The Resilience Centre

23/03/2026

When we are thinking about the stress of rising fuel costs, we can also think about changing the way we are travelling, by reducing our use of cars. What's the result? We get opportunities to connect with others.

Whether it is going to be:
- carpooling with colleagues on the way to work
- parents sharing loads with drop offs and pick ups to/from school
- children connecting together to ride a bike to school (where it is safe)
- or using a car sharing app in your neighbourhood

These are ways to save our costs, reduce our stress and connect with people. When we connect with others, we are building our resilience during times of challenge and uncertainty. It may take a little reshuffling in your life, but it is worth a try …

Have a read:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-17/expert-tips-on-saving-fuel-reduce-travel/106464820?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link

Credit: Dr Matthew Burke - ABC News

From fuel-efficient driving to alternative travel modes, we look at practical ways to combat fuel shortages and price hikes.

19/03/2026

HAVE YOU SEEN ... our 'Cultural Values Cards' that were created by Registered Psychologist - Stephanie Schwarz - here at The Resilience Centre?

Sometimes ... relationships and team working dynamics are often disrupted by differing worldviews each person brings to interactions.

These 15 x ‘Cultural Values Cards’ help us to quickly see some of the assumptions or norms that are brought into relationships. Our cultural influences, along with our personal styles, inform how we define what is ‘good’, ‘right’ or even ‘normal’.

These cards give visibility and language to the assumptions behind the definition of ‘good’, ‘right’ and ‘normal’. Being able to describe the diverse worldviews people bring to a team or group builds appreciation, supports inclusive practices and encourages finding creative solutions.

These cards were created by Registered Psychologist – Stephanie Schwarz – here at The Resilience Centre and they are based on research identifying the fundamental values of a variety of cultures. Suitable and beneficial as a resource for use personally and/or professionally.

Available for purchase at reception or online in 'The Resilience Shop':

https://www.theresiliencecentre.com.au/product/cultural-values-cards/

16/03/2026

* Ku-Ring-Gai Council - Seniors Festival - March 2026 *

We are excited to be a part of the Seniors Festival throughout the month of March, with our Resilience Trainer - Jacqui Van de Velde presenting a talk about 'Grandparents As Carers'.

This seminar offers a guide for grandparents about how to have a conversation that is honest with their own adult children, when they are taking the role of caring for grandchildren:

THIS Wednesday 18th March
10:00am-1:00pm
With a free morning tea

This important event is provided by Ku-Ring-Gai Council - thank you for inviting us to be a part of it.

https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Community/Seniors/Seniors-Festival

We have a packed calendar for this year’s Seniors Festival from 2-19 March.

13/03/2026

When we start to view adversity as an opportunity for growth, it makes it easier to see how our already existing strengths come into play. Then ... solutions to challenges present themselves a lot clearer to us ... and we are able to stay present and to move forward ...

11/03/2026

* Bright Thinking - Anxiety Group Program for Children and Adolescents - TERM 2 DATES *

Are you keen to help your child manage their anxiety and build their confidence and resilience?

STARTING Wednesday 22nd April 2026 (Term 2)
4:30-5:30pm (1 Hour)
6 Week Group Program

Places are filling. ASK TODAY to see if this is a fit for your kid or teen:

https://www.theresiliencecentre.com.au/group-programs/

09/03/2026

Our Clinical Psychologist, Michelle Wotton, alongside our Resilience Trainer, Jacqui Van de Velde, from The Resilience Centre were part of a special panel of expert contributors from across Australia over the weekend.

The filming captured stories from all who are involved in the mental health and wellbeing of veterans, highlighting the importance of fostering understanding, connection, and support for veterans and their families.

08/03/2026

Our Clinical Psychologist Michelle Wotton from The Resilience Centre was honoured to be a part of filming today with the Pro Patria Centre, to be a part of their psycho-social program supported by the Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network. Watch this space - program is developing!

04/03/2026

* Red and Yellow Day *

Today is 'Red and Yellow' Day - a new national initiative to acknowledge and celebrate our surf life savers and the time that they volunteer to keep Australian's safe when they are swimming at our magnificent beaches.

We are lucky to have a 'Patrol Captain' from Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) here on our team at The Resilience Centre, a wonderful example of how surf life saving builds resilience in individuals who are volunteering, as well as the community they are serving.

When we talk about resilience, we talk about the act of connecting and a sense of community and we see that Surf Life Saving Clubs (SLSC's) clubs act as local community hubs, where they encourage inclusion and provide a sense of belonging.

Thank You to all our Surf Life Savers across Australia - we see you and we thank you, especially today but also everyday.

02/03/2026

New Episode - Out Now! The Modern Grandparenting Podcast welcomes extra special guest Dr Jenny Brown, with more than 35 years of experience as a Social Worker and as a clinical couple-and-family therapist, diving into conflict and estrangement within families, especially when it involves grandparents. Listen Now

🎙️ OUT NOW! In this new episode, Lyn and Leigh are joined by Dr Jenny Brown, family therapist, founder of the Family Systems Institute and grandmother, to explore generational conflict, estrangement and what real repair can look like.

With 35+ years of experience, Jenny shares practical family-systems wisdom to help grandparents respond with steadiness, clarity and hope, even in complex family tensions.

If you’ve ever wondered, “How do I stay connected when things feel strained?”, this conversation is for you. 💛

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or the Modern Grandparenting website.

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1TiBfKubJtIRRNGQAbr21k?si=578b8945a57c4025

Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-modern-grandparenting-podcast/id1822914570?i=1000752111742

Website: https://moderngrandparenting.com.au/



Helpful Links:

The Family Systems Practice – for family systems counselling www.thefsp.com.au

The Parent Hope Project – family systems resources for parents and their supporters www.parenthopeproject.com.au

The Family Systems Institute – training www.thefsi.com.au

28/02/2026

* NEW BLOG - 'Bright Thinking: Helping Children Build Optimistic Resilient Minds with Dr Lyn Worsley' *

Our Bright Thinking Anxiety Group Program at The Resilience Centre brings together two powerful approaches to understanding and improving children’s thinking: Martin Seligman’s work on optimism and pessimism, and the solution‑focused practices developed by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg.

By blending these ideas, the program teaches children how to recognise pessimistic thinking patterns and shift toward more optimistic, helpful ways of seeing themselves and the world around them. For any parents interested in enroling their child into our Bright Thinking - Anxiety Group Program, have a read of our blog to learn more:

https://www.theresiliencecentre.com.au/2026/02/28/bright-thinking-helping-children-build-optimistic-resilient-minds-with-dr-lyn-worsley/

26/02/2026

When we think about the centre of The Resilience Doughnut, we think about the internal characteristics of 'I Am', 'I Have' and 'I Can'.

Using the findings of the International Resilience Project with Edith Grotberg (1995), internal characteristics of those people who were found to be resilient were divided into three categories.

These categories contributed to building an optimistic mindset in resilient people: I AM, I HAVE and I CAN.

In The Resilience Doughnut, the centre of the 'doughnut' represents the internal characteristics of the individual.

Grotberg (1995) found that those with a resilient mindset had two or more of 'I am', 'I have' and 'I can' ...

24/02/2026

New episode coming your way with extra special guest Dr Jenny Brown in a conversation about grandparenting and estrangement from grandchildren. Dropping Sunday 1st March!

What do we do when we are a grandparent, yet we are not necessarily in contact with our grandchildren? Joining the conversation, we are soon to launch our next episode, with a very special guest: Dr Jenny Brown from The Family Systems Institute in Sydney.

With more than 35 years of experience as a Social Worker, as well as as a clinical couple-and-family therapist, Jenny brings deep wisdom to the conversation of navigating generational conflict and estrangment, and the possibilities of repair in our families.

In this episode coming your way soon, we are diving into conflict and estrangement within families, especially when it involves grandparents. Jenny comes to us with expertise and experience, but most of all, she comes to us as a grandmother.

Watch this space, episode launching on Sunday 1st March - five more sleeps to go ...