Wednesday, September 02, 2009
After nearly two months working away from home and holidays ... I am back. A mountain of paperwork, for this last years Ongoing Professional Development (OPD), has been climbed and put to rest. It is all complete for another year!

Thank you to all those who have joined me for OPD over the six years that I have been delivering it - both face to face (across Australia) and by distance education. I started many years ago when Meg and Jim Boswell convened a meeting here in the Coffs Coast area. This was way before the OPD became compulsory. Our first training day was a huge success so for the first two years we ran three one day meetings throughout the year. It was run completely by volunteers with Meg, Jim and myself presenting. I remember being very nervous for the first few times that I stood in front of my colleagues ... and yet, it has taken me on a wonderful adventure.

Lots of fun, lots of laughter, lots of information and sharing - I was ALWAYS greeted by happy smiling and enthusiastic faces and a real willingness to share and be involved. So many celebrants have been so generous with their time, their stories and the sharing of expertise. Both old and new celebrants combining ideas and inspiration to bring about growth and better ways of approaching our work.

There have also been many challenges - there have been some very difficult celebrants out there - but I am grateful for the opportunities that they too offered. Having to deal with challenging and, at times, rude behaviour and responses really tested my conflict resolution skills and kept my humility in light.

It is easy for the ego to get a little puffed up and always, I kept an eye on this and the challenges alongside the wisdom of others kept me humble. So I thank everyone for the experiences I have had.

One of the biggest moments during my OPD years was when the Marriage Celebrants Program officers tested about 30 celebrant trainers one year. We were invited to Canberra, after having completed and passing an assignment based upon various legal aspects of the Marriage Act 1961 (I had to do mine while travelling overseas and missed a day's walking in Paris while I did this :( 

During the one day session we were questioned as a small group around the table and then given a role play situation to manage - I have never experienced such a disturbing training and testing session in all my years as a child and adult educator. It was an upsetting experience for all those that went. And yet, it too, enhanced my enthusiasm for integrity and fairness in my communication and training skills.

All in all, I have been shaped, for the better, by the many training days and the behind the scenes work that made my OPD business a huge success.

There have been many changes afoot over the last few years and now, finally, it has been laid to rest. The Attorney-General's department has announced that all OPD will from January 2010 be conducted by Registered Training Organisations (RTO). Neither Sally, from The Celebrants Training College, nor myself, are RTO's which effectively means our OPD businesses are closed. It has been challenging over the years not knowing which way the department were going to go right up until the eleventh hour most years, with last minute decisions and actions placing a lot of stress of us as deliverers of OPD - this decision will certainly provide uniformity for the OPD. Please visit the Marriage Celebrants website for more details about next years OPD.

THANK YOU!!

I am deeply grateful for the support and enthusiasm that has been ever present at the training days I have conducted. I have made so many wonderful friends and enjoyed the company of so many beautiful celebrants. Thank you. Deep gratitude must also go to Mary Molan, from the Marriage Celebrants Section in Canberra, as she has been a lifeline in communication and support.

It is time for a new journey for me!


My second last OPD day with 50 celebrants in Brisbane 14th June - Choreography and Movement in Ceremonies