International Learning & Development EXEMPLAR GRANTS
10
KidsXpress
Geeveston Community Centre Inc
6
$18,500 KidsXpress’ CoLed Group Expressive Therapy: Developing Pathways to Recovery & Connections from Theory to Practice
$19,000 Community Economic Development Research Trip
FULL APPLICATIONS RECEIVED
GRANTS APPROVED
$84,000
TOTAL VALUE OF GRANTS APPROVED
OVERVIEW The International Learning & Development program area offers senior staff of notfor-profit organisations the opportunity to spend a period of time overseas visiting like-minded organisations to learn international best practices in their relevant sectors. With enhanced skills and knowledge, these NFP leaders can then disseminate their learnings throughout their organisation and the wider NFP sector in Australia.
Main: Expressive Therapy takes place in the therapy centre designed by children, for children. Photo courtesy of KidsXpress.
Dr Ben Rockett, General Manager for Programs at KidsXpress, travelled to the USA and UK in late 2016 to meet with leading scholars with expertise in each component of the KidsXpress therapy program for children impacted by childhood trauma. Dr Rockett visited Professor Michelle Forinash and Dr Nisha Sajnani at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Dr Sam Carr and his colleagues at the Early Childhood Studies unit at the University of Bath in England; and Professor Antonia Bifulco and her colleagues at the Centre for Abuse and Trauma Studies at the University of Middlesex also in England. Dr Rockett aimed to learn the latest research ideas and gain insights relating to each of KidsXpress’ underpinning theories – Attachment, Trauma, and Neurodevelopmental Theory – and how current thought leaders from these fields can shape KidsXpress’ continuing program developments. In turn, Dr Rockett provided his international colleagues with transdisciplinary evidence from both KidsXpress’ internal and independent studies, in the hope of developing international research interest in this model of reparative early intervention therapy for children – a model which currently exists only in Australia.
In May 2017 Michael Higgins and Chris Devenish, co-managers of Geeveston Community Centre, travelled to the USA where they spent three weeks learning the operational model, structures and procedures of two leading community development organisations: Intervale Farms and the Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO). During their time at CEDO they met with the leaders of a range of organisations working towards enhanced economic, environmental and societal benefits for all people who live in the area. At Intervale Farms they contributed to the planting of 550 tamarack trees in the conservation nursery and learnt about diverse ownership structures from pioneers in collective farming. Since returning to Australia they have been working towards developing a community supported agriculture model at Geeveston Community Centre which will be centred on education, healthy eating and growing food. They are also negotiating with the local council for a large parcel of public land to be available for small food growers utilising the Intervale model of collective ownership. Furthermore, they have now entered a formal partnership with the Huon Producers’ Network to support a group of local, organic farmers as they progress towards increasing their farm gate sales.
This trip has facilitated key international projects including research collaboration. KidsXpress has also obtained significant direction for how the therapy model, data collection processes, and sector engagement could be enhanced.
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