Join us again to explore the question of how often families should gather at the dinner table. Derek Boylen says the answer lies in both the quantity and quality of the time spent together. Starting small is recommended to introduce new traditions and build upon them.

Research shows that the amount of quality time needed to maintain a healthy relationship varies, with some studies suggesting at least two hours a week and others suggesting 15 hours. Ultimately, the frequency of family meals depends on the family's needs, challenges, and demands, with some families requiring more time together than others.

For more information and help in getting you family togather ta the dinner table go to  https://majellan.media/the-dinner-table/ 

This podcast is a must listen for all faith-based organisations taking child protection seriously.

Our guest, Professor Daryl Higgins from the Institute of Child Protection Studies talks about areas concerning the understanding of how young people perceive safety. 

Continuing the work done for the Royal Commission into institutional responses into child sexual abuse to understand what are the different risks and perceptions that young people have around where harm might occur in the kind of youth serving organisations that they engage with.

Daryl outlines the fundamental questions communities need to be asking young people about their involvement in safety and what they want from faith-based communities.

In this third Dinner Table podcast, Derek Boylen discusses the spiritual significance of families sharing a meal together. 

While families may not be religious, sharing a meal can help them grow in love and faith. Derek says just as Jesus broke bread and shared a meal with his disciples, the importance of families being together should never be underestimated or undervalued.

Derek says a family sharing a meal is in itself a powerful spiritual presence and he has some tips on what families can do to grow their love together.

Find resources to make your family dinner table a place of love here.

www.majellan.media

In this second Dinner Table podcast with Derek Boylen, we look at the enormous health benefits for people when they share a family meal. Lower rates of depression and anxiety, substance abuse, and eating disorders have all been reported, while higher rates of resilience and self-esteem have also been noted.

Derek also says families sharing a meal and communicating also helps young people’s social skills and develops bonds between siblings and parents from an early age.

Listen now and then visit us at the dinner table for even more great tips on how to make the most of your family's time at your dinner table.

In this new podcast series, we are on a mission to reunite families at the Dinner Table. We want to help families be closer, sharing and more loving. The dinner table is not only an area for eating but a place for gathering, sharing, communicating and where relationships can grow. Studies show there are enormous mental and physical health benefits for the whole family with reduced rates of anxiety and depression. There are so many benefits, and, in this series, we’ll give you ideas on how to get your family to the dinner table and how to make it a valuable experience for everyone.

We are joined again by Derek Boylen who featured in our Focus Sessions series. Derek is a father of nine, and director of the Centre for Life, Marriage and Family in the Archdiocese of Perth. He’s also a lecturer in the Discipline of Counselling at the University of Notre Dame in Perth specialising in grief and loss, professional and personal growth, and couple and family therapy. 

Join us at the Dinner Table for more

In our special Mission podcast we talk to Kirsty Robertson, the CEO of Caritas Australia. Kirsty has previously featured on our podcasts speaking about Caritas’ role in helping the people of Ukraine following the invasion by Russia and the importance of Project Compassion during Lent.

Caritas Australia is the Catholic Church’s international aid and development agency and is part of one of the largest humanitarian networks in the world.

Recently returned from Ethiopia, Kirsty speaks about the dire consequences families are facing in Ethiopia and how they are struggling to even find water for their children. She says conflict and drought are proving to be a deadly combination in the African nation.

Interest rate increases and the rising cost of living are making life much more difficult for families. In this latest Financial Series podcast featuring Serina Bird she discusses ways families can survive the tough times. Serina says with inflation pushing up prices for things such as groceries and petrol, many people understandably are feeling powerless but it’s not all doom and gloom and there are things families can do to insulate themselves from the rising cost of living.

In this very important podcast, Serina provides some terrific tips on how families can make it through the rough and tumble of the next few years.

In this latest podcast of the Child Wellbeing Series with Daryl Higgins, Director of Australian Catholic University’s Institute of Child Protection Studies, we discuss the issue of parents smacking their children.

Daryl talks about the latest study which shows children who are smacked are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression later in life. He also provides strategies for parents who may feel guilty after smacking a child and are looking for a more harmonious household