How you can learn nurdling at the Sustainable Community Festival

by Rachel | Mar 17, 2019 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit

Plastic in the environment has become one of the big issues of our times. While we are a long way from the rest of the world, our shores are experiencing relatively high plastic loads. This presentation will provide you with information about the seasonality of plastic on our shores and what impact it is having on our birds.

Dr. Paterson is a marine scientist and has been working on plastics in the marine environment for nearly five years. Her passion began when she realised that our apparently pristine beaches were covered in tiny fragments of plastic. She now has a number of programs that are being used to quantify the amount of plastic on our shores and increase awareness of how big the impact of plastic is going to be in the future. One of her projects is Nurdling November, which is targeting plastic pellets of Nurdles that were lost in South Africa in 2017. Find out how you can become part of this research at the Sustainable Community Festival.

Fermenting for your gut and brain health at the Sustainable Community Festival

by Rachel | Mar 17, 2019 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit

Fermented foods are rich in probiotic bacteria so by consuming fermented foods you are adding beneficial bacteria and enzymes to your overall intestinal flora, increasing the health of your gut microbiome and digestive system and enhancing the immune system. Fermentation can also increase the availability of vitamins and minerals for our bodies to absorb. Additionally, by boosting the beneficial bacteria in your gut, you are promoting their ability to manufacture B vitamins and synthesise vitamin K.
The gut and brain are linked, through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Technically called the enteric nervous system, the gut is lined with neutrons that can influence our emotions and feelings. Serotonin – a neurotransmitter involved in mood – is made in the gut and research further suggests that as probiotic bacteria contribute to a healthy gut, they are also linked to a healthy mind.

Hayley Lawrence (BSc. Psych Hons, ProfCertEd(PosEd) demonstrates how we can help build resilience, optimism, and achievement. Hayley has particular expertise relating to mental illness prevention and wellbeing promotion in education.
Hayley introduces research-based practices on how to discover strengths and talents, how to use positive emotions as a resource, and how to build strong brains. With 22 years of experience in wellbeing, specialising in guiding individuals and groups to optimum levels of health and body intelligence (BQ) through nutrition, improving digestive health, movement, meditation and mindfulness. She is currently working towards a PhD with the University of Melbourne. Her research is interested in the relationship between teacher practice and student wellbeing, particularly how to make classroom ecological wellbeing an observable phenomenon and the impact of introducing wellbeing practices within the classroom.

Sustainable Economies: Albany as a regional film base

by Rachel | Mar 16, 2019 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit

Hear about film industry opportunities at the Sustainable Community Festival Saturday 23rd March in the Albany Town Square

Western Australia has been described as “Australia’s outdoor film and television studio” due to its unique locations. In a highly competitive national and international marketplace, what makes Albany and the Great Southern region distinctive? What are the characteristics of a “film friendly” region and how can experiences to date on productions such as Lockie Leonard, H is for Happiness, Rams and now Itch be consolidated to attract more productions to this region? Importantly, how can locally-based talent be fostered to tell stories from this region to the world and strengthen the impact of the creative industries on the economy of the Great Southern region?

Managing Director of Feisty Dame Productions, Producer and Executive Producer Tania Chambers is currently producing the action adventure children’s television series Itch, a Komixx Entertainment production in association with Feisty Dame Productions, which is currently shooting in the Great Southern Region. Proudly producing film and television productions in Western Australia for world audiences, Tania produced the comedy feature A Few Less Men, as well as the comedic thriller Kill Me Three Times, (selected for the Toronto International Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival and BFI London International Film Festival). Tania produced the short film Tango Underpants and executive produced the factual series End of Empire and Turning Point, as well as short films One Fine Day, High Tide, Dark Whispers and A Shared Affair. Formerly Chief Executive of funding agencies ScreenNSW and Screenwest, Tania is a Councillor and was formerly Vice President of Screen Producers Australia, is Chairperson of the Western Australian Screen Industry Advisory Group and the Screen Industry Diversity Leadership Group, as well as a Board Member of Perth Festival. Tania was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the Arts and to Film and Television in 2016

Peter “Willie” Rowe is Chief Executive Officer at Screenwest.
Willie has enviable experience providing corporate affairs and government relations advice and support to governments, industry and community sectors.As former-WA Premier Colin Barnett’s Chief of Staff and Richard Court’s Director of Policy, Willie has operated at the highest levels of government.
He has direct knowledge of influencing, developing and analysing policy as well as an exemplary network across government, industry and community in Western Australia and Australia.
Now at Screenwest, Willie uses his background of corporate communications, government engagement and issues management to leverage his role as CEO and has a bold vision for his tenure.