Memes are funny, trolling’s not: building respectful relationships from a Year 7 perspective

This workshop introduces participants to the fundamental elements of friendship, respect and boundaries; with a particular focus on the 'other' perspective. Ben will work with students to understand the reality of technology, how to handle exposure to unwanted content, connecting with girls/boys and the difference between banter and hurtful comments.​

Schools have an option to include age-specific social activities where students use the knowledge they have attained to engage, mix and interact informally in a safe and controlled environment.

More than likes and DMs: Stunning, ripped, glowing, perfect. When social media creates a mirage, how do young people navigate through relationships?

This workshop will allow both boys and girls to examine misguided gender norms and pressures in a world lived through social media and technology. Ben will guide students through the realities of their age, how the online world challenges these realities, the pressure on perfection, myths around porn, consent (both online and in person), and how respectful relationships can thrive in modern contexts.

Schools have an option to include age-specific social activities where students use the knowledge they have attained to engage, mix and interact informally in a safe and controlled environment.

Beyond eggplants and peaches: When relationships are often lived through emojis being sent, how can we expect young people to effectively know boundaries, consent, and respectful relationships?

When communication is simplified, stereotypes in the social media industry are enhanced, and our young people enter adulthood; the importance of respectful relationships and a clear understanding of consent cannot be underestimated. In this workshop, Ben will guide his audience on the realities social media places on intimate relationships, how objectification erodes authentic intimacy and how we must be cautious of the role technology has in respectful relationships. Consent, and navigating consent, in relationships is also explored in detail.

Schools have an option to include age-specific social activities where students use the knowledge they have attained to engage, mix and interact informally in a safe and controlled environment.

Available upon request. We offer a bespoke program that is tailored to the prior learnings of each schools context, ensuring a relatable, engaging epxeriece for students

In a world where boys are being told continuously what not to do, an alternative of what to strive for must be presented. Instead of being alienated, boys must be engaged on what it means to be an authentic man in modern society.

​In this workshop, Ben works through the damaging narrative traditional forms of masculinity have done to both men and women alike. Audiences are given guidance on how to offset the current social description of masculinity, where men are depicted as aggressive, violent, unemotional and non-nurturing. More importantly, participants are then offered a road map forward of what positive masculinity looks like, how everyone benefits from this approach and how to apply these new learnings to the gifts and talents each individual possesses. Participants will have the opportunity to workshop through a variety of age-appropriate scenarios to develop critical analysis skills to promote healthy masculinity in modern settings.

Parenting in the age of social media: what parents need to know and how they can support their child to become kind, compassionate, resilient individuals.

In this keynote, Ben will unpack with parents the 'age and stage' of where their child is in terms of social development and relationships. Parents will be highlighted key warning signs that they must be across, while being provided with user-friendly, proactive, high impact strategies to best support their child as they journey through adolescence. An opportunity for Q&A to provide real-time feedback to parents is also available.

Note: this keynote is recommended to complement a school run information evening.