IMPORTANT CHANGES

There are a number of developments that all PREPARE administrators need to carefully note - all of these represent important areas of growth for the PREPARE-ENRICH operation.

(1) We now have a WEB SITE

Recognising that most churches and agencies are now making extensive use of the Internet, we have now set up a simple web site so that it will be easier to provide information about our operation. The site homepage address is:

www.prepare-enrich.com.au

The homepage currently provides general contact details for the National Office and links to information for (1) couples interested in taking one of the inventories, (2) for those interested in training to use PREPARE and (3) for existing accredited Administrators. It is the third link that will be of great use to Administrators. We intend to use this like a bulletin board. We will have a regular Hint of the Month feature (posted at the beginning of each month, starting in July) that will highlight a practical tip or a brief summary of a relevant research finding that will be helpful to Administrators. We will also provide a News feature that will provide up-to-date information, and electronic access to current and recent past issues of the Diary. You will also be able to order supplies by email. In the near future, the web site will also provide helpful links to other useful and relevant websites as well as a "frequently asked questions for Administrators" (FAQ) link.

We suggest you bookmark the homepage and access the site regularly.

(2) Changes to the Diary and our ways of communicating to you

The hard copy, mailed-out, version of the Diary is proving very expensive and the cost of mailing is about to increase substantially. Our intention is to make the Diary available on the web site in the future. You will be able to print it off if you want a hard copy. The advantage is not merely reduced cost: We will be able to make the Diary more substantial and move some "house-keeping" kinds of items onto other parts of the web site. The Diary will still be released late in June and early in December. If you regularly visit the web site for the Hint of the Month, News and to order supplies you will be alerted to the availability of the latest Diary. In addition to communicating via the web site, we will also continue to send other notices and information as inclusions in the processing returns that are being mailed to you. We would like to thank Geoff Lamb (City Interprint, Brisbane) for printing the Diary so reliably and effectively for so many years (but we still have a lot of work for him).

If you do not have access to the Internet we are prepared to mail you the Diary (as it would appear on the web site) if you request this service. Simply call the National Office on 02 9545 4566. Please only use this service if it is absolutely necessary - we are trying to reduce costs and to be more efficient so that we do not have to increase processing costs.

(3) End of the old version - February 2003

We are still processing the old Version of PREPARE and ENRICH but we will cease processing it at the end of February 2003. We are continuing to offer Update Training Days for the new version in as many locations as we can. Please check the dates on the back of this Diary and plan to attend a Training Day soon. If there is no Training Day in your area and you are willing to provide a venue please contact the PREPARE Office and we will endeavour to arrange for a Trainer to come to you.

(4) New Trainers

We are pleased to announce that two new Trainers have joined our team and we thank them, and all our Trainers, for their involvement in the PREPARE-ENRICH training program.

In Tasmania: Ray Westcott (now "retired", with extensive experience in counselling and facilitating seminars, programs and workshops in the areas of personal growth and relationship development).

In Queensland: Kenneth Hopper (Anglican Minister, currently an Army Chaplain - with involvement in marriage preparation programs for members of the military).

(5) A New Inventory

An inventory has been developed in the USA that is more relevant to working with cohabiting couples. This is currently being adapted for use in Australia and in a form that parallels the format of the current V2000 reports. Not all Administrators will necessarily want to use this addition, but it is anticipated that it will be available for those who desire to use the inventory to purchase as an add-on inventory by the end of 2002. Release details of PREPARE-CC will be posted on the web site later this year.

WORKING WITH ITEMS DEALING WITH ABUSE

PREPARE Administrators operate in a wide range of professional categories (eg. psychologist, counsellor, educator, clergy) and should be aware of the ethical and legal requirements that apply to them in that profession in their particular State or Territory. If you are working with an agency or organization it is important to know and act upon the requirements specified by that group. These comments might be helpful:

Abuse in the Family

PREPARE Administrators should remember that the items dealing with abuse within the family of origin are all of a very general and subjective nature: Example: "Were you ever abused (verbally, emotionally, physically, or sexually) by your parents?"

Hence, a person's response can never be taken to be indicative of a highly specific form of abuse. Nor is it clear as to whether one or both parents were involved and when. Responses simply do not provide sufficient information about the nature of the abuse to form the basis for mandatory reporting of present or future forms of criminal activity.

Furthermore, persons completing one of PREPARE-ENRICH inventories are not at risk children. They are adults who are providing self-report descriptions of their past experience of family. Even if discussion of item responses provides a more detailed and specific account of past abuse, since the person is not an at risk child, it is unlikely that any State or Territory act requiring mandatory reporting of abuse would be relevant here. What is important is that the responses provide an opportunity to work carefully and sensitively with the impact that these perceptions might have for a couple's present and future relationship. If a person decides that they need to do some personal work on these issues and maybe explore the possibility of taking legal action it is important to refer the person (or couple) to an appropriate professional since it is no longer a matter for relationship counselling or education.

Abuse By Partner

PREPARE Administrators should remember that the items dealing with abuse by a partner are all of a very general nature and involve a subjective perception: Example: "Have you ever been abused (verbally, emotionally, physically, or sexually) by your partner?"

Hence, a person's response can never be taken to be indicative of a highly specific and criminal form of abuse. As with the case of child abuse, responses simply do not provide sufficient information about the nature of the abuse to form the basis for mandatory reporting of present or future forms of criminal activity. What is important is that the responses provide an opportunity to work carefully and sensitively with these perceptions. The abuse might be of an emotional form and not intended to be abusive. The couple may benefit from exploring this issue and finding better ways to communicate with each other and to avoid unhelpful patterns and processes.

NOTES FROM OUR OFFICE

Please do not allow couples to take the Item Books away and to answer the questions without supervision. This could lead to couples comparing answers as they work through the items and therefore the results may not be accurate. In addition, as the Item Books are copyright they should not leave Administrator's premises unless there is a problem where one of the couple is living in another city and this is the only way that the Answer Sheet can be completed. If the Administrator's time is limited it is acceptable for a non-trained PREPARE person to supervise the couple while they are completing the Answer Sheets.

It is a good idea to photocopy your answer sheets before sending to the Processing Centre. A number of Answer Sheets have been lost in the mail and have not reached us. If you have a copy of the original sheets you can transfer the data onto new Answer Sheets and save the couple the time-consuming task of completing the Answer Sheets again.

ADVANCE REMINDER: END OF YEAR CLOSING

Please remember that the Prepare Office will be closed over the Christmas period from 19th December to 3rd January (inclusive).

PROCESSING COSTS

The standard cost of processing continues to be $38.50 (includes GST) but please call our office to obtain a price for discounts for multiples. Please pay invoices promptly. We are doing our best to maintain the present rates despite increased costs, so please help us to keep unnecessary costs to a minimum. We are strongly committed to ensuring that the cost of taking PREPARE does not become prohibitive to couples.

A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE PETER ELSON

On a very sad note, we learned that Rev. Peter Elson was tragically killed in a car accident in May this year. Peter was a long-time user of PREPARE and was a well-respected and valued member of our team of Trainers (working first in Queensland and more recently in the Riverina area of NSW). We want to let you all know since many of you would have been trained by Peter, and we extend our sympathy to Peter's wife and family.

CONFERENCES

Melbourne, July 20th 9am-4pm - Keys to Building Successful Relationships. Organised by Victorian State Marriage and Relationship Educators Association of Australia. Contact: (03 9287 5516).

Brisbane, September 26th to 30th - Thriving Through Life. Marriage and Relationship Education National Conference. Contact: Christine Hodge (07 3252 4371).

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT TRAINING- SA and WA

Ongoing skills training for current PREPARE-ENRICH administrators in SA:

4 July at Clare. Facilitator Elizabeth Alvey. Topics: Looking at conflict, communication and family of origin. Contact: Helen Lockwood, Lutheran Community Care - 8269 9322.

7 August at Prospect (9.30am - 11.30am). Facilitator: Elizabeth Alvey. Topic: Children & Parenting.

Cost $ 10.00. Contact: Elizabeth Alvey - 8342 4005

22 October (9.30am - 11.30am). Facilitator: Elizabeth Alvey. Topic: Personality Issues.

Cost $ 10.00. Contact: Elizabeth Alvey - 8342 4005.

Ongoing skills training for current PREPARE-ENRICH administrators in WA:

10 August. MAREAA Professional Development Day. Contact Elizabeth Dalzell (9284 0190).

4 September (9.30am-12.30pm). Skills Development. Facilitator Elizabeth Dalzell (9284 0190).

7 November. MAREAA Professional Development Day. Contact Elizabeth Dalzell (9284 0190).

FOR THOSE IN PASTORAL MINISTRY:

If you are interested in topics such as…

• Psychology and Christian Theology
• Self-esteem and God's grace
• The Role of Insight in Pastoral Counselling
• Leadership in the Church and Family

… then you might consider purchasing Beyond Rivalry - Psychology and Theology as Complements, a new book written by Dr. Alan Craddock (a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Sydney and National Coordinator of Prepare-Enrich). This book describes and applies a constructive form of relationship between the disciplines of Christian theology and psychology - Psychology and Theology as Complements. This view is contrasted with four other viewpoints: Psychology as Foe, Psychology as Support, Psychology as a Partner in Integration and Psychology as Contaminant. While not directly a Prepare-Enrich resource, the two chapters on leadership in the church and family draw on the ideas associated with the concepts of cohesion, flexibility and balance, all of which play an important role in the Prepare-Enrich materials.

If you wish to order a copy simply telephone (02) 9545 4566. The cost is $24.95 (including GST and postage). We will mail you a copy and invoice you accordingly.