and enjoy a brighter future.
Presented by Dr Lynette Kramer (Manager of Mingary) and staff from the Mingary Counselling Service.
2010 Program Dates
12 March Dare to be yourself
9 April The power of first experiences: keeping your perspective on the past
14 May Take care of yourself while taking care of others
11 June What jealousy teaches you about yourself
9 July Growing apart: An adaptation guide
13 August Failing better
17 September "Mirror, mirror...." Do you see yourself as others see you?
15 October The convergence of minds: increasing empathy in social relationships
12 November Change (and the art of staying the same)
BOOKINGS NOT REQUIRED
Cost: $10.00 (includes materials and refreshments)
Time: Fridays 11.00 am to 12.30 pm
Location: Waratah Hall, 1st floor, St Michael's Centre
Enquiries: Dr Lynette Kramer
Kindergarten Field Officers Group (KFOG)
Held every second Thursday Afternoon
2.45pm - 4.15pm.
Venue: St Michael's Centre
120 Collins Street, Melbourne.
The Kindergarten Field Officers Group, or KFOG, is a dynamic, informative and thought provoking peer supervision experience providing valuable professional development.
The KFOG experience is interactive and supportive and relies heavily on Psychoanalytic theory, practice and contextual analysis.
A group of 12 to 15 field officers meet regularly with Dr Macnab to discuss their casework and explore different perspectives on the various problems they encounter.
The field officers visit over 200 kindergartens across Melbourne. They are called to make visits where a child, the parents or the kindergarten staff are having difficulties in meeting the needs of a child.
Many children less than five years of age have emotional and behavioural problems. KFOG has worked for just on twenty years to provide specialist assistance to these children, their parents and the kindergarten staff.
Topics planned for early 2010 include:
1. Moods of Adults and their effects on children.
How children in Kindergarten learn the power of moods.
How we can prevent early formation of moods becoming part of life style through to old age.
Angry looks. Angry words. Angry Behaviour. Angry moods. Self-Management.
2. The fundamental task: Building Relationships with small children when relationships don't happen "naturally".
Fear, Frightened, Insecure, Lacking in confidence.
Getting hurt, and getting over it.
Moving towards, moving away from, moving against.
3. Helping kids to play.
Psychological and emotional benefits of playing on one's own and together.
Imaginative play and its benefits. Models.
4. Recognizing kids at risk of developing disorders. Appropriate guidelines. Preventative Procedures.
Previous topics have included:
Parents in denial regarding the needs of their child
The different and varied characteristics of grief of parents of a damaged child
The mother who;"wakes up angry" "wakes up depressed" "wakes up knowing the day will be dreadful"
Parents who are living with mental health issues. Low functioning child, born with a severe disability and deteriorating Effects on parents and helpers The why, what, when of appropriate intervention
The group also provides opportunities for individual case discussion and debriefing.
The group consists of Preschool Field Officers and Early Childhood Intervention professionals who work in a variety of children's services supporting a vast number of children, parents and staff. As such KFOG members are crucial in supporting the broader early childhood field.
The group is currently trialling SKYPE to enable participation by rural members in 2010.
KFOG is facilitated by Dr Francis Macnab: Psychotherapist,Clinical Psychologist and Group Therapist. He is the Founder of the Cairnmillar Institute, Co - founder and Chairman of the Australian Foundation for Aftermath Reactions as well as an Author of some 27 books.
To learn more about Dr Francis Macnab please visit
http://www.stmichaels.org.au/dr-macnab/about-dr-macnab
KFOG encourages participants:
To consider the difficulties and additional needs of children in the preschool years q To explore parent and family issues that impact on family life and their child's development. q To consider the stresses and tensions that may impact on children's services staff. q to reflect on their own professional identity and their own aspirations and stresses in the workplace. q to realise how such a group can be a vital support in situations that are regularly faced in our professional roles
The group is fully sponsored by St Michael's Uniting Church Melbourne and is therefore free of charge to individual Early Childhood Professionals and their Auspicing Bodies.
The KFOG sessions are recognised Professional Development sessions and do contribute to annual Professional Development requirements.