Ideal for Social Workers and Social Work Educators, these stories explore the sometimes heart-wrenching struggles and dilemmas of everyday lives. How do social workers and other professionals respond? The insightful questions that accompany the stories will prompt conversations about values, choices and the way society cares.

Author: Jennifer Lehmann. Published by Innovative Resources 2003.Softcover, 140 x 210mm, 126pp.

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Primary and Secondary Teachers, Art Therapists, Environmentalists and Parents; here is a poem set to paintings that follows the journey of a tear that drops into a teacup, eventually finding its way out to sea and then falling as rain over the same young boy and his beloved grandfather who cried the tear in the first place. Environmental and cyclical themes of life and death, decay and renewal, time and fear, and the gifts of one generation to another are all here in this book.

Author: Chris Townsend, Artwork: Chris Sage-Marsh, Published by Innovative Resources 2005, Includes teachers’ guide. Hardcover. 36pp.

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Primary and Pre-School Teachers, Early Childhood Workers, Psychologists and Parents: here are solution-focused approaches adapted especially for children. This radical book is based on the notion that practically all problems can be seen as skills that need to be developed. The book is buzzing with ideas, stories and suggestions to inspire adults and invite children to become active participants in skill-building and solution-finding.

Author: Ben Furman. First published by Innovative Resources in Australia 2004. Softcover, 165 x 245mm, 144pp.

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Carers, Social Workers and Social Work Educators, Counsellors and Chaplains; There are hundreds of thousands of people across Australia who care for someone with a mental illness. Caring is a delicate balancing act like no other. But how many of us really know the carers’ stories and understand their particular challenges?

Compiled and edited by John Holton, Innovative Resources, 2007, softcover, 100pp.

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Psychologists, Social Workers and Parents dealing with sibling jealousy will find this brightly illustrated book a great way to foster conversations with older children about newcomers to the family.

Published by Innovative Resources 2008. Author: Rebecca Sng softcover, 32 pages.

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Author: Molly Carlile. Published by Innovative Resources 2004. Softcover, 130 x 200mm, 72pp.

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The serious task of identifying values, setting goals and planning for the future can be enriched with these engaging, thought-provoking cards. Here is an opportunity to build positive, practical conversations about priorities and dreams.

Published by Innovative Resources. 75 laminated, full-colour cards, 100 x 100mm, 2-part cardboard box, 32-page booklet. Also available as stickers. Booklet author: Russell Deal, Illustrator: John Veeken.

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Reflexions is a set of cards that use contemporary street and techno style photo collage and graphics to deepen conversations on the issues that concern young people. A single word accompanied by graphics guide participants to identify and name reactions to their circumstances. Especially important for boys struggling to express their emotions.

Published by Innovative Resources 2001, Booklet author: Russell Deal, Designer & photographer: Tim Lane, 32 laminated, full-colour cards, 210 x 148mm, polypropylene box, 24-page booklet.

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Our Scrapbook of Strengths can be used with families, community groups, work teams, support groups, school children, and pretty much any other gathering of people.

It provides an opportunity to acknowledge and recognise the existing strengths and to identify ways in which these strengths can contribute to the resilience of the group. Open doors to alternative stories about the group’s relationships–and re-instigate hope in a problem-saturated story. Restore faith in a group’s capability to overcome issues, undertake new projects and successfully achieve their goals.

New ed. published by Innovative Resources 2009, Booklet authors: Russell Deal & Simone Silberberg, Artist: Carolyn Marrone. Designer: Tim Lane 42 A5 full-colour, laminated cards in a full-colour polypropylene box.

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A great bunch of 50 cartoon koala characters for talking about feelings. Each circle-shaped card brings us up close and personal with a very expressive koala face. Which koala are you today? The mad, glad or just plain sad one? The shy or frightened one? There are no words, so Koalas are fantastic for young children and people with literacy challenges.

Booklet author: Russell Deal, Illustrator and designer: Mat Jones. Published by Innovative Resources, 2005, 50 cards in full-colour tin.

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