'INSPIRE' Presentation - Melinda Tankard Reist
On Monday 9 November 2015 the Parents' Association hosted its final talk for the year. Melinda Tankard Reist presented to an audience of approximately 100 parents on the topic: "Too Much, Too Soon: The Sexualisation of Children and What We Can Do About It".
Melinda had spoken to the Years 8 and 9 students throughout the day and presented similar material at the parent presentation. This helped to facilitate discussions at home about an increasingly important topic.
Melinda was a powerful and passionate presenter. The night highlighted the changing landscape, where through advertising, internet and marketing, we as a community are being bombarded by inappropriate messages. Melinda explored how this proliferation of messages, via all forms of media, contributes to a distorted view of bodies, relationships and sexuality in children and young people.
In order to address this, Melinda has established a campaign titled "Collective Shout" for a world free of sexploitation. It is a dynamic new grassroots campaigning movement working to address the objectification of women and sexualisation of girls. Melinda encouraged all who heard her to be angry about the current situation and to take action to change it through joining her cause www.collectiveshout.org.
Various resources were purchased by the College, including a DVD of a previous talk held by Melinda on the topic of "Too Much, Too Soon". If anyone is interested please contact the Parents' Association via the College website.
Melinda is planning to return to Perth in March 2016 and anyone who missed her could see her during the 2016 tour where she will be presenting at other Colleges within the metro area.
For further information see Melinda's website www.melindatankardreist.com and refer to the Department for Communities handout, "Sexualisation of children and young people in the media" and Melinda's "Tips for Parents".
Additional information will be on the College website as it becomes available.
