Griffith is just one of three locations in regional NSW in which Dr Justin Coulson is giving his presentation. Photo: Facebook.
The star of Channel Nine TV show Parental Guidance will visit Griffith and deliver a free presentation for parents on building resilience in their children.
Peak body the Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT has arranged for Dr Justin Coulson to attend Marian Catholic College Hall at 6 pm on Wednesday 7 May.
“It’s a huge coup to get him here,” Marian Principal Dr Penny Ludicke said.
“We know that student well-being is really on the minds of parents and their families. So it’s entirely free of charge to parents and we’d like people to make the most of this opportunity. Justin is only visiting three locations in regional NSW.
“We can sit up to 500 parents in our hall quite comfortably. It’s not for students, it’s for parents; it’s a fantastic presentation on how parents can build resilient teens. It will cover all the things that really worry parents.”
In addition to co-hosting Parental Guidance, Dr Coulson has a PhD in psychology and has authored nine books on parenting. He also has six children with his wife Kylie.
His TV show conducts experiments and tests the parenting skills of participants. A video from the program in which parents watch as an actor tries to lure their children away from a playground has been viewed more than 3 million times on YouTube.
His upcoming presentation in Griffith is titled In Resilience: Developing Strength, Calm & Kindness in Our Kids.
“You’ll learn the psychological secrets that build your child’s sense of identity, strengths, and growth mindset in order to perform better, be happier, and build resilience. Discover practical strategies to help your child thrive in the face of adversity and reduce your own parenting stress,” a flyer for the event states.
“Using powerful stories and illustrations that every parent can relate to, this session will show you how to help your child cope positively with the challenges that life throws at them.”
Dr Ludicke says it’s a timely presentation.
“I think anxiety has accelerated post-COVID. I’m not sure if that’s just my perception, but it’s what I’ve noticed as an educator,” she said.
“It’s probably related to social media which has acted like an amplifier.
“Back in the day, there might be difficulties you encountered at school. Then you’d go home or to sport or a club and you’d escape from that. But because we are all hooked into technology constantly, it’s very hard for teens to escape from these things.
“I think parents need support around what sort of boundaries and how they can provide strategies in how to deal with these modern challenges.”
Dr Justin Coulson’s presentation at Marian Catholic College will take place from 6 to 7:30 pm on Wednesday 7 May. Entry is free but tickets must be obtained beforehand through compasstix.
