 History and Development 1970–2006
The following page summarises the activities of The Total Health and Education Foundation since its inception in 1970. Guest Scholar ProgramA unique feature of the Foundation has been the training program for its workers. Vijay exposed the Foundations workers and trainees to a range of therapeutic, cultural and faith traditions, broadening their vision and extending their understanding of the common values and principles underlying diverse ways of serving humanity. Pandit Shiv SharmaThe foremost practitioner of Ayurveda of his time, Pandit Shiv Sharma held many key positions in promoting the traditional system of medicine in India. He was Honorary Ayurvedic Physician to the President of India, President of the Central Council of Indian Medicine and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Central Council of Research in Indian Medicine. He spoke on Ayurveda and on Psychosomatics in Practice at the Mind-made Disease Congress in 1978. Professor Nikunja BanerjeeProfessor Banerjee was the emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Delhi University. Professor Banerjee as a thinker was interested in the nature of the self, the destiny of man and the presuppositions of living in a world at peace. He was deeply concerned with the fate of modern civilization and was known for his command of both Western and Indian philosophies. Professor S.S. DesnaviProfessor Desnavi was President of the Islamic Study Association, Pakistan, when he visited Australia as part of the guest scholar program. He introduced the Foundation's trainees to the fundamental concepts of Islam and delivered a number of lectures to the broader community. Dr Jayadev YogendraFormerly Principal of the Teacher Training Academy at the world-renowned Yoga Institute in Mumbai, India, and now Head of the Institute, Dr Jayadev’s concern is the teaching of classical Yoga ideals, its historical context and its application to modern life. Dr Jayadev has published many articles in The Journal of the Yoga Institute. Rev Dr Ian ParsonsDr Parsons was the Chaplain at La Trobe University when he became the fourth guest teacher in the Foundation’s training program for its workers. Rev Dr Parsons continues to contribute actively to the ministry and direction of the Uniting Church in Melbourne. Dr Frank GrahamEminent Australian psychoanalyst, Frank Graham was one of the first members of the Australian Psychoanalytical Society. He was the first to introduce psychoanalytic group therapy at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in 1950 and was the first psychoanalyst at an important university medical teaching hospital when he took up a post at Prince Henry’s Hospital, Melbourne in 1970. Kavi Yogi Shuddhananda BharatiIndian Yoga authority, poet and author, died in India in 1990 at the age of 95. Born in 1897 he became one of the great modern Tamil poets, writing 500 books before he was 50. He was an example of the awakening of the latent energy of Yoga. He translated much of the world’s literature and philosophy into the Tamil language, providing translations of the Upanishads, Vedas, Dhammapada, Tao-te-Ching, Koran and Bible.As a spiritual teacher, he spoke constantly about finding God. Dr Leon HammerDr Hammer obtained his MD at Cornell University and undertook psychoanalytic training at the William A. White Institute of Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis and Psychology. He later trained at the International College of Oriental Medicine and studied under Dr John Shen, an authority on Chinese Medicine, for seven years. Dr Hammer’s publications include Psychiatry and Acupuncture (1975), The Natural History of Healing, Growth and Change (1975), Integrated Acupuncture Therapy for Body and Mind in American Journal of Acupuncture (1980). Dr Hiroshi TakashimaDr Takashima, co-developer of Logotherapy, and Director of the Department of Noo-Psychosomatic Medicine at the Tokyo Central Hospital of Social Health Insurance, toured Australia as the Foundation’s guest, addressing medical faculties and conducting training sessions for foundation members. He spoke at the Mind-Made Disease Congress in 1978 and was principal guest speaker at the public Seminar “The Human Dimension of Health” during his stay as the Foundation’s guest teacher in 1981. His publications include Psychosomatic Medicine and Logotherapy (1977). Symposia and ConferencesThe Foundation has been at the forefront of raising issues of relevance to the well-being of society through various seminars, symposia and workshops over the last thirty years. In the early seventies through to the eighties, the Foundation pursued a very active program of raising the awareness of the medical community of the contributions of a diverse range of alternative medical systems including homeopathy, ayurveda, and traditional Chinese medicine. At the same time, the various seminars and symposia focussing on health paid attention to the psychological dimensions of illness and recovery. This led to the opening of the Centre for Healthy Living, a model of health care where practitioners of diverse disciplines could work together for the welfare of the patient. In the educational arena, the Foundation organized a number of symposia addressing the question of what a total education what look like — seeking an understanding of the needs of the child and how these could be met in the wider context of social change. The Foundation settled then into a productive era of work in further developing the School of Total Education and establishing the Parent Education Centre. Responding to ongoing changes, the Foundation’s most recent focus has been on peace.
Forums and SeminarsOver the course of the last three decades the Foundation has run nearly three hundred lectures, seminars and forums dealing with various aspects of education, health and personal development. Training Programs for Medical and Allied Health Pracitioners 1970–1992Commencing with the seminar “Personal and Professional Development Programs for Medical Care – Community and Institutional Approaches” at Monash University in 1973, various courses have assisted in the promotion of the ideal of a caring and more total approach to health care. These have included:
Public Seminar Program 1970–ongoingSince its inception the Foundation has offered educational programs through seminars, lectures and forums for the general public:
Preventive Health Workshops 1979–1992These workshops aimed to give individuals the understanding to make better decisions regarding lifestyle and to manage their own health more effectively.
Public Forum: “Allergies, The Environment and You”Speakers: Dr Richard Mackarness (United Kingdom), Dr Mark Florence (Australia), Dr Frank Waickman (USA). Eagerly attended by 100 people seeking state of the art information on allergies, nutrition and environmental medicine. Parents Seminars 1979–2004These seminars address issues such as Preparing Children for a Stressful Society, The Adolescent — His Needs, Pressures and Future and Preparing for Parenthood. This focus of this work later led to the development of the Parent Education Centre (see below). CoursesCommencing in 1975 the Foundation has delivered a number of courses designed to help people become aware of the conditions that create tension, anxiety and aimlessness in their lives. These courses have provided techniques and principles of living which when practised in daily life resolve these problems and create greater self-awareness and self-discipline. Guidelines for Living Courses 1974–1980The first public courses for participants interested in self-development. Community Involvement Programmes 1975–1979The Foundation created a number of specially designed programs offering training in personal development for specialist groups such as students, medical practitioners, psychologists, social workers and business and other professional people. Stress relief programs were also delivered to companies and service organization personnel. Workshops on Total Relaxation 1980–1991These workshops dealt with problems of stress in the work environment, having the following topics:
Residential Health and Stress Relief Weekends 1981–1986Yogendra System for Healthy Living 1989–2004Based on the principles and techniques of classical Yoga, the Yogendra System has been developed to meet the needs of individuals living in modern society. Education InitiativesThe Foundation has spearheaded a number of initiatves in education over the last thrity years, the most prominent being establishing the School of Total Education. However, before the school was established an intensive training program was introduced to train teachers in the philosophy and methods of Total Education. The knowledge and practical approaches developed through the experience of over twenty years at the School have been shared through various training programs, seminars and forums. Teacher Training ProgrammeTwenty teachers and trainees were selected from the Foundation’s Training Group to participate in a special programme for school teachers in preparation for the establishment of the Foundation’s School. Practical experience was gained through running a summer program of activities for children from 1976–1978. The object of the programme was to expose the children to the ideas of patience, consistency and responsibility through art, craft, games and drama. This later developed into the Children’s Sunday Morning Program, an educational activity programme for children aged 4–14 years conducted by the Foundation’s school teachers and teacher trainees. Simultaneously, a special training programme for the parents was conducted introducing topics such as family life, child development and guidelines for living, in the context of understanding total education. Teacher Training Course in Total EducationIn 1978 the first courses open to qualified school teachers and trainee teachers, outside the Foundation’s training groups commenced. Initially the program consisted of 40 weekly lecture/discussion sessions of 2 hours each. Visit of Assistant Director-General of Education March 1985Dr Ken Robertson visited the School of Total Education to follow up the visit of Mr Ian Matheson, Director-General of Education, Queensland, and to formulate programmes by which the Department of Education could draw on the methods, training capabilities and example of the School to enhance State Education. Submission to State Government August 1985A comprehensive submission was put to the Education Minister regarding Total Education and its applicability to the wider community through State Schools, in response to the Ministerial Statement “Education 2000”. Visit of Director-General’s Study Group July 1987An on-going programme of study and development was initiated by the State Department of Education with the full-day visit to the School of Total Education by a special Study Group formed by the Director-General. Study Visit by School Principals August 1987At the instigation of the Director-General of Education, the School of Total Education was visited by Mr Paul Thompson, Principal of Kimberley Park State School, his associate Mr Tony Ryan, and Mr Gavin Bird, Principal of Crestmead State Primary School. As well as spending time in classes, they had meetings with the School Chairman, Vijayadev Yogendra and staff members to discuss programmes for applying aspects of the School’s approach in their own schools. Visit of Education Minister July 1988The Hon. Brian Littleproud, M.L.A. visited the School of Total Education, Warwick to inspect the School and to meet with School Chairman, Vijayadev Yogendra for discussions on future directions in education. Meeting with Education Minister, The Hon Paul Brady, MLA 1990Parent Education Centre Chairman Graham Bligh, Program Director Dr Paul Currie and School of Total Education Principal Richard Waters, met with Mr Brady to explain the work of the Foundation, School and P.E.C., to offer assistance in enhancing the totality of education in Queensland and to investigate the availability of funds to aid the work of the P.E.C. School as focus of Early Childhood Studies June 1992Early Childhood Teachers in training at the University of Southern Queensland visited the School of Total Education as part of their training. They were briefed on the School’s operations and the training of teachers and toured the classrooms. Lecturers reported that the visit did more than any other training component to awaken trainees to the need for personal development and positive values in caring fully for young children. Special Program for Students at Risk Beenleigh State High School, August 1992At the invitation of the Beenleigh High School, THE Foundation and Parent Education Centre began a one-year program to assist Year 8 students who were struggling with self-esteem and learning difficulties. Of 40 students recommended by staff as being disruptive or unable to learn in class, 12 were chosen to join the initial program. At the end of 1992, marked progress was reported by coordinator of the STAR program, Sr Rhonda Lawson. The program was funded by the Commonwealth Government. This was a very significant project, being the first time that all three components of the Total Education program — including students, teachers and parents — have been introduced to a state school. The progress achieved is attributable to the integrated nature of this project. Workshops for Teachers and Parents at Biennial Queensland Teachers’ Conference, University of Southern Queensland August 1992“Teaching Values in Schools” Speaker: Mr Richard Waters, Principal, School of Total Education, Warwick. “Parents Programs in Schools” Speakers: Dr Paul Currie, Administrative Principal, School of Total Education and Mrs Helen O’Brien, School parent and parent group leader. Parent Education CentreThe Foundation’s experience in running parenting programs as an integral part of Total Education led naturally to the extension of these programs for other parents, and in 1989 to the official launch of the Parent Education Centre under the patronage of Sir Llewellyn Edwards. The Centre provides public lectures and seminars, parenting courses, training courses for parent educators and family counselling. Seminars and lectures have addressed some of the following themes:
Other highlights of the work have been: Publication of Parenting for Everyone by Vijayadev YogendraThis book outlines an approach to Total Parenting was recommended as important resource by Department of Family Services in October 1989 for all groups providing guidance and support to parents. Building a Parent Education Network 1989/90Dr Paul Currie, for the Parent Education Centre, in collaboration with Mrs Vanessa Gregory, Community Development Officer of Logan City Council, contacted and visited 75 organisations and individuals active in family counselling and welfare. The visits aimed to build a network of shared resources to avoid duplication of services and allow cross-referral in this much too poorly serviced area of parent support. Two meetings of 20 participants each were held at the Parent Education Centre to increase the effectiveness of the network. Parenting Lecture in Psychology Week Brisbane City Hall May 1990Professor Maurice Balson, Director of the Monash University Parent-Teacher Education Centre spoke on behalf of the P.E.C. to an enthusiastic audience of 380 people on the topic of “Understanding Children”. Joint presentation with the Australian Psychological Society. Parenting Courses Recognised by City August 1990The Parent Education Centre was awarded a $5,500 Community Development Project Grant by Brisbane City Council, to assist low-income families to take part in parenting courses. This was the first government recognition of the value and importance of preventive education for parents. Funds would support up to 75 Brisbane families gaining access to parenting advice. Radio: “Parent-Line” 1990/91A regular Sunday morning discussion and talk-back segment on “Parenting” was conducted by P.E.C. staff on Brisbane radio station 4BC. Courses for Mothers in RefugesCouncil subsidies have facilitated parenting courses for sole mothers refereed by refuges and shelters caring for deserted and abused families. Meeting in small groups, these courses help equip mothers with enhanced skills to deal with the severe pressures they and their children are facing. The Total Health and Education Centre is able to provide auxiliary services including medical, dietary and psychological assessments for children and academic coaching for those children whose dislocations in schools have left them disadvantaged in learning. In this way parents can be helped with specific problems that may be inhibiting the children’s growth and development. More Council Support for “Project Open Access” August 1991The Parent Education Centre was awarded a further $5,000 Grant by Brisbane City Council to extend its subsidies for disadvantaged families to participate in parenting courses and support programs. Presentation on “Developing Confidence in Parenting” to State Education Conference entitled “Education and the Care of Youth into the 21st Century” held at Nudgee College September 1991State Government Grant for Parenting Courses March 1992A Youth and Community Grant was awarded to the Parent Education Centre to provide parenting courses for young parents (25 years and under) throughout the state of Queensland. This extended to the state level the recognition already shown by local government. The Grant of $4,000 was used to formulate special courses for young people and to inform the welfare community of their availability. Parenting Workshops at Longreach, Central Queensland August 1992Three workshops were held by the Parent Education Centre at Our Lady’s College, Longreach at the invitation of the Principal and funded by the Commonwealth Government under a rural access grants scheme. Attended and enthusiastically welcomed by more than 100 local residents.. Parenting Courses for Prisoners — Courses for Fathers at Wacol Correctional Centre 1993The Queensland Corrective Services Commission engaged the Parent Education Centre to conduct parenting courses for fathers separated from their families through imprisonment. Focus was on understanding the needs of children and their partners “on the outside”, general parenting issues like creative discipline, how to maintain meaningful contact from prison and how to prepare for rejoining the family on release. Conference of Family, Youth and Welfare workers in Gympie to investigate creation of a Parent Education Centre in the Region May 1993Dr Paul Currie and Mrs Judy Currie were invited to address the Gympie-Widgee Link network to brief workers on the work of the Foundation, School and Parent Education Centre. The meeting was attended by some 40 people including the Regional Director of the Department of Family Services, and staff from a range of local schools, youth centres, refuges and community support groups |