Programs
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 
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.
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.
Lunchtime Organ recitals on Thursdays
Every Thursday at 1.00pm, the St Michael's Carillon is sounded and the grand organ comes to life for a free 30 minute recital. So far these recitals have been well attended by the public. A variety of organists will play during 2011, including our own organist, Rhys Boak.
Our Organist and Manager of Music, Rhys Boak is committed to providing a stimulating musical experience during our Sunday Service.