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PRESS RELEASE

Essere (To Be) Living Skills Incorporated is a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation that aims to add value to communities by reducing anti-social behaviour and levels of depression and suicide in people of all ages. Many of these problems surface in schoolchildren and go into adulthood. Essere has identified the need to help these individuals and so has devised a set of educational programs to help build resilience and equip them with skills and strategies to make better life choices.

As a primary school teacher I became acutely aware of the need to address life issues that arise in the classroom. Teachers, overloaded with the demands of the curriculum, are challenged by problems of anti-social behaviour and the many learning difficulties surfacing in youth today. Anti-social behaviour and learning difficulties are very disruptive in class and often teachers struggle to manage them. Other students, eager to learn, are often affected and disadvantaged by that disruption.

Our world presents many challenges. Many students lack skills and strategies to deal with the challenges of everyday life. They need to learn skills to help them deal with difficult situations and to make positive choices when challenged by issues such as family breakdown, peer pressure, bullying or depression. Just by understanding their own emotions and reactions to issues and those around them can make an amazing difference. Essere workshops offer a preventative approach by which individuals can enhance their personal skills and their ability to control their emotions when dealing with psychological issues affecting their lives.

In the present school system overcrowded curriculum's do exist, which at times affect the mandatory Living Skills component of the curriculum. Sadly, this impacts on the teaching of Living Skills through which individuals learn to develop their self esteem and contend with anti-social behaviour. Essere, recognising that the existing environment and priorities were unlikely to change, made the decision to develop a suite of programs which would teach much needed Living Skills to support the curriculum.

Essere programs are delivered through workshops run by fully accredited facilitators and are designed to ‘take the load’ off teachers. All facilitators are police checked. Skills and strategies that students learn are about issues affecting everyday living, including that of the classroom, and learning is simply about ‘gaining knowledge and having fun’. Essere workshops are presented in schools, organisations and corporations.

• Play Program for (4 to 6 year olds):  This program is fun and interactive. Helps children deal with negative and positive feelings, anger, worry, bullying and teasing. One day workshop.
• The Growing Years/Youth Program (7 to 18 year olds): Provides participants with skills and strategies to help them with negative feelings, anger, worry, bullying, building confidence, setting personal boundaries, how to make good choices, how to create dreams and goals and achieve them. One day workshop.
• Indigenous 2-day Cultural Living Skills Program: The first day explores the need to reconnect with culture - Mother Earth and the environment, symbolism, ceremonies and identity. The second day is the Growing Years / Youth program with an Indigenous component.
• Parent/Carers Program: Helps parents and provides strategies for improving communication, setting boundaries, dealing with conflict, anger management, stress management and positive family interaction. One day workshop.
• SHAKE IT! Program: Innovative and motivational workshop that delivers three quick skills on anger management, anti bullying technique and a calming strategy. One hour workshop.
• Leadership/Mentoring Program: The program explores the concepts of good leadership and teaches participants effective leadership qualities, setting goals, team building, decision making, active listening and how to deal with negativity.
• Professional Development Program: Designed to meet the needs of staff in organisations and schools. Delivers skills to help participants with conflict resolution, stress management, communication, decision making, active listening, goal setting and building community spirit. One day workshop.
• Adult Program: Enhances well-being and assists participants with decision making, anger management, stress management, dealing with bullies, overcoming negative behaviour patterns and how to be an effective communicator. One day workshop

 Our children are our future and we, as a society, have a responsibility to help children become happy, healthy and socially accountable adults.