Resilient Kids Conference

At the end of Term two, the Community Hub hosted screenings of the Resilient Kids Conference at the Roxby Link Cinema. Almost 40 people, including parents and professionals, attended the event. The conference featured the queen of common sense and parenting expert Maggie Dent; teen and tween expert Michelle Mitchell; psychiatrist Kaylene Henderson; and playground designer Lukas Ritson.

The conference focused on building resilience in children and was filled with engaging and practical strategies that we can use in our roles with children.

Michelle Mitchell spoke about the delicate balance between providing the emotional support that tweens and teens desperately need and fostering their independence. Kaylene Henderson highlighted that despite the shortage of mental health professionals, parents, carers, and educators can significantly support children's mental health and well-being. She encouraged continuous learning to bridge the gap in offering support and strategies when professional help isn't immediately required.

Lukas Ritson prompted us to reflect on our play personalities and those of our kids, leading to discussions on how children play and how we can create engaging play spaces that inspire less boredom and more imaginative play.

Maggie Dent, in her warm and humorous manner, talked about supporting and loving our children, advocating for them even when their behavior is challenging. She emphasized the importance of having support networks and finding our tribe—friends who are there for us when things get tough and who love us even when we don’t have it all together.

I'd like to acknowledge BHP for supporting the Community Hub, allowing us to bring amazing opportunities like this to our town and providing access to world-class speakers. I would also like to thank the Family Forum for helping to source carers to look after little ones, enabling parents to attend the conference without distraction.