Watch Jack Ellis on the Daily Edition
Testimonials
The day was fantastic! Thank you very much! Jack was so engaging and really kept the boys focused. The learning intention and discussions were spot on.
Samantha Judge, Killarney Heights Public School, NSW
What a gift we have been given to be invited to participate in this Program! Jack was dynamic, passionate, generous and so engaging. My students were in awe and enamoured. As Head Teacher Wellbeing, it is not often I come across an initiative that 100% of students are invested in. Walk the Talk has achieved this. My students left the session feeling energised, empowered, inspired and ready to take action.
Leah Pappin, Head Teacher Wellbeing, Randwick Boys High School, NSW
Thank you so much for the student feedback- it is fantastic to read. Jack had a great day with the boys, they were very engaged and responsive to his message. Jack did an amazing job with them!
Tegan Sutton, Year Level Coordinator – Year 8, Canterbury College, Qld
The Goodfellas Program recently trekked to Queensland to visit our school at Redbank Plains State High School. From pre-event organisation to program delivery on the day and follow up post visit, the Goodfellas team was nothing short of amazing – they presented to a cohort of our Year 9 boys and delivered engaging and insightful information into debunking a number of damaging myths young men face and deal with regularly during their journeys through adolescence. I had the pleasure of sitting in on presentations by both Ben and Jack – two respectable young men who captured the attention of our cohort and engaged our students throughout their presentations. What a fantastic supplemental program to our social wellbeing and resilience program that we deliver at Redbank Plains State High School! A big thank you to the team at Goodfellas for value adding and providing our young men with not only strategies to debunk further myths they may face, but key messages about the importance of being a strong male in society – a “Goodfella”. We look forward to you returning to our community in 2018.Thanks.
Lucas Nicholls, HOD – Junior Secondary School, Redbank Plains State High School
As a large comprehensive High School we find it difficult to find presenters and workshops that engage boys in that Yr 9/10 age bracket. The boys usual response is to rubbish it before it starts. In the middle of the year we enlisted ‘goodfellas’ to work with over one hundred boys. We deliberately did not tell the students too much about the day as we did not want them coming in with pre-conceived ideas about the level of relevance to them. After 10 minutes Ben Barber who ran the program had them hooked. This level of engagement flowed onto the rest of the workshop and we even had the boys asking if we could have them back at another time. For me a lot of the presentations I book are a bit like washing your car, you know when you have done it, but you don’t see much evidence after a month. Although the group of boys were not bad in any way they needed a lift and some identity to the school and I can say that the ‘goodfellas’ program has done that nine months down the track, and we can still see the effects of this program. I recommend ‘goodfellas’ to any school looking for a worthwhile positive program for teenage boys.
Adam Lawson, Pastoral Programs Co-ordinator, Holy Spirit College.
Thank you Jack and Dannielle – what an extraordinary day in the lives of our young Year 10 men. Our key words for the cohort this year are respect and integrity. Today, Jack, you demonstrated to them exactly how that looks. It was incredible to see how engaged and attentive they were and I look forward to seeing their ideas in action as the year progresses. Such powerful messages delivered with such authenticity.
Donna Findlay, Head of Senior School, Oakhill College
The Goodfellas presenters were brilliant – so engaging and approachable! Many of our students find school a challenge but the feedback they gave us showed they connected to the program in a deep, and thoughtful way. Our event was simply amazing!
Elizabeth Schuring, Year coordinator, Redbank Plains State High School.
I just wanted to convey how outstanding Jack’s presentation was this morning. He was a captivating presenter and the boys were engaged from start to finish. I noticed a number of students go up to Jack for a handshake and a conversation following the presentation.
Adam Hine, Year 9 Grammar Coordinator, Senior English Teacher, Pittwater House
The presenter… Jack was sensational. He had so much enthusiasm and passion. The students absolutely loved him. The content presented was also fantastic and very relevant. I really felt that each and every student took something away from this and I would absolutely recommend this for every school. Many thanks!
Natalie Gaudiosi, Year 10 Leader of Wellbeing, Emmaus Catholic College
Thank you, thank you, thank you for such an outstanding day yesterday. Seeing the students engaged and lost in the words of your presenters was truly inspiring. The fun, kind-natured personalities of your presenters made for an enjoyable day for staff and students. You can tell the love and passion that you have for such an important issue.
Melissa Kane, Year 9 Coordinator, Rouse Hill High School
The boy’s feedback was very positive – Jack is a great presenter. Could we have him back next month to work with our Year 8’s too?
Greg Wacker, Director of Students Years 7-12, Canterbury College
Jack was great and the boys really enjoyed his presentation. Their feedback was very positive and they were inspired to change their thinking as a result of his messages. I would definitely like to book you in again next year…
Kelley Revelman, Deputy Principal, Emmanuel College, Victoria