Feeling Safe Stay Safe Newsletter December 2001 issue:
Welcome again it's that time to renew the newsletter. Articles are welcomed and will be cherished and encouraged to support the vision of a world free from violence and abuse. If you would like to contribute please email me on pbcwa@iinet.net.au.
Contents:
- Bringing PBs to Scotland
- Kalgoorlie Interagency PB Committee News
- Perspectives - "Transformation" by Margaret Cairnes
- New website for the PB Inc Body
- Professional Development news
- Sites of related interest
Bringing PBs to Scotland
I moved to Scotland just about a year ago, having previously been the (informal) coordinator for Protective Behaviours in the UK. PBs came to the UK in the early 90s and, after a bit of a struggle getting it established, we were finding that it was about to take off - charitable status had been achieved, a network of independent trainers had been set up, several large organisations (Thames Valley Police, the Children's Society) were taking an interest, and demand for information and training was starting to grow such that I was having difficulty keeping pace with the admin. I'd set up a website (www.protectivebehaviours.co.uk) and we were looking at various funding opportunities - we desperately needed a paid coordinator who could help take PBs to the next stage - and I was getting on well with my thesis, Seeing the world in different colours: Protective Behaviours in the primary school, which would form (I hoped) a useful addition to PBs literature.
Two things happened to me one after the other. First, my mother died; then, while I was still distracted by the grieving process and wasn't really paying attention, my job changed radically and I found myself in a quite different situation, with different aims and objectives and - crucially - a different boss. As I say, I wasn't paying attention and just assumed I'd be able to muddle on through in my usual way. This proved not to be the case. My new boss and I could not see eye to eye at all: I soon found, for instance, that it was impossible to try and convince her of the value of PBs and why I should continue working with it. Things got more and more difficult at work, while at the same time my father was definitely not coping with life without my mother.
I went to France on holiday, and while I was loping round the châteaux of the Loire admiring the formal gardens, I found I had come to a decision. I handed in my notice - pity to give the boss the satisfaction, but there it was - put my house on the market and went to Scotland to look for another house that I could share with my father. Almost incidentally, I thought it might be an idea to have another job as well, and in fact it was easier to find one of those than to secure the house I wanted: I had to spend my first Scottish winter in my sister's weekend house, which has no electricity and no running water - brr - but hey, now it's October again and here I am: I'm a Health Promotion Specialist as before, I live in a cottage by the sea with my dear old dad, and I'm starting out all over again to introduce Protective Behaviours to an unsuspecting public.
Just as it was in England (or 'down South' as we Scots call it) I'm finding PBs quite difficult to promote. I've had a change of management - for the better, this time - since I came so I've had to convince a new set of bosses that it's good, but I think I've done so now…and meanwhile I'm beginning to get responses from the other agencies I've contacted. But it's going to be a slow process and I really should have come to terms with that by now!
Here's a brief account of my progress.
Nationally, it's not great, so far, but I have hopes. Two years ago, Scotland got its own parliament, and though we're not independent yet (nor may we ever be) some institutions are now wholly under Scottish control. These include Health and Education; and, because we're in control, we want to be progressive and make a bit of a splash. I think that bodes well for Protective Behaviours. So, I'm in contact with the Health Education Board for Scotland, and I've spoken briefly to their schools subgroup; and I've given a paper at a conference on education in informal settings, which I think went down well and which should eventually get published in the Scottish Youth Issues Journal.
In Dumfries and Galloway, where I live and work, I'm getting on rather better. I've only done two training days so far, but I have several more set up and other agencies are showing an interest, both in basic training and in train-the-trainer. So I've got links with the Education Department both for schools and early years/childcare; with the local FE College; and with an initiative called New Community Schools, which is about early intervention with children perceived 'at risk' (whatever that means) with the aim of raising their school attainment…and their self-esteem, their self-confidence, their assertiveness, their joy in life…Especially if they find out about Protective Behaviours! And I'm following up leads to do with Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Youth Offending Teams, for both of which I have contacts down south who can be rung up and asked questions about the efficacy of PBs, if necessary. Restorative Justice, which is very big and very PBs-connected in the Thames Valley Police area, is only a gleam in the eye up here at the moment, but I'm certain its time will come, and when it does - PBs will be ready.
You'll notice that most of this stuff is about children and young people. That's because of where my own interests and expertise lie: but it's not to say that I won't be spreading PBs out further as soon as I get the chance. What I mostly need, though, at the moment, is more PBs trainers - otherwise, just as we found before, I'll be stirring up a demand that can't be satisfied. So! Anybody out there fancy a move to Scotland? It's nice here…Well, OK, it does rain a bit, but the scenery alone makes up for that.
There are other snags. I'm developing a serious shortbread habit, for instance. Oh yes, but the thesis? It's nearly finished…
Joc Rose
Health Promotion Officer
Dumfries and Galloway Health Board
GriersonHouse
The Crichton
Dumfries
DG1 4ZG
Scotland
For any more information, or just for a chat, the best way to contact me is at Jocelyn.Rose@treefrog.demon.co.uk
Kalgoorlie Interagency Protective Behavours Committee News
We have ongoing monthly meetings, made up of FACS and other supporting Agencies and the Community Police Officer.
The purpose of the meetings is to pick up training needs, pool resources, network, identify target groups.
We are looking to assist the Community Police Officer, who is currently running PB with school in the area, to co-facilitate and coordinate the program on a regular basis. We display and publicise PB at community events as needed.
We have members who have completed Train the Trainer and are providing basic training needs in the Goldfields area.
Some members are working with parents, carers and children.
Contact number for the Goldfields Region for further information on what is happening with PB is Janice Kendall, Goldfields Regional Domestic Violence Coordinator, phone 9021 8266.
Janice Kendall
Goldfields Regional
Domestic Violence
Coordinator
Perspectives
"TRANSFORMATION"
by Margot Cairnes
==============================================
I recently enjoyed a speech by Vodaphone Chairman, Rob Ferguson, who reminded us that technology and markets change faster than people's mindsets and behaviours. This leads to cultural lag, a process whereby social institutions, customs and norms are out of step with what is needed to cope with change as it happens.
American Indians recognised cultural lag when they noted that white man had developed scientific knowledge that could heal the world but not the wisdom to use the knowledge judiciously. We have learnt to change our environment but are slower to change ourselves. So we sit in a time in history full of both scientific and medical miracles and social atrocities. Wars across our planet kill 1,000 soldiers and 5,000 civilians daily, 1.3 billion people live in extreme poverty, more than 150 million children are forced to work, 125 million children have never seen the inside of a classroom. There is now an incredible 880 million people who are illiterate and 7 million children die each year as a result of the third world debt crisis. The issue here isn't that there are problems it is that we as a civilization haven't developed the wisdom to solve the problems.
In his book Transformation, Jungian analyst Robert Johnson tells us that this is because we see the world from a 2 dimensional perspective. 2 dimensional thought is characterised by tunnel vision, a lack of self-awareness, binary thinking, simplistic worldview and poor relationship skills. As humans we are however capable of 4 dimensional thinking. Those who operate on a 4 dimensional plane have integrated the various aspects of their lives, personality and potential. They are aware of and comfortable with their emotions, their underlying beliefs and assumptions, the full capacity of their thinking and the potential within their own spirit. Those operating from a 4 dimensional space are integrated human beings who see the world from a holistic viewpoint. They are comfortable with the "andness" of life, the win-win-win-win outcome. They have a breadth and depth that is beyond the imagination of the 2 dimensional player. 4 dimensional thinkers have superb relationship skills and see the relationships between everything; they work with reality as a potter shapes clay, skilfully and apparently effortless. 4 dimensional people abound with energy, clarity of thought, expansive vision and the capacity to get things done on multiple levels.
Unfortunately the process of moving from 2 dimensionality to 4 dimensionality is neither easy nor comfortable. As we pass through the 3 dimensional space we become overly-self conscious, caught between vision and practicality and we have difficulty withstanding the herd mentality of 2-dimensional ignorance. Tunnel vision allows us to define reality within such narrow boundaries that we can feel superior in our knowledge of our limited worldview. By maintaining tunnel vision we can know more and more about less and less until we know all about nothing. When we admit to the narrowness of our view and our lack of consciousness we feel ignorant, at sea and experience an apparent loss of confidence. It's a bit like the farm boy moving to the big city. Where once we knew the lay of the land we now have to relearn from scratch. If we have the courage to move past this uncertainty and personal discomfort we can move into a great sense of self, increased place of wisdom, peace, energy, strategic clarity and effective action. We can bring others along with us. Transformation is possible - all it requires is courage, skilful guidance and enough imagination to dream of something better.
MARGOT CAIRNES
Developing Exceptional People
PROTECTIVE BEHAVIOURS (WA) INC
The Protective Behaviours Inc Body have now developed their own website and so in 2002 this site will redirect all enquiries regarding resources and training dates to http://www.protectivebehaviours.50megs.com for that information. Information regarding the recent PB Conference held in Sydney will also be available or enquiries can be directed to Andrea Muslin on 9414 8457 or 0409071068.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Solving the Jigsaw - Changing the Culture of Violence
Solving the Jigsaw is an award-winning programme that seeks to change the culture of violence and build a culture of well-being.
The project forms long term partnerships with schools to provide early intervention and prevention programs targeted at improving resilience, belonging and connectedness through group and individual work, professional development and school policy development.
Central to the project is an understanding of the connections between the 'culture of violence', the 'culture of bullying' and the 'culture of domestic violence'. In these three cultures, violence occurs when power and control over others is used to create an environment of tyranny and in settings such as the home and schools, which the community expects to be safe. Its occurrence and prevalence is deeply challenging in our understanding of others and ourselves.
The program provides 20-40 week classroom and targeted groups, parenting groups, information sessions, training and professional development.
For further information contact:
Solving the Jigsaw Scholarship Program
EASE
P.O. BOX 958
BENDIGO Victoria 3552
Phone: Jodie Coughlan or Carla Meurs on 5443 4945
SITES OF RELATED INTEREST:
Kids Help Line http://www.kidshelp.com.au/links/childabuse/htm
NAPCAN (WA) http://www.napcan.org.au
PROTECTIVE BEHAVIOURS (WA) INC. http://www.protectivebehaviours.50megs.com
IF WE WISH TO PROMOTE THE POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE TO VIOLENCE, WHAT IS IT?
'Peace' -there is no way to peace PEACE is the way."
DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this newsletter does not constitute legal advice about individual situations. No person should reply on these publications as legal advice regarding a claim or individual case. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and correctness of the information contained herein this newsletter, no responsibility for any loss or damage arising from errors or omissions or from changes to the law or procedures is accepted. Further no opinions or comments are held necessarily by the editor, or sponsors of this site.
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