INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES
When we think of professional development, conventionally in OOHC this has been in-person clinical supervision, in-person coaching or mentoring, in-person training workshops, or in-person national and international conferences. While over the last 12 months, some have engaged with online alternatives to these where available, what I am hearing is that most have had little time, energy or space for professional development beyond the most immediate of priorities. Indeed, since the start of the pandemic and particularly when in lockdown, for most of us our planning horizons have shortened considerably across our lives both professionally and personally.
Last week it was my pleasure and privilege, along with my friend and colleague Dr Trish McNamara from the University of Melbourne, to present one of the 20 workshops at the US-based Association of Children’s Residential Center’s conference Essential Staff in Therapeutic Residential Care. With Bruce Perry and Stuart Ablon doing the keynote, this 20 hour global virtual event had over 2,000 registered delegates including some from Australia and New Zealand. Alongside our workshop presentation on What’s your education story, and why does it matter, other presenters who will likely be known to those of you in residential care, included Howard Bath (Australia), Jenna Bollinger (Australia), Lisa Cherry (UK), Thom Garfat (Canada), Kiaras Gharabaghi (Canada), Hugo Madrid (Australia), and Martin Stabrey (South Africa).
The thing is, I used to love attending and speaking at major international in-person OOHC conferences, and at least every couple of years I’d go to one in either Europe or North America. In-person conferences, and particularly so international ones, are for me a very immersive experience and provide amazing opportunities for growth around identity, new ideas and research, and relationships old and new. This is my primary form of professional development and to support the work that I do, I choose to invest significant time and money here. And at some point I look forward to being able to do so again.
However, I am the first to recognise that these are very exclusive events to attend, and particularly so for those in Australia and New Zealand (let alone those from poorer countries that make up the Global South). Even if your Board or Senior Leadership Team was willing to approve say $5k for you to attend a conference in Europe, taking a week, or more realistically two weeks, out of your calendar can be near-impossible. It does happen. At the 2018 EURSARF (European Scientific Association on Residential and Family Care for Children and Adolescents) conference in Porto Portugal there were over 50 delegates from Australia and I was one of three from New Zealand. However, in my experience that was the exception rather than the norm. Until, that is, COVID-19!
OOHC and child welfare international conferences have just got more inclusive. Take a look at these events that have gone online:
2020 Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care Conference
2020 Therapeutic Care Residential Summit
2020 International Foster Care Organisation Conference
2020 Global INTRAC (International Research Network on Transitions to Adulthood from Care) Meeting.
2021 Global INTRAC Meeting and
2021 EUSARF Conference.
My prediction is that OOHC online conferences, in some shape or form, are here to stay.
What new professional development opportunities might this offer to you and your organisation?
I’d love to hear your thoughts! You can email me at: iain@betteroutcomes.co.nz
Kia kaha (Stay Strong).
Iain