“COVID & KIDS” Q&A With Australia’s Leading Experts

Learning Team 24 Apr 2024

MoPA™ After Dark is an exciting series of adults-only seminars, classes, functions and events; curated to help parents and educators be the best leaders and mentors we can be. After Dark will see us host world-leading academics and practitioners from a number of fields relating to Early Learning and Social and Emotional Wellbeing.

Watch or listen to the entire seminar here:

Watch the amazing panel discuss the impact that COVID-19 is having on children and families. During the 90-min Q&A the experts explored many of the MoPA Community’s burning questions on how to promote resilience in our kids, ourselves, and our relationships.

Learn about how kids and families are coping during the coronavirus pandemic from the leader of CPAS, a huge Australian study investigating the week-by-week psychological impacts of the pandemic. Our panel of clinical psychologists specialise in child development, and will provide tools, strategies, and resources to promote wellbeing in our children during these uncertain times.

My baby has had very limited exposure to people during her first 12-months – What can/should we do to catch up her social skills?

Meet The Panel

Prof. Peter Enticott

Professor of Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience. Associate Head of School, School of Psychology.

Peter is a cognitive neuroscientist, registered psychologist, and Head of the Cognitive Neuroscience Unit in the School of Psychology at Deakin, Melbourne.

Peter’s work investigates social and emotional brain development in children. He also conducts neuroscience research into developmental disorders, such as autism.

Dr. Elizabeth Westrupp

Senior Lecturer & Clinical Psychologist

Elizabeth is a clinical psychologist, specialising in child and adolescent mental health. Her research focuses on understanding the way in which families and parenting practices shape children’s long term development, and trialing parenting support programs in the community.

Dr Westrupp is a Senior Lecturer at Deakin University and co-leads Intervention and Translation Sciences in the Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development.

Assoc. Prof. Jade Sheen

Clinical Psychologist & Family Therapist

Jade is a Clinical Psychologist who has focused exclusively on the treatment of children and adolescents experiencing anxiety, eating difficulties and behavioural concerns, as well as families.

Jade completed her Doctorate in 2004, Masters of Clinical Family Therapy in 2010, and is registered and endorsed in both Clinical and Health Psychology, with the Psychology Board of Australia.

Dr. Hannah Bereznicki

Lecturer, Cognitive Neuroscience

This event was curated by Dr Hannah Bereznicki, Lecturer in Psychology at Deakin University. Hannah’s research in the Cognitive Neuroscience Unit focuses on the neuroscience of early development, alongside optimising robust, plasticity-inducing non-invasive brain stimulation protocols to improve patient outcomes.

Hannah is committed to the translation of psychological research and theory to community groups, and eagerly brings this session of MoPA: After Dark to parents, carers, and educators.

About “SEED”: Deakin University

Deakin Psychology’s Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED) conducts world-leading research on social development, and its origins in early emotional life. SEED aims to promote emotional health, from pregnancy through to adulthood and into the next generation.

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Special thanks to our gorgeous little guests who wanted to show off their “OUR EARTH” craft outcomes in this lil’ vid. This activity, plus SEVEN others, programmed all day every day this school holidays. Let’s get bizzay!!! x
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“Our Earth” starts tomorrow at MoPA!!

Understanding ‘our place in this world’ is a lifelong journey for most. But SO many of the most important lessons are learned early in our lives, at home. To help facilitate the important conversations to have with children, MoPA’s educators have developed a range of new activities called “Our Earth” and this new series starts tomorrow at MoPA. All the new activities run all day, every day. Visit our fancy new website for more detail.

But ALSO, as a reminder of how easy it can be to make a difference, we’ve put together...

🌈 A BIG LIST OF SMALL THINGS (THAT ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE) ☀️…

1. Ride your bike or scooter
2. Plant some veggies
3. Buy second hand or swap with friends
4. Cook at home
5. Eat more vegetables and less meat
6. Organise a community clean up
7. Save water
8. Buy less packaged products
9. Recycle
10. Turn off the lights
11. Use a blanket instead of the heater
12. Clean with natural products
13. But the imperfect produce
14. Mend it instead of replacing it
15. Air dry your washed clothes
16. Compost organic waste
17. Refill water bottles
18. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth
19. Carpool
20. Eat left overs instead of throwing them out
21. Use energy efficient lights
22. Use both sides of the paper
23. Plant a tree
24. Eat seasonal produce
25. Recycle batteries and buy rechargeable
26. Walk more
27. Make a bird feeder
28. Plant flowers for the bees
29. Buy less plastic toys
30. Up-cycle for craft projects
31. Donate old clothes and toys
32. Visit the library instead of buying a book
33. Plant native plants
34. Organise a toy trade with friends
35. Use reusable bags
36. Keep your cat indoors
37. Clean up your favourite park
38. Have a quick shower
39. Use cold water to wash clothes and dishes
40. Water your plants in the morning
41. Use a reusable coffee cup
42. Only run the dishwasher when full
43. Install slow-flow shower heads
44. Use reusable straws
45. Use Beeswax wrap
46. Avoid aerosol cans
47. Use fans instead of aircon
48. Turn off unnecessary electronics
49. Pack lunches in reusable containers
50. Be kind to creatures

VERY LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE THIS WEEKEND!

To ensure a safe and comfy capacity is maintained, limited tickets are available for each session and we’re expecting that most sessions will sell out this weekend.

If the session time that you’re trying to book doesn’t appear in the checkout at all, it’s because tickets to attend this specific session are already sold out.

x The Team @ MoPA

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