Working in a frontline environment will routinely expose an individual to trauma. When combined with pre-existing psychological experiences, this can be a trigger for traumatic injuries including PTSD.  Emergency services have effectively increased the awareness of traumatic injury in their people and the wider community and they have been very supportive about access to early intervention. However, the prevention of traumatic injury is an area that has not been afforded much focus.  By routinely providing psychoeducation on the rationale for immediate intervention (promotion), teaching self-help techniques that are neurobiologically effective (prevention), and providing more structured support from leaders and other health professionals (early intervention), then we have a much greater opportunity to prevent traumatic injuries developing.

Bullying and harassment can have significant impacts on a worker’s psychological and physical health, which results in significant economic and social costs not just for the workers, but their families, their workplace and the wider community. Workplace culture is a big factor in perpetuating these behaviours or eradicating them. Research shows that a dysfunctional work environment is as much of a predictor for developing PTSD as direct exposure to traumatic incidents.  By enhancing conflict management effectiveness, we can reduce the likelihood of injuries occurring and provide effective prevention and early intervention strategies for when incidents occur.

Conflict drains participants of three valuable commodities: time, energy, and money.  If not handled effectively, workplace conflict can be hugely destructive - destroying morale, efficiency and productivity at work, and in turn devastating both the family life and the health of all those involved. The first lesson to be learned by anyone who has to deal with or manage conflict is that when parties are in conflict, they behave neither rationally nor commercially.  Instead, they are often propelled by emotional and psychological factors that can drive them into deeply entrenched positions.  This presentation demonstrates how to approach conflict to improve the likelihood of resolution.

In the words of Aristotle, “Emotions become the Master and Reason becomes the Slave”.

This presentation really showcases my story – starting life in a sole-parent family and overcoming the often predictable life that comes from an unusual beginning. I talk about the key learnings I’ve had in my life, everything from near death experiences when I was hit by a bus as a pedestrian, through to becoming a technology entrepreneur, global bestselling author and speaker. It’s inspirational, funny, uplifting - and a great story about overcoming adversity.

We know that trauma is the basis of major health problems - not just psychologically but physiologically.  Unfortunately, psychologist's can't be everywhere.  We know that we do not have enough psychologist's to be able to deliver the required services, so we need to train other health professionals to intervene early to assist in the prevention of PTSD development.  This presentation highlights what we can do as health professionals to understand how trauma impacts the physical body and why intervening early is the 'key' to preventing traumatic injuries developing.

As a Psychofuturologist - I'm all about future-proofing. In this lively presentation, I share my seven key strategies that if followed, will future proof us as individuals, business owners, entrepreneurs and even entire industries. In reality with the rate of change speeding up, the risk of losing relevance with our targeted customers has never been more real or more rapid. We all need to have a strategic plan to ensure that we stay relevant and that in turn is exactly what will future proof us in the years ahead.