The work and life of Max Cornwell OAM have been guided by a humanistic impulse; a preference for the democratic and emancipatory. He joined the protests against restrictions to civil liberties in Queensland in the 1970’s, he started theatre groups in Queensland prisons, and he has always been suspicious of grand theories. Even after decades as a family therapist, his advice to other practitioners is: ‘Don’t fall in love with your theory’. It is part of his hatred of fundamentalism. For Max, there is still plenty to fight for…

LINKS:

Hazel Smith obituary

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03124077008549308

The history of the Australian Association of Family Therapy in New South Wales: https://www.aaft.asn.au/branches/nsw/

The Milan Approach: Centro Milanese di Terapia della Famiglia:

(CMTF) https://www.cmtf.it/en/

Mentioned in this episode:

Theatre: Arthur Miller, The Crucible

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crucible

Brendan Behan, The Hostage;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hostage_(play)

For a summary of the Bjelke-Petersen government’s restrictions on civil liberties:

Nothing Has Changed: Why Queensland’s protest battle has raised Joh Bjelke-Petersen’s ghost

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/sep/01/nothing-has-changed-why-queenslands-protest-battle-has-raised-joh-bjelke-petersens-ghost

Quote “The past is another country. They do things differently there”.

from L.P. Hartley: The Go-Between, Penguin Books, 1953

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/258079.The_Go_Between

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

The Australian Association of Social Workers respectfully acknowledges the past and present traditional owners and ongoing custodians of the lands on which this podcast is being recorded. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, their ancestors and their families, and to the Elders of other communities who may be listening.