Popular child therapist and neuroscientist Nathan Wallis to headline workshop in Mount Isa

Renowned child therapist, neuro scientist, university lecturer and New Zealand radio and television personality Nathan Wallis will head to Mount Isa this month to present a 2-day workshop on child brain development.

The workshop, sponsored by Centacare North Queensland, is geared to parents and service providers of children aged 0 to 12 years, and focuses on recent discoveries in neuroscience and conscious intelligence, providing practical tips and guidance for optimum social and emotional well-being. Nathan will be joined by child and youth mental health clinician Ben Monaghan, who has over three decades of experience in working with young people and their families in a range of settings including drug and alcohol support, out-of-home care, and support and counselling in rural and remote communities.

Nathan is well known to audiences throughout Australia and New Zealand for his commentary on child development, in particular for his informative narrative on how our day-to-day interactions with children and young people, significantly the early years, plays a critical role in defining later outcomes. 

Reflecting on the latest neuroscience discoveries, Nathan provides in-depth clarity, focusing on how we as individuals and a society as a whole can use this knowledge to create better outcomes for our children and for our future. He is soon to feature in his own documentary on Prime Television in New Zealand, All in the Mind, a compelling look at male and female brains and whether the two are as different as people think or whether we adapt our behaviour to suit society’s expectations.  

“Most of your child's brain develops in the interaction between their brain and other peoples. Hence, relationships between child and parent are vital for brain development,” Mr Wallis said.

“The more words parents speak to their children in the first year of life, the more they are earning at age 32.” 

Centacare NQ Director Heather Alexander said she was delighted to have the opportunity to bring the highly renowned presenter and educator to the region.

“Nathan Wallis is the lead mind in neuroscience and child brain development – his no-nonsense approach and practical and useful advice and tips really resonate with parents,” Ms Alexander said.

 “It is extremely rare that we have the opportunity to bring someone of his level of expertise to Mount Isa to facilitate this workshop.”

The Building Blocks for Brains workshop was made possible through funding received through the Department of Social Services Communities for Children and HIPPY programs. The workshop will take place on Monday 21 May for parents and service providers, with a second day, Tuesday 22 May, exclusively for service providers.

“On day one, Nathan will focus on providing practical hands-on advice for parents and caregivers to implement at home and in the classroom or therapy room,” Ms Alexander said.

“Day two dives a lot deeper into the psychological side of brain development, looking into child experience, trauma and intervention for service providers.”

“This really is an opportunity not to be missed”. 

Registrations for the Building Blocks for Brains workshop are limited, with spots for day one’s open presentation quickly filling up. For more information on the conference and to register your attendance, visit centacarenq.org.au or call 1300 NQ CARE (672 273).