Steve Biddulph is one of the world’s best-known parent educators. A family psychologist for 30 years, he is now retired but continues to write and teach. Steve’s books — authored with his wife Shaaron — include The Secret of Happy Children, The New Manhood, Raising Girls and JUST RELEASED Raising Boys in the Twenty-first Century.  

Steve’s books have influenced the way we look at childhood and especially the development of boys and men. His shows are world famous for their humour, honesty, emotion and life-changing stories. 

Steve was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his work in young people’s mental health. He has two grown up children, and lives in Tasmania with Shaaron, and assorted wombats. 

Praise for Steve:
“A cross between Billy Connolly and Dr. Spock” – The Times 

“Electrifying” – UK Telegraph 

“Biddulph is a spellbinder” – 60 Minutes 

Raising Boys in the Twenty-first Century

Have you always wanted to hear Steve’s Raising Boys talk but never had the chance?  Here it is … Steve’s world-renowned talk, but with additional new material from his latest book, including:  

• The unique vulnerability of boys’ brains – what the science says.  
• How important it is to let boys cry, and how crying helps avoid violence, suicide, and risky behaviour. 
• Two stages of boyhood we didn’t know about: the FULL ON FOURS and the EMOTIONAL EIGHTS 
• Help for single mothers raising sons. 
• What science can tell us about teenage boys and driving and how we can keep our sons safe. 

… and much more besides. This is a moving talk, so come prepared to laugh, and cry! 

Commonly known as Australia’s ‘queen of common sense’, Maggie has experience in teaching, counselling, and working in the palliative care/funeral services and suicide prevention.  

She is an advocate for the healthy, common-sense raising of children in order to strengthen families and communities. Maggie is also a passionate, positive voice for children of all ages.  

Maggie is the author of 10 books, several e-books and a prolific creator of resources for parents, adolescents, teachers and early childhood educators, and others who are interested in quietly improving their lives. 

Mums & Their Sons

In her presentation Maggie explores the power of mothering our precious sons in a warm, connected and respectful way from birth to adulthood. Maggie will decode some of the key differences in how mums and sons can see the world and explore how to avoid giving your sons a ‘mother wound.’ She will focus on little boys before 6 and then on boys 12+ who are on their journey to manhood, giving fabulous practical tips and suggestions for ensuring your son will become a respectful, responsible and loving good man. 

She will also answer questions like: 

• why doesn’t he listen?
• why doesn’t he follow instructions? 
• why is he always touching things? 
• why doesn’t he sit still? 
• what WAS he thinking? 

… and so much more. 

Clark Wight grew up in Baltimore, Maryland USA and now lives in Mandurah, Western Australia. He is a highly experienced educator who has taught at every year level, including being a Headmaster of a Junior School in Perth, Australia and Head of Campus at University School in Cleveland, Ohio. Clark has worked as a leadership consultant for schools and businesses, and as a conscious parenting advocate and presenter through his Our Boys and Conscious Parenting seminars. He is now living his passion as a leader of a preparatory school, Guildford Grammar, in Perth and spending his days immersed with kids and deep, slow purposeful learning.
Clark is a father of three children – one just starting the journey of adolescence and two in their 20s – who daily offer him the opportunity to reflect on his skills as a parent and teacher.  

Furtureproofing Our Boys

In his presentation, Clark will look at key developmental stages and behaviours that underpin boys’ development, as well as strategies for dealing with the expected and unexpected in your home, classroom or school.  

Clark will focus in particular on middle school years and on the bigger question of how to get and keep boys engaged in school. 

He will especially focus on issues such as: 

• Ensuring a smooth transition to school – what helps? 
• Tips to help the reluctant, struggling 5-year-old boy. 
• Anger and restlessness. 

• What happens around 10 and why? … and how to support this shift. 
• Tricky territory such as pornography, gaming and the plethora of violent and sexualised imagery our kids are exposed to. 
• Middle school – how to understand and support boys who disengage, coast or appear unmotivated and bored at school.