March 2010 - Two weekend workshops held – Melbourne and Geelong, both in State of Victoria.  A total of 18 participants attended with several following through for facilitator training.

We held our first ‘LVE Business’ one day workshop for Living Now magazine with ten employees and management with a very successful outcome.

April 2010 - Workshop and TTT – With 13 participants at the workshop and 4 new facilitators attending the May TTT this made for a great five day affair – more like a Retreat with many of the workshop participants staying over the extra days in support of the new facilitators. The new facilitators, Paula Bendel started Brisbane activities, Laura Re, Joanna Youssef started Melbourne and Nic Dacomb opened up LVEP in Byron Bay.

June 2010 - Living Values Education will be represented this year at the Brisbane Mind Body Spirit Festival by Nic Dacomb.

July 2010 - Workshop and TTT – With 12 participants at the workshop and 4 new facilitators becoming accredited at the TTT by Carol Seymour will take LVEP into three more community groups.

NOW AVAILABLE AND COMING UP:    Living Values Education through the recent accreditation of new facilitators is pleased to be offering introduction evenings and workshops in the following locations:

• Gold Coast, Qld – each alternate month (except Sept/Oct) at Paradise Kids Foundation premises, Arundel – plus Facilitator TTT three time a year.  Exploring Values – community weekly evenings
• Brisbane, Qld – Exploring Values – community weekly evenings.
• Toowoomba, Qld - Exploring Values – community weekly evenings.
• Byron Bay, NSW - Exploring Values – community weekly evenings. Weekend workshops for teens.
• Melbourne, VIC - monthly with free intro evenings, regular facilitator workshops commencing June.
• Annual Living Values Education Retreat – Byron Bay 19 – 29 November includes workshop and TTT and AGM.
• Desert Safari - Alice Springs to Uluru, Northern Territory. 21 - 28 May 2011

Further information on www.livingvalues.com.au or contact admin@livingvalues.com.au

Individuals wishing to offer LVEP in their own communities throughout Australia may now request LVE accredited facilitator(s) to undertake the workshop for them locally.

Carol Seymour, who has applied to be the Focal Point for New Zealand manages the Australian TTT process and this led relationship has led to the realization that both Australia and New Zealand have very similar cultural and community needs and opportunities for LVEP. 

With the objective to bring the Values to both the Australian and New Zealand public awareness and encourage those inspired to consider the Facilitator role a joint venture has occurred between the two countries.  The first result being the creation of a new LVEP for the whole community.  Now available on http://homestudy.livingvalues.com.au/

The twelve week Home Study LVE Course, using modules and activities from the Education series books is designed for use by the individual at home.  In addition the Course has also been adopted by facilitators as a Community weekly evening seminar series and now available in both countries. 

Both countries are actively encouraging anyone who feels drawn to Living Values Education from all community sectors to give serious consideration to being a Facilitator.  For New Zealand contact: Carol Seymour carol.seymour@livingvalues.org.nz and Australia Raj Miles admin@livingvalues.com.au

The October Gold Coast LVE workshop included the TTT process and certification for two couples – four new facilitators who will be working together in SE Queensland.  Deb Drechsler and Eoin Bell from the Sunshine Coast are interested in assisting young adults, particularly those at risk in areas north of Brisbane.  David Webby and Vicky Boyle will be focusing on Relationships.  Both couples are planning workshops for early 2010.

David and Vicky are hosting their first ‘RELATIONSHIP’ Living Values workshop on weekend of 27 – 29 January 2010. 

In early November the first Parent and Child ‘playday’ was held on the Gold Coast – this trial was to establish the benefit of a sharing day with Mums or Dads and children exploring Values  in the family. Using the ‘Coat of Arms’ activity the families were encouraged to explore what each family stood for and identify their values.  This was lots of fun and a great together time.

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COMING UP:    Recognising the need to take Living Values into the different States, at this stage Raj & Suzanne are offering introduction evenings and workshops in the following locations:

• Adelaide, South Australia, Thursday 28 January to Monday, 1 February. 
• Melbourne, Victoria, early February.
• Alice Springs, Northern Territory. 13 - 16 May.

Further information on www.livingvalues.com.au or contact admin@livingvalues.com.au

Carol Seymour, who has applied to be the Focal Point for New Zealand managed the Australian October TTT process and this led to realization that both Australia and New Zealand have very similar cultural and community needs and opportunities for LVEP.  To this end a joint venture has occurred between the two countries for the purposes of creating new LVEP for the whole community.  A twelve week Home Study LV Course and a Community evening seminar series are being prepared and expected to be made available in both countries in early 2010.  The objective is to bring the core Values to the public awareness and to encourage those inspired to consider the Facilitator role.

Both countries are encouraging anyone who feels drawn to Living Values to give serious consideration to being a Facilitator.  For New Zealand contact: Carol Seymour carol.seymour@livingvalues.org.nz and Australia Raj Miles admin@livingvalues.com.au

Facilitators Anna Aranci and Raj Miles reported that a LVE Workshop was held on Saturday, 23rd May, Saturday and Sunday, 3Oth and 31st May at Paradise Kids Foundation complex on Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

This workshop was extremely successful in that all participants came to the awareness of the Values in themselves that were easily attained and recognized those that were hidden or appeared to be less prominent in their day to day lives. 

All components were met with full enthusiasm by participants several of whom were already working in the field of therapy and personal development.  All indicated a desire to continue the workshops leading up to Train the Trainer.

Raj found an overwhelming sense of love throughout the experience, opening doorways within him.  He feels the LIVING VALUES to be like points of light that on connection to those inside illuminate a pathway clearing and cleansing.

Anna noticed a palpable difference in the participants from the first Saturday to the second with the week in between having provided time for embodiment and awareness.  Core values had been well established for their immersing into how to create a Values based atmosphere.

Both facilitators discovered a depth of vulnerability offered by participants which opened for a deeper level of healing to be available than the facilitators expected on the following two days.

In herself Anna noticed a great ease and joy with no hesitation or anxiety arising at the prospect of facilitating the Program, quite different from other activities and workshops she has facilitated in the past.
“We both noticed how beautiful and effortless it was to allow the structure of LIVING VALUES to cradle us all – facilitators and participants as we explored, rested, played and enquired into the Living Values program.”

May 2009 Queensland Workshop Testimonials

The Way of the Heart organization invited Indonesia’s Taka Gani, an experienced LVE Trainer and a leader with LVE in her country, to lead a three-day LVE Workshop in Bryon Bay, Australia on 5 – 7 January 2009.  As Taka said “LVE in Byron Bay was magnificent. Tears of love and laughter were our company throughout the workshop.” Everyone was most grateful for the seminar and for the energy which surrounded the activities. Sixteen participants shared a wonderful experience. The age of participants ranged from 16 to 68. As the life experience of the participants and the professional backgrounds varied immensely, it became more like a retreat.

At the end of the three days, a core group of eight persons expressed a willingness to carry on with Living Values Education as trainers.  They will meet in February to reconvene and share everyone’s personal “fallout” from the experience.  A further LVE three-day course with the team of eight, plus new invitees – is planned for April 2009. This will provide opportunities for the core group members to gain personal experience co-facilitating the workshop.

Since it commenced in Australia in September 1999, Living Values: An Educational Program (LVEP) has been implemented in four states: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. Approximately 120 teachers and educators have attended six training sessions held since July 2001. Many of these teachers have implemented parts of the LVEP informally and formally into their classroom.

A national retreat bringing together those teachers who have done the training and are using LVEP in their schools was held in October 2002 in Frankston, Victoria.

Formed to further the development of LVEP in Australia, the Living Values Education Association of Australia (LVEAA) had their first meeting in June 2003. The Board Members of LVEAA include: Stephen Berkeley, LVEP Coordinator for Australia and LVEP Trainer; Joy Deleo, Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs for South Australia and APNIEVE representative (the Asia-Pacific Network of International Education and Values Education); Proffessor Terrence Lovat, Dean of Faculty of Education and Arts for the University of Newcastle; Paulo Totaro, member of the New South Wales Department of Education and Training (NSWDET), Board of Vocational Education and Training and the Vocational Training and Accreditation Board.

The University of Newcastle has conducted a research project involving nine schools in NSW and Victoria to evaluate LVEP. It involved testing student attitudes prior to implementation of LVEP and after using LVEP for two school terms. Results of this study are forthcoming.

The Commonwealth Department of Education Training and Science commissioned 71 research projects on values education. Two of these were on LVEP. One was Maree Williams at Glendale East Primary School in NSW who has been suing the program since 1999 and Jacqueline Stein from a Private Secondary College in Melbourne. The final report was released in August 2003 and an executive summary of the report and full report are available (please see above).

Since July 2002, there have been three parent retreats, one of which was for parents and children. The first Parent LVEP training was held in June 2002 in the Blue Mountains. The program led parents on an exploration of their own values and introduced skills to create a values-based environment in the home.

There have been five teacher training retreats since July 2002. One of these was for an entire school, including parents, the school nurse, social and youth workers.

Currently, we participated in a joint submission with a Montessori School for a grant under the Commonwealth Harmony and Unity Grants. This submission is still in process.

Living Values: An Educational Program has been implemented fully in four schools in the States of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Some 120 teachers and educators have attended 6 training sessions held since July 2001. Many of these teachers have implemented parts of the LVEP informally and formally into their classroom. A national retreat bringing together those teachers who have done the training and are using LVEP in their schools will be held in October 2002 in Frankston Victoria.

The University of Newcastle is currently conducting a research project involving 9 schools in NSW and Victoria to evaluate LVEP. It involves testing of student attitudes prior to implementation of LVEP and after using LVEP for two school terms. The final report will be written in December 2002.

The first Parent LVEP training was held in June 2002 in the Blue Mountains. The program lead parents on an exploration of their own values and introduced skills to create a values- based environment in the home. The program was well received and the second weekend training program will be held in November 2002.

The LVEP coordinating office is in Newcastle and continues to send newsletters and updates to LVEP trained teachers. LVEP commenced in Australia in September 1999.

July 2001 saw a lot of LVEP training occurring with LVEP Trainer Ruth Liddle from South Korea visiting the country to conduct a number of training programmes and give presentations. Ruth's trip was sponsored by APNIEVE (the Asia-Pacific Network of International Education and Values Education) and its main event was the four-day training in Adelaide, South Australia, from 17th to 20th July for approximately 50 educators, 28 of whom came from Singapore. She also conducted a two day training at Leura, in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, from 2nd to 3rd July, with 16 educators attending from the Blacktown District. Presentations on LVEP were also made in Albury and Newcastle NSW.

From the 29th to 31st March 2001, Adelaide was host to the "Values Expo". UNESCO/APNIEVE initiated the event, which was officially launched in conjunction with the "Forum for Values in a Multicultural Community in a Globalized World". The Forum was addressed by Dr Lourdes Quisumbing (President of APNIEVE and former Education Minister of the Philippines), Professor Mary Ann Bin Sallik, Dean of the College of Indigenous Education, and Mr Geoff Spring, CEO, Department for Education, Training and Employment and Deputy Chair, Australian National Commission for UNESCO. The Expo was packed with dozens of values-based organizations, schools and teachers, all sharing their wisdom and experience to assist in the development of a culture based on positive human values. 

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Number of Sites Using Living Values Education
Total number of sites 16

Impact

Now in its second full year of implementation, teachers at Glendale East Primary School designed a two-year lesson plan which spreads the lessons over a two-year period, with Peace, Respect and Responsibility being covered each year and with no lesson being repeated in that two year period. The lesson plan is flexible and if teachers feel they need to cover a particular lesson outside the plan they can do so.

• The combined feedback from teachers at the end of the year included:
• Kindergarten: The Programme is like a spiral, we are all in the first circle; I need to modify lessons to suit my class; I am looking forward to teaching the whole thing again next year
• Year One: The children enjoy the activities - they are so nice and positive; we have to continually work on the lessons of Respect.
• Year Two: The questioning aspects of the Programme are a real strength. The children are really responding and thinking well.
• Year Three and Four: Activity lessons are very good and take a great deal of time; the children really respond to the gentle music; some children say there are no times in their family that are peaceful - their lives are so busy. The children love to be able to reflect and be peaceful - of all the lessons, these are the most positive with the children. They have an excellent release and are able to express what is inside of them. The visualisations are great. The activities and skills are so peaceful; we use the peer mediation skill very often.
• Years five and six: I use the Programme on Mondays - that is the hardest day, after the weekend. The Programme helps the children to focus away from their busy lives; the Programme was very difficult at the beginning but has been easier to implement as the children start to move into a different mindset. The Programme should be used and built on year after year. It is like a spiral.
• The teachers said they wanted to build upon this year to keep working with the Programme but to sequence the units into a two-year cycle.