IGC Annual Conference hosted by Donegal IGC Branch on 5 - 6 April 2019 at LYIT
The Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC) will welcome Guidance Counsellors and partners from all over Ireland to LYIT for the IGC Annual Conference on Friday 5 April and Saturday 6 April. “We are delighted to welcome the Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh, ‘home’ to Donegal and to this year’s IGC conference, which is hosted by the Donegal branch”, said IGC President, Beatrice Dooley.
Exhibitors from all areas of Guidance support will be present and the main sponsor of the 2019 Conference is the host, LYIT. Paul Hannigan, President of LYIT, says: “We see this event as a wonderful opportunity to connect with Guidance Counsellors from across Ireland and we are delighted to support the Donegal IGC Branch who are the hosts of this year’s event. The event provides LYIT with a fantastic platform to showcase our facilities and our programmes and we also recognise the regional impact that this event will have.”
The conference organisers are also pleased to welcome the supporting sponsors - Donegal County Council, and minor sponsors Maynooth University and Donegal Education and Training Board.
The IGC is the professional body for Guidance Counsellors, with members working with youths and adults across the lifespan. This year’s conference theme, "Valuing Uniqueness, Realising Potential" epitomises the work of guidance counsellors whose main role is to enable their students and clients to reach their full potential and to recognise their self-worth. The keynote speaker, Nikki Bradley, is sure to inspire with her impressive achievements as an adapted adventurer.
The Donegal host branch and the National Executive of the IGC are working hard to fine-tune preparations as the conference is a high point in the year for guidance counsellors. The Chairperson of the Conference Organising Committee, Eithne Sproule, says: “We, in the Donegal branch, are looking forward to extending a Céad Míle Fáilte to guidance counsellors from the four corners of Ireland. We have worked hard to ensure that the workshops will meet the needs of all and provide valuable Continuous Professional Development. We wish all attendees an enjoyable and inspirational visit to Donegal.”
Finally, and most importantly, the conference offers much sought after opportunities to upskill and gain new knowledge on a wide range of topics for guidance counsellors. This year, some of the workshops include: supporting LGBT+ young people, foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, self-harm and suicide, the changing landscape of higher education, apprenticeships and traineeships, and resilience and wellbeing for guidance counsellors.