Your last chance to see Maggie Dent and Dr Vanessa Lapointe presenting a parenting event together in Australia

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Parenting, teaching and caring for kids and teens in today’s world has many challenges particular to our times.

Between distorted expectations (from Book Week to birthday cakes to NAPLAN results), apps that promise to make life easier, co-parenting conflicts, rising economic pressure, the constant threat of digital harm and worries about mental health — the load on parents and carers is heavy.

Yet what our kids and teens need most from us, whatever our family looks like, is simpler than we think.

Connection. Boundaries. Love. Swagger

In early 2027, for the final time Australia’s Queen of Common-sense parenting Maggie Dent, joins Canadian parenting author and expert Dr Vanessa Lapointe, to distil their very best learnings about raising toddlers, kids and teens in this special evening.

This event is for parents, ECEs, teachers and anyone who has the privilege of raising kids.

Dr Vanessa will explore:

– Understanding child development and tricky behaviour

– Building attachment and genuine connection

– How to build a sense of security by being a present, firm and compassionate guide to your kids and teens

– Discipline without damage: what works at different ages, and why

– How our own childhood imprints impact our parenting, and what can help.

Maggie will explore:

 – Why movement and play matter more now than ever (at all ages)

 – Building resilience and life skills that will set your kids up for adulthood

 – Understanding family stress and anxiety, and how to navigate hard times

 – Guiding kids to be safe, kind & healthy in this digital world

 – What it really takes to be a ‘good-enough’ parent (spoiler alert: it’s less than you’d think)

An audience Q&A will follow.

This is a wonderful opportunity to see these two passionate parenting educators whose common drive is to help you parent and work with more calm and connection.

register now

Dr Vanessa Lapointe has become as popular in Australia as she is in her home, Canada, and she and Maggie have toured each other’s nations together several times. They love the opportunity to collaborate as they are not just trusted colleagues but firm friends with a shared vision of a better world for our families.

Dr Vanessa Lapointe

Author, parenting educator & counsellor

Maggie Dent

Parenting author, educator & podcaster

About Dr Vanessa

Dr Vanessa Lapointe is a mum, parenting educator, bestselling author, international speaker, and a regularly invited media guest. She holds a doctoral degree in psychology, and practiced as a psychologist for nearly 20 years, before devoting her full-time energy to connecting with parents and other “big people” around the globe in 2023. Founder of The North Star Developmental Clinic, Dr Vanessa has long been supporting families and children in her developmental clinic alongside her team, and has previous experience in community mental health and the school system.

Vanessa is the author of Discipline without Damage: How to get your kids to behave without messing them up, and  Parenting Right From The Start: Laying a Healthy Foundation in the Baby and Toddler years. .

Vanessa is known for bringing a sense of nurturing understanding and humanity to all of her work. Her passion is in walking alongside parents, teachers, care providers, and other big people to really see the world through the child’s eyes. She believes that if we can do this, we are beautifully positioned to grow up our children in the best possible way. Vanessa is the mother of two sons, 19 and 21, and lives in British Columbia.

www.drvanessalapointe.com

About Maggie

Known across Australia as the ‘queen of common sense’, Maggie Dent has dedicated her career to strengthening families and communities. A bestselling parenting author, educator and podcaster, she brings particular insight to the early years, adolescence, resilience and the unique journey of raising boys. Her 11 major books include the influential bestsellers Mothering Our Boys, From Boys to Men, Girlhood and Help Me Help My Teen. Her 2026 release, Digital Freedom: A guide to less screen time for safer, happier and healthier families, is co-authored with Kirra Pendergast.

Maggie hosts The Good Enough Dad podcast and presented six acclaimed seasons of the ABC podcast Parental As Anything. She has brought her expertise and wisdom to television in the genre-bending ABC series, The Role of a Lifetime.

A dedicated advocate for safer digital futures, Maggie is a founding member of the Ctrl+Shft online safety coalition. In 2026, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from The University of Wollongong in recognition of her outstanding service to the University and distinguished contribution to parental education, advocacy and social responsibility. Maggie’s is the mother of four sons and a very grateful grandmother – roles that continue to shape her work every day.

www.maggiedent.com

Tickets: $60.
Group discount of 10+ people: $50 per ticket

Event timings (including a short audience Q&A):
Doors open at 5.45pm for a prompt 6.30pm-9pm event (local time).
Seating: Seating is general allocation… there are no fixed seat numbers.
While babes in arms are welcome, this event is not suitable for toddlers and older children.

Please choose the seminar you would like to attend:
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And if you’re looking for a special day out…

Maggie and Vanessa will also be hosting two special days for mothers, Coming Home to Your Heart. This event, coming to the Gold Coast and Perth is not a parenting seminar, but rather an opportunity to leave behind the mental load, washing, deadlines, decisions, group chats, meal planning, permission slips, worrying and people-pleasing – all of it. It’s a day to focus on you. Your heart. Your healing. Your joy. Find out more here.

Event inquiries:
teammaggie@maggiedent.com