MEDIA RELEASE MONDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 HOBART, TASMANIA FAIRBROTHER BRINGS EDUCATION EXPERT TO TASMANIA Fairbrother is delighted to announce that it is bringing an internationally renowned expert in positive psychology and parenting to the state for two lectures in Hobart this week. Over its history, Fairbrother has been committed to positively impacting and supporting the community and helping to support and enrich the lives of Tasmania’s young people. The sponsorship of this visit is tangible evidence of that commitment. Professor Lea Waters is the President Elect of the International Positive Psychology Association, Founding Director of the Centre for Positive Psychology at the University of Melbourne and holds the Gerry Higgins Chair in Positive Psychology. Urged to visit the state by Chairman Royce Fairbrother who is familiar with her work and keen to implement strategies at Fairbrother, Professor Waters will present Positive Education at the Stanley Burbury Theatre on Tuesday, September 13, 2016. The free, open-to-all, lecture has already attracted almost 400 registrations and will be attended by the Governor The Hon. Kate Warner and Department of Education Secretary Jenny Gale, among other dignitaries. Professor Waters will also present a parent education session, called Strength-Based Parenting, on Wednesday, September 14 at the same venue. Mr Fairbrother said hosting a visit from a globally renowned expert was a coup for Tasmania and a fantastic opportunity for Tasmania’s education leaders to learn and implement positive psychology to make meaningful change to the state’s school culture. “At Fairbrother we are looking for new, meaningful ways to enrich our employee wellbeing program, and when I looked to the emerging field of positive psychology for ideas, Lea’s results with her strength-based approach were extraordinary,” Mr Fairbrother said. “Lea’s goal to help people thrive resonates with everything Fairbrother is about.” The timing of Professor Waters’ visit is ideal, following shortly after the recent ABC series Revolution School highlighted the significant benefits her Visible Wellbeing Program achieved in a Victorian state school. “By sponsoring Lea to come to Hobart for these talks, we have also been able to support Lea connect with four Tasmanian primary schools which will be working with her to implement the Visible Wellbeing Program in 2017,” Mr Fairbrother said. “Moreover, Fairbrother has created a public platform for Lea to promote her Positive Detective Program.” MEDIA RELEASE Positive Detective is a one-week school wellbeing and positive education program, created by Professor Waters and her former student Lela McGregor, which enhances the positive resources of students by asking them to look for good in their environment, relationships and in themselves. “By focusing on what is going well rather than what is not, students are intentionally taking responsibility for their mood, happiness and wellbeing”, Professor Waters said. “By focusing energy into seeking the good in their world students increase their own capacity for happiness and for those around them.” Fairbrother has committed to cover the administrative cost to participate in Positive Detective for every primary school in Tasmania if it will assist schools participate in this national initiative. With Professor Waters returning to Tasmania in 2017, Fairbrother hopes to organise lectures for the north of the state in the future. ENDS Details: Positive Education Tuesday September 13, 2016 6pm-7.30pm Stanley Burbury Theatre, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay Campus Strength-Based Parenting Wednesday September 14, 2016 6pm-7.30pm Stanley Burbury Theatre, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay Campus To register for either of these events, call 6226 5735. Media Contact: Emily Hollister Communications Officer 6420 7000 .