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A movement, not a moment

Improving the Behaviour and Engagement of Boys

Engaging boys and improving their life outcomes through connection, authenticity and motivation

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The Goals

Across the world boys are feeling disengaged and excluded from the classroom. Our goal is to create a space for meaningful conversations, keynote presentations and breakout sessions about the challenges facing boys in our society.

This Conference is a comprehensive training program aimed at empowering you with practical skills to enhance boys’ engagement promoting positive practices that enhance connection, authenticity, and motivation in boys and young men. Attendees will learn from influential speakers about harnessing student culture in boys, gain strategies for managing boys and engaging parents and families in supporting boys.

The Conference

There are some alarming statistics regarding Australia’s classroom for boys. Boys are misbehaving, disruptive and disengaged in their education.

– Boys are twice as likely as girls to believe that school is a ‘waste of time’
– Teenage boys lag behind girls by two years on average in writing skills
– By Year 9, a staggering 13.4% of boys are functionally illiterate
– Boys are three times more likely to be expelled and twice as likely to be suspended compared to girls

We believe that each one of us plays a pivotal role in improving the behaviour and engagement of boys. If you are responsible for boys, teaching, coaching, providing care and working with boys, you will already know about the unique challenges they present in ways to manage their engagement and behaviour. You may also know a few things that work, but understand a lot doesn’t work and we need more approaches that we can apply to improving engagement, social connectedness, respect and behaviour.

Key Topics

Harnessing student culture in boys

Equipping teachers with effective strategies for managing boys

Engaging parents and families in supporting boys’ education and enhancing literacy skills among boys

Key speakers

Professor Matt Englar-Carlson

Dr Ray Swann

Dr Mark Dowley

Ms Kristen Molloy

Dr. Aaron Columbus

Ingrid Howren

Professor Matt Englar-Carlson

Dr Ray Swann

Dr Mark Dowley

Ms Kristen Molloy

Dr. Aaron Columbus

Ingrid Howren

Professor Matt Englar-Carlson

Dr Ray Swann

Dr Mark Dowley

Ms Kristen Molloy

Dr. Aaron Columbus

Ingrid Howren

Dr Matt Englar-Carlson, PhD, is a professor of counselling and the Director of the Center for Boys and Men at California State University, Fullerton. His work focuses on educating and training professionals about male mental health needs as well as how to work more effectively with boys and men.

Executive Director of the Foundation for Positive Masculinity – Harnessing student culture in boys

Author of the Classroom Management Handbook – Equipping teachers with effective strategies for managing boys

Associate Head of Crowther Literacy and Engagement – Engaging parents and families in supporting boys’ education. Enhancing literacy skills among boys

Deputy Principal Teaching & Learning, Wellington College

Leadership Coach and +M Curriculum Specialist

Dr Matt Englar-Carlson, PhD, is a professor of counselling and the Director of the Center for Boys and Men at California State University, Fullerton. His work focuses on educating and training professionals about male mental health needs as well as how to work more effectively with boys and men.

Executive Director of the Foundation for Positive Masculinity – Harnessing student culture in boys

Author of the Classroom Management Handbook – Equipping teachers with effective strategies for managing boys

Associate Head of Crowther Literacy and Engagement – Engaging parents and families in supporting boys’ education. Enhancing literacy skills among boys

Deputy Principal Teaching & Learning, Wellington College

Leadership Coach and +M Curriculum Specialist

Dr Matt Englar-Carlson, PhD, is a professor of counselling and the Director of the Center for Boys and Men at California State University, Fullerton. His work focuses on educating and training professionals about male mental health needs as well as how to work more effectively with boys and men.

Executive Director of the Foundation for Positive Masculinity – Harnessing student culture in boys

Author of the Classroom Management Handbook – Equipping teachers with effective strategies for managing boys

Associate Head of Crowther Literacy and Engagement – Engaging parents and families in supporting boys’ education. Enhancing literacy skills among boys

Deputy Principal Teaching & Learning, Wellington College

Leadership Coach and +M Curriculum Specialist

Who will attend?

Professionals, experts in psychology, men’s health practitioners, educators and leaders of boys, wellbeing coordinators, outdoor education leaders, year level coordinators, primary and secondary school teachers, teacher assistants, student leaders, coaches, parents and anyone ready to create a new narrative for raising healthy boys.

Venue

The 2025 Improving the Behaviour and Engagement of Boys Conference will be held at Wellington College, New Zealand. 

Date: Friday 29 August 2025
Time: 9.00am – 3.00pm NZST
Cost: NZD$237.64 including tax

Catering: Refreshments and lunch is provided

 

A movement, not a moment

By attending our Improving the Behaviour and Engagement of Boys Conference, you will learn evidence-informed processes of how to engage the boys and young men you work with, how to build their social fitness, and come to understand the causes of behavoural issues. Whether this be in a classroom, in a pastoral or counselling setting or in coaching a sporting team, the principles and practices discussed will give you a took kit to work with.

Questions about the Conference?

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