SCHOOL REFUSAL: ADAVIC LECTURE

  

School refusal is a complex and common issue in our society affecting up to 5% of children, and is stressful for the child, their family and the school.  The more time the child is away from school, the more difficult it is for the child to resume normal school life.  If school refusal becomes an ongoing issue it can negatively impact the child’s social and educational development.

This information session will provide parents and teachers with an understanding of this complex issue and will provide them with a range of strategies they can use to assist their children back to school, including:

• What is school refusal?
• How common is it?
• Types of school refusers
• Why children refuse to go to school?
• The symptoms school refusers present with
• Short and long term consequences of school refusal
• Things to consider in assessment
• What parents can do (practical strategies)
• What schools and other professionals can do

About the Presenter

Joanne Garfi is a psychologist with 23 years experience and expertise in child and adolescent issues.   She has 8 years experience as a school psychologist, working in both primary and secondary schools providing specialist training to teachers.  She has special interests in the treatment of Anxiety and Panic Disorder and is well known for her work with school refusal, childhood anxiety, behavioural disorders and developmental issues.  She utilizes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and skills development and prefers to take a whole person approach to treatment.  Her emphasis when working with children is to have families and schools working together to bring about change.

$10 for members, $20 for non-members, Wednesday 8th August, 2012, Wyndham City
(Council Chambers Room) 45 Princes Highway (entrance Foyer - Southern Lobby), Werribee, VIC Melway Ref: 206 / B7, 7.30pm  to 9.00pm 

  

SCHOOL REFUSAL - A VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH SALLY-ANNE MCCORMACK

In light of the upcoming ADAVIC lecture on School Refusal by Dr Joanne Garfi, here's an interview with another of ADAVIC's speakers Dr Sally-Ann McCormack talking about school refusal on The Circle.

Upcoming lectures...

From anxiety & panic to courage, commitment, calmness and change...
Presenter: Pauline McKinnon, Psychotherapist & Author
Date: Tuesday 28th February, 7.30pm
Location: Horticultural Centre Function Room. 82 Jolimont Road, Forest Hill, VIC

School refusal: An information session for parents & teachers
Presenter: Dr Simon Kinsella, Clinical Psychologist
Date: Wednesday 7th March, 7.30pm
Location: Cardinia Public Hall. 2405 Ballarto Road, Cardinia, VICDon't Worry:

Treating generalised anxiety disorder
Presenter: Peter Kyriakoulis (Clinical Psychologist)
Date: Wednesday 21st March, 7.30pm
Location: Clayton Hall. 264 Clayton Road, Clayton, VIC

How to transform distressed sleep to peaceful sleep
Presenter: Dr Donna Golding, Psychologist
Date: Thursday 19th April, 7.30pm
Location: Northcote Town Hall, First Floor, Room B. 189 High Street, Northcote, VIC

Upcoming lectures...

Don't Worry: Treating generalised anxiety disorder
Presenter: Peter Kyriakoulis (Clinical Psychologist)
Date: Thursday 23rd February, 7.30pm
Location: Clayton Hall. 264 Clayton Road, Clayton, VIC

From anxiety & panic to courage, commitment, calmness and change...
Presenter: Pauline McKinnon, Psychotherapist & Author
Date: Tuesday 28th February, 7.30pm
Location: Horticultural Centre Function Room. 82 Jolimont Road, Forest Hill, VIC

School refusal: An information session for parents & teachers
Presenter: Dr Simon Kinsella, Clinical Psychologist
Date: Wednesday 7th March, 7.30pm
Location: Cardinia Public Hall. 2405 Ballarto Road, Cardinia, VIC

How to transform distressed sleep to peaceful sleep
Presenter: Dr Donna Golding, Psychologist
Date: Thursday 19th April, 7.30pm
Location: Northcote Town Hall, First Floor, Room B. 189 High Street, Northcote, VIC

Anxiety and School Refusal

While school days are meant to be happy days, the school environment is full of stressors that can lead to anxiety and school refusal amongst students.

In the US there is now a program called the Linden Oaks Adolescent Anxiety Program which aims to help give students the skills they need to deal with their anxiety. The program also acknowledges that "Avoidance can cause anxiety to snowball" so it is important that issues are dealt with. You can view some of their tips here

One form of avoidance is school refusal. On Wednesday 7th September 2011, Psychologist Joanne Garfi will host an information session on school refusal to provide parents and teachers with an understanding of this complex issue. The information session will run from 2.00pm to 3.30pm in the Phyllis Hore Room at the Kew Library and will provide attendees with a range of strategies they can use to assist their children in going back to school.

To book in for this session please call ADAVIC on (03) 9853 8089 or alternatively you can book online