The Best of Friends® Industry Research Collaboration
The Quirky Kid® Clinic’s collaboration with the University of Wollongong provided the evidence base to scale the innovative The Best of Friends® program
The Quirky Kid Team and The University of Wollongong’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Jennifer Martin would like to invite you to a presentation of the industry research collaboration between Quirky Kid® and the University of Wollongong (UOW) on The Best of Friends® program.
This event will provide you with an expanding small business’s perspective on collaborating with a university as an effective innovation pathway. You will learn how Quirky Kid leveraged their innovation spend through various programs – including Tech Vouchers, Internships and UOW’s incubator iAccelerate – to maximise impact.
The Best of Friends® program was developed in response to increasing demand from schools to address the social and emotional learning (SEL) challenges that children experience, and to offer them the academic and social benefits that SEL provides.
The research conducted by Quirky Kid® and the University of Wollongong added to the growing evidence of the efficacy of The Best of Friends® program, which Quirky Kid® was then able to use to scale their product so their expertise could benefit kids in schools not only across Australia but around the world.
Representatives from Quirky Kid, the University of Wollongong, and NSW Government’s Boosting Business Innovation Programs will be on hand to answer your questions and get you started on your own innovation journey.
We’re one of Australia’s leading Child, Adolescent and Family Psychology Clinics and passionately committed to providing clients with the highest standard of service delivery. Quirky Kid is a member of the University of Wollongong business incubator program, ‘iAccelerate’. We operate clinical spaces in Sydney and Austinmer with a new clinic opening soon in Canberra.
You may also know of Quirky Kid as an award-winning publisher of unique therapeutic resources for young people and families. These include Face it cards, Tell Me A Story cards and the popular programs, Power Up™, The Best of Friends® and BaseCamp which are used in schools around Australia and overseas.
We are excited to welcome Valli Jones to Quirky Kid clinic as a program facilitator of our award-winning anxiety Program, Basecamp®. Already a facilitator of our Social Emotional Learning Program, Best of Friends, we are looking forward to working with Valli Jones to provide Basecamp® to their clients.
Basecamp® is an innovative anxiety program designed for children between the ages of 7 to 12. Developed by Clinical Psychologist, Dr Kathryn Berry, and the Quirky Kid team, BaseCamp® draws on decades of experience, combining a sound theoretical cognitive-behavioural approach with effective, engaging and child-centred activities. Winner of multiple International and Australian publishing awards, Basecamp® is being implemented by clinics and schools across Australia to assist children in learning how to manage anxiety.
About Valli Jones
Valli Jones is a Gold Coast-based psychologist with a special interest in child and adolescent psychology. Working from a holistic, person-centred perspective, Valli uses evidenced-based methods to assess and treat a range of common behavioural and mental health concerns. Valli holds a Master of Clinical Psychology, is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society.
How Basecamp® will be implemented
Dr Kathryn Berry and our team of psychologists will work carefully with Valli Jones to implement the Basecamp® program. Key to the success of the program is ensuring that all facilitators are provided with comprehensive training and guided implementation to their students. Evaluation and monitoring tools will also be used to ensure the outcomes of the program are met and to develop ongoing individual intervention students anxiety.
Interested in offering Basecamp® at your school?
Valli Jones is one of a number of schools we are currently working with to implement our Basecamp® program. With St Monica’s and other incredible schools onboard, Basecamp® is recognised as a cost-effective, evidence-based intervention to assist children with managing their anxiety.
We continue to work incredibly hard to produce innovative programs and resources that are tried, tested and loved in classrooms, clinics and lounge rooms around the globe. Just last week Basecamp received a Highly Commended mention at the 2018 Education Publishing Awards.
We are excited to welcome St Monica’s Primary School to the Quirky Kid clinic as a program facilitator of our award-winning anxiety Program, Basecamp®. St Monica’s Primary School, located in Evatt, ACT, is just one of the schools we are currently working with to provide Basecamp® to their students.
Basecamp® is an innovative anxiety program designed for children between the ages of 7 to 12. Developed by Clinical Psychologist, Dr Kathryn Berry, and the Quirky Kid team, BaseCamp® draws on decades of experience, combining a sound theoretical cognitive-behavioural approach with effective, engaging and child-centred activities. Winner of multiple International and Australian publishing awards, Basecamp® is being implemented by clinics and schools across Australia to assist children in learning how to manage anxiety.
About St Monica’s Primary School
St Monica’s Primary School is a Catholic learning community for children in grades K-6. At St Monica’s, their mission is to provide strong educational programs to enable children to reach their full potential. We were impressed by their commitment to providing innovative social-emotional learning education, making the most of technology, and looking to provide holistic support for children and their families.
How Basecamp® will be implemented
Dr Kathryn Berry and our team of psychologists will work carefully with St Monica’s Primary School to implement the Basecamp® program. Key to the success of the program is ensuring that all facilitators are provided with comprehensive training and guided implementation to their students. Evaluation and monitoring tools will also be used to ensure the outcomes of the program are met and to develop ongoing individual intervention students anxiety.
Interested in offering Basecamp® at your school?
St Monica’s Primary School is one of a number of schools we are currently working with to implement our Basecamp® program. With St Monica’s and other incredible schools onboard, Basecamp® is recognised as a cost-effective, evidence-based intervention to assist children with managing their anxiety.
We continue to work incredibly hard to produce innovative programs and resources that are tried, tested and loved in classrooms, clinics and lounge rooms around the globe. Just last week Basecamp received a Highly Commended mention at the 2018 Education Publishing Awards.
Contact Us or visit the program website to find out more about the program, and how you can meet and develop the needs of your students through The Basecamp® program.
VPG empower youth, strengthen families, and broker partnerships between education & industry. VPG consists of several different programs aimed at improving child and youth transitions. With a range of different services such as work experience, professional youth services, indigenous transitions, career transitions, Every Family Program, Transition To Work (TTW) Program and RespectMe.
Their enrolment continues to establish our Social and Emotional program as the most effective intervention to foster children’s social and emotional wellbeing. We continue to work incredibly hard to produce innovative programs and resources that are tried, tested and loved in classrooms, clinics and lounge rooms around the globe.
About Vocational Partnership Group
Vocational Partnership Group has strong expertise in building the capacity of schools through innovative staffing and program solutions. The range of programs available at VPG is customised to meet schools needs and outcomes. VPG also works with parents, the industry and with youth. Their key goal is to improve child and youth transitions.
Social and Emotional Learning
Equally, with their commitment to empowering young people with a range of different training programs, VPG has demonstrated a clear commitment to the Social and Emotional Learning of their clients. We were impressed with the knowledge, focus and commitment the team share with their clients.
About The Best of Friends and the School.
The implementation of The Best of Friends ® will take place progressively and will be closely supported by the program author and our Educational Developmental Psychologists Dr. Kimberley O’Brien.
Participants will receive a copy of the exclusive workbook developed by Quirky Kid. Facilitators and teachers will have access to a series of manuals and regular supervision as and when required.
Currently, the program is available to a limited number of schools and organisations. The BoF program has a comprehensive implementation, evaluation and monitoring plan and we are keen to identify partners committed to SEL implementation and evaluation.
Schools can choose from a target (small group) or universal (classroom) format. We will provide all the implementation assistance required, including training, supervision and support for key staff members.
Telerah Public Schoolis a progressive public school offering education for Preschool to Year 6 students, located in the Maitland suburb of Telarah. At Telarah Public School the mission is to provide children with a love of learning, a pride in their achievement and a respect for themselves and others.
Their enrolment continues to establish our Social and Emotional program as the most effective intervention to foster children’s social and emotional wellbeing. We continue to work incredibly hard to produce innovative programs and resources that are tried, tested and loved in classrooms, clinics and lounge rooms around the globe.
About Telerah Public School
Telerah Public School sits within the beautiful township of Maitland, NSW. There are approximately 510 students from Kindergarten to Year 6. There is an Aboriginal Resource Centre and an Early Intervention Child Support Unit within the school grounds which caters for children with learning difficulties at the preschool level. Telera Public School is committed to enhancing academic and extra-curricular learning for each child within a safe, and positive learning environment.
Social and Emotional Learning
Equally with their commitment to academic development and a safe and nurturing learning environment Telerah Public School has demonstrated a clear commitment to the Social and Emotional Learning of their students. We were impressed with the passion and commitment the school has for “looking beyond” the academic and extra-curricular program and applying learning to living.
About The Best of Friends Program™ and the School.
The implementation of The Best of Friends™ program will take place progressively and will be closely supported by the program author and our Educational Developmental Psychologist Dr. Kimberley O’Brien.
Participants will receive a copy of the exclusive workbook developed by Quirky Kid. Facilitators and teachers will have access to a series of manuals and regular supervision as required.
Interested in offering ‘The Best of Friends™’ program at your school?
Currently, the program is available to a limited number of schools and organisations. The BoF program has a comprehensive implementation, evaluation and monitoring plan and we are keen to identify partners committed to SEL implementation and evaluation.
Schools can choose from a target (small group) or universal (classroom) format. We will provide all the implementation assistance required, including training, supervision, and support for key staff members.
