Sydney Facilitators Networl - April meeting

The Sydney Facilitators Network - has advertised their next meeting:

"You are warmly invited to the next meeting of the Facilitators Network on Monday 20th APRIL 2009 (a joint meeting with the Games & Simulations Network (GSN)
Topic: Simulations in the Context of Restorative Practices
The Games and Simulations Network (GSN) Team will lead a session on Restorative Practices to reflect on past, present, future options for use in potentially difficult communication contexts.
The restorative practices concept has its roots in "restorative justice," a new way of looking at criminal justice that focuses on repairing the harm done to people and relationships rather than on punishing offenders (although restorative justice does not preclude incarceration of offenders or other sanctions). Originating in the 1970s as mediation between victims and offenders, in the 1990s restorative justice broadened to include communities of care as well, with victims' and offenders' families and friends participating in collaborative processes called "conferences" and "circles". See http://www.iirp.org/whatisrp.php

This is a collaborative meeting of the Simulations Games Network and the Facilitator’s Network The GSN Team will use a number of strategies from simulation-supported learning contexts – including scenarios and the briefing/action/debriefing sequence. The session will model the use of such tools and invite participants to explore how these can be applied to a variety of contexts where improving the quality of communication is a priority.
Restorative Practices assist individuals and groups re-establish equanimity after damaging exchanges, so we can expect a powerful exploration of its principles. The session will provide insights into the values underpinning restorative practices and simulations for learning, a valuable introduction to current and future oriented communication strategies.

Date: Monday 20th April
Venue: Room 5.580 Level 5, Building 10, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Jones Street, Ultimo corner Thomas Street. Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium foot bridge, walk straight ahead to room 580.
Time: from 5:30pm to 7:30pm sharp
Social Networking: Afterwards at the Broadway Bar, Cnr. Harris St & Broadway, from 7.30"