Michael offers a range of individual talks on a variety of subjects. Some of the most requested appear below. 
To book a talk click here to go to Michael's Agent (Saxton).
To see a typical staff development day just click here.

For Parents (Time: 1.5 hours)

The Parenting Adolescents Quiz

An entertaining and informative session, where Michael engages the participants in an informatiove and entertaining series of sessions on what parents need to know about the latest developments in adolescent psychology

"The Princess Bitchface Syndrome"
What every parent needs to know about parenting teenage girls, based on Michael's best selling book published by Penguin

"How to raise happy and resilient children and teenagers"
The latest news from the science of positive psychology applied to bringing up children and teenagers

"Real Wired Child - what kids are doing online and how to keep them safe"
A summary of what the latest research says kids are doing online and how to keep them safe. Includes everything parents need to know about social networking sites, cyberbullying, internet addiction, filtering software and online games.

"The Five greatest challenges for parents in 2012"
What every parent needs to know about milennial parenting, covering alcohol, online safety, sleep and other key issues.

"Demystifying Adolescents"
A crash course in the developmental psychology of adolescents - how to understand and communicate effectively with young people.

"Mental Health Issues for Young People"
What parents need to know about Depression, suicide, eating disorders, deliberate self-harm and other mental health problems in young people.

"Coping with the VCE/HSC/IB/SACE/WACE Years"
A night for parents and students to prepare them for the VCE/HSC/IB years with practical tips and strategies from the applied psychological research, for both student and parents designed to reduce stress and increase productivity.

"Surviving Stepfamilies" -

A crash course in how to cope with the fastest growing family unit in Australia today.

"Coping with Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs"
What parents need to know about contemporary adolescent drug use and their role in reducing the harms from alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Contains the latest research and statistics on teenage drug use.

For Teaching Staff (Time: 1.5 hours)

"How schools should respond to suicide" (NEW)

This is a brand new talk aimed at helping schools prepare for the unthinkable. This talk provide schools with an evidence based framework to assist staff in supporting their school communities in responding to suspected, attempted or completed suicide.

"Youth Mental Health and Technology"

This talk explores a range of web-based and smartphone apps that are now emerging as vital tools in helping young people deal with common mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, body image issues, eating disorders etc. Michael introduces staff to the best, most up to date and most effective programs currently on offer.

"Mental Health Issues for Young people"
What teaching staff need to know about mental health problems in schools. Including practical strategies on how to recognise depression. There is a major emphasis on the role of depression in youth suicide, eating disorders, deliberate self-harm and other mental health problems in young people.Strategies for schools to enhance the mental health of students - How schools can work together with parents and the community to develop resilience-promoting structures and process in secondary schools. Very practical session with concrete suggestions for involving staff, students and parents.

"Mental Health Issues for Staff"
Never has teaching been such a stressful profession. This talk covers the major stressors, signs of burnout, stress management techniques and concrete strategies tio improve individual staff member's coping strategies, including advice on how to sleep better.

"Positive Education" - How schools can promote resilience and flourishing in students - covers the key findings from resilience research, brain science, positive education and positive psychology.

"Boys Issue"
Looking at the evidence which confronts us of so many young men attempting suicide, being suspended from school, in trouble on the streets and struggling to achieve at school, any sensible person would have to conclude that young males are in considerable difficulties. Not all young men, but sufficient young men to cause concern. The puzzle for future generations will be why it took governments so long to act. This workshop examines the nature ands extent of the problem and looks at what the latest research is saying schools and parents might do to help.

"Teaching the student with Depression"

A masterclass in how to teach and help students with the highest prevalence mental disorder found in Australian schools.

"Cybersafety"
Outlines the nature and extent of the problem, the latest research and practical strategies to deal with problematic behaviours online and mobiles. A large section deals with what schools can do to keep the community safe and reduce the risk of litigation.

"Coping with Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs"
What schools need to know about contemporary adolescent drug use and their role in reducing the harms from alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Contains the latest research and statistics on teenage drug use.

"Hypotheticals"
For conferences and training days. An entertaining and informative addition to a staff-training day or conference. An opportunity to examine some of the ethical, moral and legal dilemmas in working with young people. These can be customised to particular issues (eg: mental health, drugs, bullying) and year level if required. Want to read one of Michael's hypotheticals broadcast by the ABC? Just click here.

Interractive Quizes
For conferences and training days. An entertaining and informative addition to a staff-training day or conference, where Michael engages the participants in an informatiove and entertaining series of sessions on what workers with young people need to know about the latest developments in adolescent psychology.

For Student Welfare Staff (Time: 1.5 hours)

"How schools should respond to suicide" (NEW)

This is a brand new talk aimed at helping schools prepare for the unthinkable. This talk provide schools with an evidence based framework to assist staff in supporting their school communities in responding to suspected, attempted or completed suicide.

"Screening for the Adolescent at risk"
Practical, no-nonsense strategies for welfare staff, year level co-ordinators, house masters, school chaplains and other welfare staff.

"Dealing with Loss and Grief in Adolescents"
How to recognise and manage the young person coping with loss.

For Students (Time: 45 mins + 15 mins for questions)

"Coping with the VCE/HSC/SACE/WACE/ IB Years"
A session for students to prepare them for the VCE/HSC/IB/WACE/SACE years with practical tips and strategies to reduce stress and increase productivity.