About
Talk Your Peace is a Western Australia-based consultancy focused on Nonviolent Communication.
Talk Your Peace is led by Marg Pontin, one of only a handful of trainers in Australia certified by the Center for Nonviolent Communication. Marg has trained nationally and internationally since 2004 with world leaders in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and mediation, organisational learning and development, and strategic planning and teamwork.
Marg is a consultant, manager, educator and workshop leader who has worked in education, disability, and corporate and community development. Her 25 years-plus in teaching span primary, secondary and adult education. Her career includes 12 years of school leadership as principal.
Marg’s daughter Rachel is a partner in Talk Your Peace. Rachel has been immersed in NVC for almost 20 years and is working towards CNVC certification. She works with schools and organisations to facilitate training for staff, parents or children.
Rachel has undertaken online training in resonance and trauma. She is interested in the neurobiology of learning, executive functioning and how brains and people change, particularly in relation to teens and young men. Rachel has a background in permaculture, homeschooling and martial arts.
I use the term Nonviolent Communication as Gandhi used it... While we may not believe we are ‘violent', our words and thoughts often lead to pain for others and ourselves.
Marshall Rosenberg
What is Violent Communication?
If “violent” means acting in ways that result in hurt or harm, then much of how we communicate—judging others, bullying, having racial bias, blaming, finger pointing, discriminating, speaking without listening, criticising others or ourselves, name-calling, reacting when angry, using political rhetoric, being defensive or judging who’s “good/bad” or what’s “right/wrong” with people—could indeed be called “violent communication.”
What is Nonviolent Communication?
Nonviolent Communication is the integration of 4 things:
Consciousness: a set of principles that support living a life of empathy, care, courage, and authenticity
Language: understanding how words contribute to connection or distance
Communication: knowing how to ask for what we want, how to hear others even in disagreement, and how to move toward solutions that work for all
Means of influence: sharing “power with others” rather than using “power over others”.
Nonviolent Communication serves our desire to do three things:
Increase our ability to live with choice, meaning, and connection
Connect empathically with self and others to have more satisfying relationships
Sharing of resources so everyone is able to benefit
“Nonviolent Communication shows us a way of being very honest, without any criticism, insults, or put-downs, and without any intellectual diagnosis implying wrongness.”
— Marshall B. Rosenberg, PhD
Violence is the tragic expression of unmet needs.
Marshall Rosenberg
Useful Links
For more information about trainers and training events around Australia, as well as product information you may like to contact www.nvcaustralia.com
For information about Marshall Rosenberg and international trainers and events, and to download the first chapter of Marshall's book Nonviolent Communication, you may like to contact www.cnvc.org
Marg Pontin
I have always been passionate about good relationships and clear communication between people. For much of the past two decades I have used the language tools developed by Marshall Rosenberg to foster better communication for individuals, groups and organisations.
I have seen the difference NVC makes in a range of settings - between managers and staff, people with intellectual disabilities and their carers, colleagues, couples, organisations and their customers, parents and their children and teachers and their students and parents.
My key areas of interest are personal and family relationships, education, corporate communication and community development.
Rachel Pontin
I have been learning Nonviolent Communication for 20 years and teaching it for more than six years. I homeschool my neurodivergent teenager, who has given me ample opportunity to practise patience, reconnection, co-regulation and self-regulation.
I see NVC as a powerful framework, a philosophy and a set of practical tools for aligning our behaviour and communication with our core values.
CNVC Certified Trainer
Who we’ve worked with
We’d love to work with you
What people say about our workshops
‘I love that this model doesn't require both sides to speak the same emotional language. As a lot of it can be internal dialogue and the physical conversation is so simple, there is no need for an understanding of fancy emotional terms. It breaks down so nicely.’ - BK
‘It was a perfect balance of theory and practice, lots of ideas to take away and trial. Thankyou both for your time and sense of calm. My life is richer for meeting you.’ – Meredith
‘Loved working off the OFNR [observation, feeling, need request] dance floor to uncover my patterns and learn new options and choices. Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom so kindly and with such safety.’ – Attendee