Who are we becoming?
In 2024, the VIC State Conference will look a little different. We will be providing the Victorian event as an on-demand package.
The on-demand Conference Package can be used adaptively and creatively by schools. It can be run on one day as an in-school Conference or broken down and used over time as the school best sees fit. Schools will be asked to nominate an in-school facilitator and CSA will liaise directly with this person providing them with both the on-demand package, and support to deliver it. The package will comprise of a range of materials including video clips, discussion guides, resources and activities. More information is provided below.
School facilitators will have access to the material well in advance to assist in planning. Additionally, attendees will have access to the material up to 90 days from Monday 15 July, to re-engage with the content.
Program, Theme and Content
This year the conference is designed for both teaching and non-teaching staff, with the theme:
Who are we becoming?
Through the conference theme, delegates will explore the cultural voices that influence the identities of young people, the role of the biblical narrative in shaping (counter-forming) identity and practical strategies and resources for drawing young people into the biblical story.
Session 1: The Cultural Compass: What’s Shaping Identity?
In order to effectively speak into the lives of young people with the biblical story, we need to understand how the influences of the broader culture are forming us. This session will explore the pervading ‘cultural stories’ which are shaping us and the young people in our schools. It will ask the questions, ‘What are we being told about who we are and what we should desire, and what impact is this having on identity formation in our cultural moment?’
Session 2: Understanding our formation in the light of the Biblical story
Formation occurs within the context of story. Stories help to form our identity, meaning and purpose, and allow us to make sense of our place in the world. They provide a vision of who we are, why we are here, where we are going and what constitutes the good life. The story we live out of becomes the lens through which we see, interpret and engage with the world around us. This session will explore how the biblical story provides a compelling alternative to our culture and how it reshapes our imagination around identity and purpose.
Session 3: From formation to transformation: a practical approach
In a culture of competing narratives that seek to shape us, Christian schools have the opportunity to invite students to know, understand, imagine, embody and expand God’s story. This session will introduce a practical, whole school approach to being intentional in the creation of opportunities which enable people to find their own story within the bigger story of God’s kingdom.
On Demand Conference Package Resources
The on-demand package will include:
Videos
» Who are the key voices influencing young people and what are they saying? - Eric Agyeman (10 minute video)
» How is culture forming identity? - Jonathan & Karen Doyle (10 minute video)
» Understanding formation in the light of the Biblical story - Steve McAlpine (20 minute video)
» What supports and undermines faith formation in adolescents? – Graham Stanton & Rowan Lewis (15 minute video)
» Unpacking the CSA Formation Framework: a practical tool for schools – Mark Ryan (15 minute video)
» Case Study: How VETA Youth supports faith formation of young people – Rohan Waters (10 minute video)
Support Materials
A facilitator guide which contains discussion questions, activities and support materials for each video will be provided.
It will also include suggestions and options on how to organise the program in-school.
Facilitator Support
During Term 2, facilitators will be invited to attend a webinar designed to assist them in developing their in-school program and getting the most out of the conference package.
How to Register
To register your school for this event, simply follow the steps below by Friday 3 May 2024.
- Nominate a key contact person, who will be facilitating the conference at your school.
- Determine the number of staff who will participate in the event.
- Click on the register button, which will open an email for your school representative to submit the information from steps 1 and 2.
The conference resources are suitable for all staff (teaching and non-teaching), and the registration cost is $20 + GST per staff member with a maximum cost of $4000 + GST per school.
Please reach out to Monika Zanardo on [email protected] if you have any queries.
Speakers
Eric Agyeman
After his fourth suspension in high school, Eric Agyeman was given a holiday ticket back to his birthplace, Ghana. He was told it was a 3-week holiday, a gift from his father. This so-called ‘holiday’ became the toughest but most life-changing 7 years of Eric’s life. 7 years of experiencing poverty, isolation and deep depression led him to a breaking point; attempted suicide.
Near the end of this dark period in Eric’s life as a teenager, he stumbled into a Church, gave his life to Christ. It was there that he began to understand there was a purpose in living.
Eric is now the author of 4 inspirational books, a John Maxwell accredited leadership coach, a previous nominee for the Young Victorian of the Year for his work with youth and most recently, he was awarded the 2022 African Australian Achievement award.
Eric and his team are on a mission to reach, inspire and transform 1 million Youth by 2031, bringing life and hope to young people. Whether it’s his captivating story of resilience or developing students' leadership skills or his signature Boys to Noble Men program, Eric has been a great support to Wellbeing teams in Christian Schools across Australia.
Jonathan and Karen Doyle: CHOICEZ Media
CHOICEZ MEDIA has been serving Christian schools and families in Australia since 2004. Delivering high quality presentations and digital resources Choicez Media is now Australia’s leading provider of values and faith-based puberty, consent, sex and relationships education.
CHOICEZ MEDIA exists to support teachers and parents in the task of educating young people in the area of human sexuality and relationships. At the core of all CHOICEZ MEDIA resources is a deep focus upon the value and dignity of the human person as made in the image and likeness of God.
Jonathan and Karen are often contracted to Christian schools and education peak bodies to consult on respectful relationships, consent curriculum and teacher formation and professional development. They are sought after speakers for conferences and school events.
Stephen McAlpine
Stephen McAlpine has been involved in pastoral ministry and church planting for three decades in Perth, with long-term involvement at board level in Christian schools in Western Australia. He has a background in journalism and writing, and is a blogger and author, focusing on the cultural pressures facing the church and Christian institutions in the increasingly secular West. His latest book, Being the Bad Guys was 2021 Australian Christian Book of the Year.
Dr Graham Stanton
Graham is Lecturer in Practical Theology at Ridley College, Melbourne, and Director of the Ridley Centre for Children’s and Youth Ministry. Graham is a member of the teaching faculty for the Compass Student Leaders Conference, was the founding Principal of Youthworks College, Sydney, and served as a project officer for the Anglican Education Commission in Sydney.
Graham has published research articles in youth ministry, Christian education, and leadership. He is the author of Wide-awake in God’s World, which explores the implications of the aesthetic pedagogy of Maxine Greene for practices of Bible engagement for spiritual formation of teenagers in an expressivist culture. His latest research is exploring how young Australians experience and understand God and the stories of how those beliefs have been formed.
Graham and his wife Kate live in Melbourne and are members of St Jude’s Anglican Church, Parkville. They have three young adult children and one son-in-law. Apart from Jesus, his personal heroes include Bruce Springsteen and Leslie Knope.
Dr Rowan Lewis
Rowan is the Head of Pastoral Theology at ACOM (Australian College of Ministry) and co-researcher with the YourStory project.
He is an experienced researcher and educator in formation and spirituality especially as it relates to younger people. Over the last 15 years, he has created and led formation programs for youth and young adults as well as specialising in accompanying young people amidst times of doubt and spiritual transition – which ultimately became the focus of his PhD.
Your Story is a national research project seeking to understand the influences that shape young people’s journey of faith. It has surveyed over 400 young people and will be releasing findings throughout 2024 (https://yourstory.ridley.edu.au/).
Together with his wife Kirra, Rowan lives in Melbourne with three energetic teenagers who keep life suitably animated.
Mark Ryan
Mark Ryan has been part of the CSA team since 2019 in the role of Executive Officer, SA.
Mark has previous experience in leadership roles at Temple Christian College and has degrees in both education and theology. He has also held pastoral roles in a number of churches.
Mark serves as a Director on the Board of Compass and with such an excellent grasp of biblical literacy, worldview and its application to culture, learning and vocation, is well-placed to lead CSA's national portfolio of, Christian Formation.
Rohan Waters
Rohan Waters is an ordained minister and registered teacher. Rohan has pursued a life-long calling and commitment to youth discipleship, and seeing young people raised up as the men and women God created them to be. He has worked as a teacher, chaplain, minister, and in denominational and para-church leadership. As the founder and director of Veta Youth he has, for over 20 years, been helping teachers and school leaders across Australia engage young people in transformational Christian learning. In 2010, Rohan was awarded the Farmington Fellowship to study at Oxford University, where he developed Veta Youth's Model for Supporting the Spiritual Development of Teenagers. Rohan loves paddling his surf-ski, swimming at the beach, and doing life with Cindy and their three children on the Mornington Peninsula where they live.
Qualify for CPD Hours
Schools are to provide their own CPD information and/or certificates to staff based on the program they offer. If all resources are utilised, the event will address the following AITSL standards and Christian Distinctive Focus areas:
AITSL Professional Teacher and Leadership Standards:
» 6.2 Engage in Professional Learning and Improve Practice
» 6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice
» 6.4 - Apply professional learning and improve student learning
» 7.4 Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities
Christian Distinctive Focus Areas:
» 6A Engage in professional learning which aids the development of a philosophy of Christian Education based in Biblical principles
» 7A Knowledge about and engagement with the school, its Christian ethos and vision
» 7B Contributes to the development of distinctive Christian practice in the school, profession and wider community
Want to learn more about the CSA Christian Distinctive Focus areas? Click here.
CSA VIC State Conference 2024 is proudly sponsored by:
