Building Bridges Conference 2010 - blog now open!

Thanks Amy! It's great to have this blog page - a chance for all of us to connect with ideas to make this conference a great success.

I'm hearing from lots of people and organisations that are preparing exciting abstracts and planning other ways of getting the most out of the event.

One opportunity that Robyn and I are progressing is to encourage Wellington regional organisations to consider opening their doors to conference participants from similar organisations from elsewhere in NZ or from overseas. This would extend the potential for fruitful exchange of ideas and information. Let us know if you're interested!

Cheers

Colin

Come one , come all. Welcome young and older, new to the field and those that have been around for awhile.

The organising committee are looking forward to providing an even better conference than in the past and that's not an easy feat given the high calibre of previous conferences.

As Colin said, we are expecting some amazing abstracts and that makes my job coordinating the programme subcommittee so much easier. If you are creative and innovative, get those creative juices flowing and see you all next year.

Robyn

Just checked out the key speakers profiles. Excellent diverse group of people. Will be interesting to see how "beyond services" they are willing to explore.

Regards

Matiu

HOSTING ORGANISATIONS DURING BUILDING BRIDGES

So far we have had a lot of interest from local organisations willing to open their doors to like minded individuals and organisations in town for the conference. If you are willing to do this please post a notice on this blog with your organisation's contact details and name of contact person with the word HOST in block capitals and we'll see if that works.

cheers

Colin

This will be a great opportunity for get togethers. Perhaps if there is interest some of the NGOs from across NZ and even the Ozzies if they come could have some social time together.

April is a fantastic month in Wellington theres no wind! See you all here soon.

Regards,

Marion

Great selection of speakers chosen, seems like a good opportunity for them and us to further collaborate and share ideas. Not just to share how they run their services, plus any opportunity to further break the barriers to stigma/discrimination if it's raised here is got to be good. :-)

Sounding great folks, we are looking forward to submiting art work for possible inclusion in the art exhibituion, a great developmebnt for the conference.

Regards

Toi Ora Live Art Trust.

Wow! This looks really exciting! I want to know how can I get involved? I have experienced depression and addiction and the seeming lack of help available. In the past I have worked with "at risk" (I hate that label) youth with successful outcomes thanks to my own experiences. I have also discovered that I can do art (yay! great therapy) so if theres any way I can contribute please contact me, otherwise hopefully I will try to attend the conference :)

Taloha Ni & Greetings. A big shout out to the event organisers. If you're interested in health information data, I invite you to come to the fringe festival. Go to fringe.co.nz, to see 'De Inst Da Data'. This dance piece explores the use of data and patterns for people with a range of abilities and mental health issues. This is happening in mid to late Feb, early Mar in Lower Hutt, NZ. This would be a good primer for Building Bridges, which I totally support and look forward to seeing you there!

I can vouch for the great success of De Inst De Data. It was a blast! Thanks to Ezra and all your performers.

Two weeks to go folks! This is going to be such a hot conference. We've been hearing for some time now from friends and colleagues from all over the country and a quite few from around the world too. They are saying "Hey see you guys in a few weeks!" And with every email or phone call, we are getting more and more excited at the thought of this great gathering of like minded people that only happens every three years. Woohoo!!!

Colin

WARM BREEZE

FEEL THE WARM BREEZE ON YOUR FACE

SEE THE STARLIGHT IN THE SKY AND

YOUR ONE OF GODS CREATION LIKE

THE SPIDER AND THE FLY

AND YOU WALK UPON THIS

PLANET FOR A SHORT WHILE

AND YOU DIE AND YOUR

LIFE IS BUT A RIPPLE

IN THE BLINKING OF AN EYE

Looking forward to networking, sharing and learning especially from those in Advisory roles. Check out the Ad Hoc session to meet up.

See you next week.

Kathryn

This is a great opportunity to break the barriers to harrassment and deprression.Being a house help l have experienced harrassment,depression and discrimination.I discovered that our rewards in life shall always be in direct propotion to our efforts.

I totally support the building bridges team.