Dear Reader,

Welcome to the October issue of Starlink. We hope you'll find a taste of something nourishing in the resources this month. :)

And remember to check some of the upcoming events in the Events Calendar on our website. We've highlighted just a few under "Dates for Your Diary" below, but there are more in the calendar itself.

Cheers
Sue & Chris
BJ Seminars International

KidsMatter is a mental health and wellbeing framework for primary schools and early childhood education and care services.

They have recently launched a new website with a wealth of resources for early childhood educators and families. Topics include how to build successful partnerships with families, developing children’s social and emotional skills, identifying potential mental health difficulties and creating warm and supportive communities for children. Browse the topics, or use the search function to find particular information.

Now in its 14th year, How Young People are Faring (HYPAF) is an annual, independent and in-depth analysis of the most current information available on the education, training and work activities of young Australians.

Produced by The Foundation for Young Australians (FYA), these reports provide important information on how successfully our education and training system is working to meet the needs of young Australians as they make the transition from school to further study and work. This contemporary, point-in-time picture of the learning and earning circumstances of young Australians is also placed in the context of the long-term trends that emerge from looking at changes in educational and labour force participation over the last two to three decades.

VIsit the FYA website for more information and to download the report.

It's always heartening to hear stories that highlight the good to be found in human nature ...

For example, here is a story about marines helping a young kid to finish a triatholon. No wonder more than a few people at the finish line were moved to tears!

Or how about this story from the village of Deh Sutz in Afghanistan, where there had been no school for girls until Afghan-American Razia Jan set out to change that.

Thirdly there's the story of Peace Artist who spent the past year running 6,000 miles from Seattle, Washington to Savannah, Georgia. He ran until given shelter and fasted until given food. He carried no money with him, only art supplies, with which to create original works of art that he gifted along the way. He never asked for anything on the road, and yet received so much. Listen to this interview with Peace Artist to be inspired.

Swamped as we are in the gloom and doom stories so loved by all our media, it's heartening to remember that many wonderful stories abound in our world as well!

How a Language Transformed a Town

The Power of Children to Change the World

Stories: Essence of Appreciative Inquiry

Appreciative Inquiry: List of Principles and Assumptions

Woody Davis: I Feel Blessed I'm Dying Slowly

Visit our Events Calendar to find details of conferences, workshops, training opportunities, exhibitions and special days to celebrate!

Here are a few highlights for the coming month. Go to the relevant date in the Events Calendar for direct links to more information:
* SOFA Forum 2012 (26 October, Melbourne VIC)
* MakingTheLink (31 October, Fitzroy, Melbourne VIC)
* Catching the Third Wave (5-6 November, Indooroopilly QLD)
* Team Dynamics (13 November, South Yarra, VIC)
* Youth Mentoring Conference (14-15 November, Gold Coast QLD)
* Nonprofit Social Media Forum (16 November, Melbourne, VIC)
* Putting People First Conference (19-21 November, Adelaide SA)