Examining the Convergence of Sex, Violence, the Media, Commerce & Popular Culture, Its Impact on Our Children and What We Can Do About It

Speakers

2012 Speakers

Greg SmithThe Hon. Greg Smith

Attorney General, NSW Parliament

Greg Smith SC was elected MP for Epping in 2007. After the 2011 election, he was appointed Attorney General and Minister for Justice – having been opposition spokesman on those matters since 2007. After graduating from Sydney University with an LLB in 1973 he has largely worked as criminal lawyer for federal and state agencies. He was Instructing Solicitor to the Stewart Royal Commission into Drug Trafficking in 1982-83 and a senior adviser (Legal) to the National Crime Authority before he was called to the Bar in 1987. Mr Smith was appointed a NSW Crown Prosecutor in the same year. He rose to Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in April in 2002 and was appointed a Senior Counsel in 2004. He has prosecuted hundreds of criminal trials and made frequent appearances in the High Court and other appellate courts. The Attorney General is committed to policies that will reduce reoffending and provide genuine rehabilitation to criminals. He also looks forward to working on the harmonisation of laws with his federal and state counterparts.

Maggie HamiltonMaggie Hamilton

Author and Researcher

Examine why our children are living in an increasingly sexualised and commercialised environment, what sort of pressures they are facing, and where  these pressures come from. Discover the effects of these influences even on pre-schoolers and tweens. Most importantly find out what teaching, health and welfare professionals can do to inform and protect this vulnerable new generation.

Mike DaubeProf Mike Daube

Professor of Health Policy at Curtin University

Professor Mike Daube is a Professor of Health Policy at Curtin University. He has vast experience in promoting domestic and international health issues. He was Western Australia’s first Director General of Health and Chair of the National Public Health Partnership between 2001 and 2005. He has also been a consultant for the World Health Organisation, the International Union against Cancer, and for governments and NGOs in over 30 countries. He has been awarded medals for his work by the World Health Organization, the Public Health Association, and the National Heart Foundation. He is also a Life Member of the Australian Council on Smoking and Health and has been an Australian Red Cross Ambassador. Currently, Mike is Chair of the WA Alcohol and Drug Authority, President of the WA Heart Foundation, Board member and Governance Committee chair of the National Heart Foundation, President of the Australian Council and Smoking and Health.

Dr Wayne WarburtonDr Wayne Warburton

Psychologist & Researcher

Dr Wayne Warburton is a lecturer in developmental psychology with the Department of Psychology and is the Deputy Director of the Children and Families Research Centre at Macquarie University (Sydney). Wayne is also a registered psychologist, and represents consumer interests on the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman’s governing council. He has a number of publications in scientific journals and books, primarily on topics around aggressive behaviour. Wayne is currently researching the development of aggressive thought patterns in children from violent homes, the thought processes underlying domestic violence and child abuse, the pro-social and anti-social effects of various media, and the comparative effects of violent music and violent visual media.

Philip TamDr Philip Tam

Child Psychiatrist, Rivendell and NIIRA

Dr. Philip Tam (BA, MB BS, MA, FRANZCP, Cert. Child Psych) is a Sydney-based child and adolescent psychiatrist in public practice. Having trained in medicine then psychiatry at Cambridge and London Universities and then Sydney, he was appointed as a Consultant Psychiatrist for Central Sydney Area Health in 2006. Alongside his regular clinical and teaching duties, he has a long-standing interest in the emerging field of internet-related disorders and how they relate to general mental well-being. He regularly comments on the field across the Australian media, as well as lecturing and presenting widely on the topic to both specialist, and general, audiences. In late 2011 Dr. Tam, with similarly-interested and passionate colleagues, developed and launched NiIRA – the Network for Internet Investigation and Research in Australia. NiIRA aims to educate and support the public and other stakeholders in the field of internet-related disorders and stresses a pragmatic, holistic and culturally-sensitive approach; the project also aims to promote, support and discuss research in this exciting and rapidly-evolving field.

Melinda Tankard ReistMelinda Tankard Reist

Author, Speaker & Commentator

Melinda Tankard Reist is an author, speaker, media commentator, blogger and advocate for women and girls. She is author/editor of four books including Getting Real: Challenging the Sexualisation of Girls (Spinifex Press, 2009) now in its fourth printing and (co-edited with Dr Abigail Bray) Big Porn Inc: Exposing the harms of the global pornography industry (Spinifex Press, 2011). A columnist with Australia’s biggest selling newspaper, the Sunday Herald Sun, Melinda is a regular guest on Channel 7’s Sunrise and Morning Show, and has also appeared on ABC Q&A and The Gruen Sessions as well as many other TV and radio programs. Melinda is co-founder of the grassroots campaigning movement, Collective Shout: for a world free of sexploitation, exposing corporations, advertisers and marketers who objectify women and sexualise girls to sell products and services.

Melinda Tankard Reist’s Website »

Stuart ButlerDetective Sergeant Stuart Butler

Task Force Argos Internet Unit at Queensland Police

Stuart works as a Detective Sergeant at Task Force Argos Internet Unit at Queensland Police Headquarters in Brisbane. He has worked within this unit for the past ten years; initially investigating institutionalised historical child sex offences for 5 years prior to moving over to the investigation of Internet based child sex offences. Stuart has worked as a Queensland Police Officer for over 20 years.

Barbara BigginsBarbara Biggins OAM, B Sc, Grad Dip Lib, AALIA

Children’s Rights Advocate

Barbara is Honorary CEO of the Australian Council on Children and the Media, and a longtime advocate for children’s right to quality media, and healthy use of screens. She has served as Convenor of the Classification Review Board, Chair of the ABC’s Advisory Council, and on the Children’s Program Committee (Australian Broadcasting Tribunal). Her work has received recognition with an Order of Australia, a Churchill Fellowship and as South Australia’s Senior Australian of the Year 2004.

Dr Emma RushDr Emma Rush

Philosopher & Social Researcher

Dr Emma Rush is a lecturer in ethics at Charles Sturt University. During her previous position as a Research Fellow position at the Australia Institute (www.tai.org.au) in Canberra, she was the lead author of two papers on the sexualisation of children, which prompted considerable public debate, ultimately leading to a Senate Inquiry into the issue. She continues to write and speak about the issue of the sexualisation of children to academic, professional and general audiences.

Felice JackaAssoc Prof Felice Jacka

Epidemiologist, Barwon Health

Dr. Felice Jacka is an NHMRC Research Fellow at Deakin University. She is responsible for the majority of the published studies worldwide concerning the association between diet quality and the common mental disorders, depression and anxiety, in both adolescents and adults.

Russell GaleRussell Hawksford

The Grey Man

The Grey Man is an international organisation dedicated to eradicating the trafficking and exploitation of children. Our main role is the rescue of children from traffickers. However, early on we realised that rescuing children was not enough. Once they enter sex work they can become socialised to their life there and it becomes difficult to convince them that they deserve something better. Many of them will be physically or psychologically damaged and face the prospect of death from AIDS. We realised that we needed to stop them from entering the sex trade in the first place. Based in Brisbane, Australia our activities are focused on the countries of South East Asia.

The Grey Man Website »

Collett SmartCollett Smart

Psychologist & Educator

Collett Smart is both a psychologist and an educator recognised for her work as a speaker, writer and parenting consultant. She has been working with families for almost 20 years and has had the unique opportunity of working with children and teens in the UK, South Africa and Australia. Collett is the founder and director of Family Smart and is also involved in child advocacy work. She is in demand as a presenter, facilitator and trainer and provides advice to corporate parents and schools. Her professional advice is regularly sought in the media; appearing on Channel 7 News, Sunrise, The Morning Show, Today Tonight and Channel 10 News, as well as all sections of print media and radio.

Lene JeffreyLene Jeffrey

Music Therapist

Lene Jeffrey is a music therapist, performer and Mental Stillness Instructor. Lene is developing musically induced methods for achieving an internal state of silence and self-reflection, as well as other specific musical activities designed to enhance self-awareness and social interaction. With a particular interest in youth mental health, she has been implementing her programs in mainstream schools.





2011 Speakers

Julie GaleJulie Gale

Founder of Kids Free 2 B kids, Writer & Performer

Julie Gale is a comedy writer and performer and has performed her One Woman Shows at the International Melbourne Comedy Festival. Julie is the founder of Kids Free 2B Kids and has been raising public and corporate awareness about the sexualisation of children since February 2007. She has generated great media interest about the issue and has appeared on television, radio and in newspaper articles throughout Australia and internationally. Julie brings a distinctive and impactful satirical style to this controversial and sensitive topic.

Richard EckersleyRichard Eckersley

Social Analyst

Richard Eckersley is a founding director of Australia 21, an independent, non-profit, research company, and a visiting fellow at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at the Australian National University, Canberra. His research on young people’s health and wellbeing focuses on its broad social context and is part of a larger analysis of progress and wellbeing, which includes: measures of national progress; the relationships between economic growth, quality of life and sustainability; the social and cultural determinants of health and happiness; and visions of the future.

Richard’s writing is available at: www.richardeckersley.com.au

Steve BiddulphSteve Biddulph

Psychologist

Steve Biddulph is a psychologist and author, whose books on parenting have sold over 4 million copies worldwide. Steve uses powerful stories, humour and honesty to disarm and inspire parents around the world. He is patron of the Australian Council on Children and the Media, and National Ambassador for the Playgroups Australia. He is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Counselling and Psychotherapy at Cairnmillar Institute, and was voted Australian Father of the Year in 2000 for his work encouraging fathers. He works training counsellors and supports a range of philanthropic causes for the environment and human rights. He lives in Tasmania where there is a fierce battle to end logging and corruption and create a sustainable future. He believes climate change is the most urgent danger the human race has ever faced, and now includes that as part of his parenting message – so that our grandchildren will be able to survive. He has two grown children, and many delinquent wombats have shared his home.

Nina FunnellNina Funnell

Anti-violence campaigner

Nina Funnell is a researcher in the Journalism and Media Research Center at the University of NSW and a freelance opinion writer who writes for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The National Times and a range of other publications. Nina is also a board member of the NSW Rape Crisis Center and The National Children’s and Youth Legal Center and she currently sits on the Premier’s Council on Preventing Violence Against Women. Nina has worked in policy, research and the media to raise awareness about violence against women and children with a particular focus on sexual exploitation and sexual assault. She is currently completing a PhD on sexting, mobile media and gender.

Joe TucciJoe Tucci

Psychologist & Social Worker

Dr Joe Tucci is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Childhood Foundation. Joe is a registered psychologist and social worker with significant experience in child protection and working therapeutically with children. He has worked in the field of child abuse intervention for the past 18 years.

Lydia Jade TurnerLydia Jade Turner

Managing Director & Psychotherapist BodyMatters Australasia

Lydia Jade Turner is the Managing Director of BodyMatters Australasia. As a psychotherapist and public health advocate specialising in the prevention of disordered eating, she has featured in a range of media including The Daily Telegraph, The Sun Herald, National 9 News, Channel Seven’s The Morning Show, SBS, 2UE and ABC Radio. Lydia has presented at Parliament House ( in Canberra and Brisbane) and at national summits across Australia. Lydia is also a freelance writer for ABC’s Unleashed and Online Opinion. She has further appeared as guest advisor on issues regarding body image and sexualisation of children on Channel Seven’s The Morning Show.

Sarah McMahonSarah McMahon

Joint Managing Director & Psychotherapist BodyMatters Australasia

Sarah McMahon is the joint Managing Director of BodyMatters Australasia. As a psychologist she has a passion for educating the community about disordered eating, and supporting those who are affected by it, including parents and siblings. Sarah has spent almost 10 years counselling people affected by disordered eating behaviours and facilitating eating disorder support groups in a range of settings, including corporations, public hospitals, non-government organisations and private practices. Sarah is also a freelance writer for ABC’s Unleashed and Online Opinion. She has further been interviewed in a range of mainstream media including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Telegraph, The Sun Herald, National Nine News, Body+Soul, Triple J, 2UE, ABC Radio, and a range of magazines.

Dr Ramesh ManochaDr Ramesh Manocha

GP, Founder & Chairman

Dr Ramesh Manocha is a practising medico and researcher at the School of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia where he also completed his PhD in medicine. He has national prominence as an educator and promoter of women’s children’s health, adolescent wellbeing, complementary and traditional medicine. He is actively involved in professional education and health promotion in both the public and private sectors. He lectures to public and professional audiences internationally on his research, its practical, individual and social ramifications. He is the founder of Generation Next.

Dr Ramesh Manocha’s Website »