Kids Giving Back 5th Birthday
Some of you might be aware that every year I’m very proud to partner with my friends at Kids Giving Back to work with teenagers who access Youth Off The Streets. Well today, Kids Giving Back hosted its 5th Birthday party at Rough Edges, a homeless community partner in Darlinghurst, Sydney, and I was honoured […]
Read MoreWhen Dan met Stan
A month or so ago, I ended up sitting next to award-winning journalist Stan Grant on a flight to and from Wagga Wagga. We got chatting about his work, the 12 months since his speech regarding racism in Australia had gone viral, and we discussed the broader issues in Indigenous communities around Australia. I’m very grateful to […]
Read MoreWhy I’m supporting the ILF
First of all, thank you! Thank you to everyone who has already got a copy of my book #SchoolOfThought! I was blown away to wake up on Sunday to find it #2 in ‘Schools & Teaching’ on Kindle in Australia… behind the Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Malala! If you get my newsletter you’ll be aware that […]
Read MoreGonski isn’t about getting *more* money…
In today’s Sun Herald, you may have come across a piece headlined, NSW public schools increasingly turning to cashed-up P&Cs for funding. In brief the article points out that: P&Cs are asking parents for annual voluntary contributions of $200 per child or more to help pay for education programs as well as iPads, upgrades to toilets and additional […]
Read MoreMy Reaction to Naming & Shaming Young Offenders
In reaction to the Queensland Government’s move to name & shame young offenders as young as ten, I wrote this piece for the ABC. Being seen to be tough on crime is Politics 101. It’s a guaranteed vote-winner. It creates good copy for the tabloids, and “naming and shaming” is the bread and butter of any self-respecting […]
Read MoreChanging the World is Good for You!
I originally wrote this for my regular Generation Next Column. If you can use your strengths in the service of something greater than yourself, many psychologists will tell you that this is a key predictor of wellbeing. They refer to it as having a sense of purpose or meaning. Recently I’ve been working with schools […]
Read MoreIn the Sydney Morning Herald today…
Imagine for a second you’re booked in for elective surgery, and six months before the operation you’re told it’s your responsibility to provide the hospital with the surgical tools and technology required for your operation. The Department of Health suggests if you can’t afford to pay for the equipment, perhaps you could organise a cake […]
Read MoreEducational Roulette – Mind the Gap
I stumbled upon this infographic this week. I’ve edited it to suit the layout of my blog. It shows the inequities in educational outcomes between groups of higher and lower socioeconomic standing, across a number of countries. In short, your educational achievement can be predicted at birth based on little more than your parents’ bank […]
Read MoreMake A Difference – It’s easy & it’s free!
Sometimes I feel I’m guilty of talking too much. Especially about issues that really require action. So I’m always inspired when I meet people who actually DO STUFF. One such person is Jenni Iloski from Bondi Youth Accommodation, an organisation that has been working with homeless youth for over 30 years. Jenni is the coordinator […]
Read MoreWhat’s Wrong With the Juvenile Justice System?
Originally posted on The ABC Drum. In the wake of two teenagers being shot by police in Kings Cross, The Sydney Morning Herald has been running a series of articles focusing on the effectiveness of the juvenile justice system. The facts presented by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics within the articles are startling. As a result of a […]
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