Australian Premiere: BEYOND FEAR: Finding Hope in the Horror
Jointly presented by:
Issues Deliberation Australia/America and The Bob Hawke
Prime Ministerial Centre, UniSA
Thursday 9 November 2006
Copies of BEYOND FEAR: Finding Hope in the Horror are available for purchase at a cost of $19.95 via Issues Deliberation Australia/America.
Please contact Deborah Shakeshaft, IDA, on T: 08 8295 6112 or E: deborah@ida.org.au.
This fascinating documentary is based on the work of the world’s experts
on managing fear and terror. These experts – from the USA, Australia,
Canada, Iran, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, France, Italy Germany and
the UK, came together at an International Assembly convened by South
Australian psychologist, Dr Pamela Ryan, research fellow at the Hawke
Research Institute for Sustainable Societies and Managing Director of Issues
Deliberation Australia/America (IDA) .
Via the media, we all see the immediate impact of terrorism, but what
actually happens to survivors of terror in the aftermath? And…. how well
prepared is our community to deal with the longer term psychosocial effects
of terrorist attacks? The film explores the psychological impact of fear and
terror through the eyes of those who have suffered and those whose job it is
to help them manage their trauma.
There will also be an opportunity to hear from Jason McCartney, former AFL
footballer, 2002 Bali bombing survivor, and delegate to the International
Assembly on Fear and Terror, and the Hon Bob Hawke AC, who headed the
International Board of patrons for the Assembly. One of the major outcomes
of the Assembly was the establishment of PSYCHOLOGISTS PSYCHIATRISTS AND
SOCIAL WORKERS WITHOUT BORDERS. Members of the Board of Directors of PWOB,
including Dr, Ryan (Chair of the Board) will join Jason to take questions
following the screening.
Recommended viewing for mature audiences only.
With special guest speakers
- The Hon Bob Hawke AC
- Jason McCartney, AFL Legend and Survivor of the 2002 Bali Bombings
- Dr Pamela Ryan, Managing Director, Issues Deliberation Australia/America
- Ms Amanda Gordon, President, Australian Psychological Society
Panel Members
Following the screening, there will be an opportunity for Q & A with a selected panel of experts.
- Pam Ryan - Moderator
- Moira Deslandes
- Virginia Hickey
- Amanda Gordon
- David Bonython-Wright, SA representative: Psychology Without Borders
- Jason McCartney
BEYOND FEAR: Finding Hope in the Horror
 |
A self portrait by an Israeli teenager after witnessing a terror attack (Ort School, Israel) |
The advent of random terrorist attacks, the escalation of which we have
seen in the last few years, has revealed how psychologically vulnerable and
unprepared the west is to handle the consequences of terrorism. In countries
where terror has a longer history, the psychological damage is immense.
Australian political psychologist, Dr Pamela Ryan, wanting to help people
overcome the paralyzing affects of fear and terror, convened an
International Assembly on Managing the Psychology of Fear and Terror. The
Assembly brought together over 90 of the world’s leading trauma specialists
whose job it is to help ease the psychological suffering of others. The
Assembly was convened by IDA in collaboration with the University of Texas
and the University of South Australia. These experts gathered in Austin,
Texas from the USA, Israel, Iran, The Gaza Strip, Chile, Italy, Spain,
France, Germany, Canada and of course Australia. The International Board of
Patrons for the Assembly included Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former British
Prime Minister John Major, and former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres.
Beyond Fear is a documentary based on that Assembly, but it speaks in two
voices: that of trauma specialists as they brainstormed how best to manage
the psychology of fear and terror; and the voice of the ordinary people who
have suffered directly or indirectly the horror of a terrorist attack.
The film is a companion to the White Paper Managing the Psychology of
Fear and Terror: Strategies for Governments, Service Providers and
Individuals which together will provide an invaluable tool for
educational institutions, practitioners and politicians who need to know
more about psychological preparedness to combat the fear that the
perpetrators of terror seek to achieve.
Jason McCartney
Jason McCartney became a national hero in the wake of the Bali Bombings and epitomises the Australian fighting spirit. His story is one of humanity overcoming adversity. Jason, a young Australian with an exceptional talent to play Australian Rules Football, was thrust into the hearts and minds of all Australians through his courageous fight-back from horrible burns he suffered in Bali.
Few will forget his triumphant return to AFL football on the evening of June 6, 2003. He helped in scoring the winning goal, but his ultimate glory was a victory over terrorism and a "win" for all those who survived Bali. Jason was awarded an OAM in October 2003.
Jason is a remarkable guest speaker with an amazing ability to inspire audiences with accounts of how he overcame adversity through amazing support from family, friends and team mates. The burns he received in Bali have seen him become a staunch supporter of various charities including the blood donation and the Red Cross Blood Service and he maintains a strong commitment to helping those less fortunate.
Dr
Pamela Ryan
As a psychologist, political scientist, organizational consultant and
academic, Dr Pam Ryan has helped numerous private and public organizations
successfully handle a diverse range of strategic, psychological,
organizational, cultural and political issues. Dr Ryan has shared her time
between Australia and Texas for almost twenty years. During her first decade
in Texas, Dr Ryan conducted award-winning research into the escalation of
commitment by venture capitalists, and consulted in the venture capital
industry on strategic human resource and organizational culture issues. In
1998, Dr Ryan shifted her focus to the public policy/political arena, to
establish Issues Deliberation Australia / Issues Deliberation America, and
has been Managing Director of IDA since its inception. As Managing Director
of IDA, Dr Ryan has headed the team of psychologists, sociologists,
researchers and over 100 volunteers to ensure the success of numerous
political psychology and public policy projects: national Deliberative Polls
on whether Australia should become a Republic and Reconciliation between
indigenous and non-indigenous Australians; a “future perfect” Economic
Growth Summit and a Constitutional Convention on parliamentary reform for
the South Australian government; a cross-country comparative study of True
Believer voters in Australia and the USA; and the first International
Assembly on Managing the Psychology of Fear and Terror. This unprecedented
event brought 90 of the world’s experts on fear and terror to Austin, Texas
to collaboratively build strategies for global, national, local and
individual application.
In March 2005, Dr Ryan founded Psychologists, Psychiatrists and Social
Workers Without Borders (PWOB) as a direct outcome of the first
International Assembly on Managing the Psychology of Fear and Terror. In May
2005, Dr Ryan joined a team of psychologists from Israel, Australia and
Texas for a PWOB pilot project in Sri Lanka doing tsunami relief work. PWOB
is involved in planning similar mental health work for survivors of
Hurricane Katrina in the US Gulf coast.
Dr Ryan has authored and co-authored several conference papers and journal
articles relating to the academic aspects of IDA projects. Dr Ryan serves on
several Boards, including a term on South Australia’s Premier’s Council for
Women. Dr Ryan is also co-founder and co-author of Board Women, an
international program to assist women to serve most effectively on Boards of
Directors, both private and public. Dr Ryan earned her PhD at the University
of Texas. She has taught graduate and undergraduate classes in the
psychology of decision making, qualitative research methods,
entrepreneurship, organizational behaviour and politics.
Issues Deliberation Australia/America
Issues Deliberation Australia / America (IDA) is a not-for-profit,
non-partisan political psychology and public policy think tank. IDA was
established to facilitate the conduct and dissemination of high quality
research, public consultation, education and public debate on topical social
and public policy issues impacting Australia, America and the world.
IDA uses a number of leading edge methodologies from other parts of the
world for research, public consultation, education and public debate on
social and public policy issues. These include: Deliberative Polling®,
International Assemblies™, National Assemblies™, ‘Future Perfect’ Thinking™,
Qualitative Research and Quantitative Research.
- Deliberative Polling encompasses the full spectrum of research methods, utilising random sample surveys, personal interviews and focus groups to facilitate the informed voice of the people. That informed voice can then inform policy. IDA has conducted Deliberative Polls on whether or not Australia should become a Republic, relations between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples, human rights and constitutional reform.
- Future Perfect Thinking is an innovative method of strategic planning known to enhance the quality and quantity of ideas generated. For example, in 2003, IDA designed and implemented an Economic Growth Summit for the South Australian Government set in 2013.
- National and International Assemblies bring the experts together in order to develop a comprehensive solution set for targeted social and public policy problems. IDA designed and convened the first International Assembly on Managing the Psychology of Fear and Terror in Austin Texas in August 2004. One of the key outcomes of this Assembly was the establishment of the international non-profit organization, Psychologists, Psychiatrists and Social Workers Without Borders (PWOB). IDA spearheaded this initiative.
Qualitative and Quantitative research is conducted for all of the above
methodologies, both academic and applied. Other leading edge research, for
example the cognitive mapping of true believer voters in two countries,
exemplifies IDA’s commitment to rigorous cutting edge research that can
contribute to both the political psychology field, as well as the real life
political arena.
IDA is also committed to significant public education on findings resulting
from the above methodologies. Research findings are disseminated to Members
of Parliament, government agencies, the general media, professional
organizations and directly to the public through publications,
presentations, training programs and other educational forums.
While the views presented by speakers within the Hawke Centre public program are their own and are not necessarily those of either the University of South Australia or The Hawke Centre, they are presented in the interest of open debate and discussion in the community and reflect our themes of: strengthening our democracy – valuing our cultural diversity – and building our future.