David Vinegrad

As the Director of Behaviour Matters (www.behaviourmatters.org.au) he is recognised as a world leader in the development of school based Restorative Practice. He has pioneered the application of Restorative Justice in the classroom, corridor and playground to enhance, promote and repair relationships. With his colleague Marg Thorsborne, he has authored 4 books and training manuals about Restorative Practice.

David is a well-known presenter with extensive experience in the area of Behaviour Management both nationally and internationally. He has taught nearly every subject in Tasmania and Victoria and acted in many leading behaviour management roles.

He demonstrates skills and knowledge on a daily basis as he teaches difficult classes and students with whom most teachers would not feel comfortable. Over the years David has initiated several methods and approaches to managing students which may be regarded as revolutionary.

He taught for many years in Tasmania and Victoria in leading behaviour management roles. David’s expertise and abilities in this area have been recognised at all levels. Over the years he has initiated and supported several student management initiatives that may be regarded by some as being revolutionary. All who have taught with him would agree that he has the ability to ask all educators to think, to examine and to question; are there better or more beneficial ways of managing students than those we are using at present?

David has spent over 30 years working with teachers and students in a variety of diverse educational settings undertaking and developing a wide range of roles. His classroom experience includes teaching almost all subjects and three years as a permanent relief teacher in inner Melbourne tested and developed his student management skills. David has a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education in Counseling and Adolescent Development.

In 1993 David pioneered Restorative Practice in Tasmania and then moved onto Victoria to passionately spread the word. His experience includes working with Tasmanian Police to incorporate conferencing as a juvenile justice intervention, worked with the Singapore Ministry of Education training Guidance Branch Officers and the staff of pilot schools as a first Restorative Practice initiative for Singapore. David has recently returned to Melbourne to continue his consultancy after working for 7 years in a range of international schools in Japan and Brazil.