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Customised Training

We welcome requests to provide any of the following workshops in our range at your centre or for your team, or to tailor brand new workshops to the learning needs of your staff.

We can also develop workshops on request by specific sector groups (eg. disability, mental health, youth work, early childhood). These specific sector group workshops provide an opportunity for workers to explore the use of a strengths-based approach to their work with specific groups. At the completion of these workshops participants will have visited principles and beliefs of the strengths-based approach; explored the application of a strengths approach in work with their target group; and developed practical strategies to foster a strengths approach in their own sectors and organisations.

Fees for all workshops are $1760 per day (inclusiveof GST) or $220.00per hour , incl. GST (for one facilitator) for up to 20 participants. We can travel anywhere throughout Australia. Travel and accommodation costs would be in addition to normal fees negotiated.

Please contact us for more information.

A Strengths Approach to Community Development

Outline – The strengths approach is being increasingly embraced by human service workers as a way of doing socially just practice. The approach can be applied in a variety of work contexts and this workshop will focus on its application in community contexts. In this 2 day interactive workshop participants will explore how the beliefs and principles that underpin a strength approach can inform practices in community engagement, community development and community capacity building. Practical examples of how to apply this approach in your own contexts will be explored. The application of a practice map and the tools and resources that can assist in your work will also be discussed.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Developed an in-depth understanding of the philosophy and practice of a strengths approach in community contexts
2. Discussed and explored the opportunities which are available to workers by focusing on strengths, assets and capacities rather than needs and deficiencies
3. Gained an in-depth understanding of strengths based processes, tools and resources
4. Had the opportunity to explore and develop with other participants the potential of a strengths approach in their work within communities

A Strengths Approach to Evaluation

Outline –
Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

Asset Based Community Development

Outline - Is the glass half full or half empty? Does the focus on what's not going well within our communities outweigh our curiosity about what sustains our community? In this 2 day interactive workshop participants will explore how communities can rediscover local assets and mobilize strengths and resources to build strategies for more self-reliant communities. Participants will have the opportunity to explore and discuss the principles of asset-based community development (ABCD), engage in discussions about the application of ABCD, participate in small group problem solving, and learn more about ABCD tools and techniques. This workshop draws on three decades of community development research by Jody Kretzman and John McKnight, pioneers of the Asset Based Community Development approach. The facilitators from Lighthouse Resources will build on this ground breaking work through the application of strengths based approaches to community work practice in the Australian context.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Developed an in-depth understanding of the philosophy and practice of Asset Based Community Development
2. Discussed and explored the opportunities which are available to workers by focusing on strengths, assets and capacities rather than needs and deficiencies
3. Developed an understanding of the range of possibilities for roles for all levels of governments and community organisations in supporting local ABCD initiatives
4. Gained an in-depth understanding of ABCD processes, tools and resources
5. Had the opportunity to explore and develop with other participants the potential of ABCD work.

Child Protection Using a Strengths Approach

Outline – This workshop will apply strengths-based principles, processes and skills to the challenges of statutory child protection work. It will explore how to develop therapeutic partnerships with parents and families while maintaining a focus on the safety of children. A number of stages in the work with families will be identified:

• referral
• engagement
• assessment for risks, strengths, exceptions and resources
• goal setting
• working towards goals.
Attention will be given to how statutory authority and power may be seen as an additional resource within a strengths approach.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Reviewed the principles, processes and skills of the strengths-based approach and how these can be applied to child protection work.
2. Explored how to develop therapeutic partnerships with parents while maintaining a focus on the safety of children.
3. Identified and discussed the key stages in child protection work.
4. Explored ways in which statutory authority and power may be used as an additional resource within a strengths approach.
5. Had opportunities to reflect on their own practice in light of these ideas.

Constructive Approaches to “Difficult” Conversations

Outline – Due to the client-directed nature of the strengths approach, workers often feel challenged when they have to name and address difficult issues with others. These difficulties may arise in work with clients (eg. duty of care issues), in supervision or in managing others. This workshop will explore how these issues can be named and addressed within a strengths-based conversational framework. It is designed as an alternative to approaches which are pathologising (eg. ‘managing difficult people’) or involve the use of ‘power-over’ practices.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Developed an understanding of how strengths-based principles, beliefs, skills and processes inform the approach taken when ‘difficult’ conversations are required.
2. Explored the range and complexities of situations in which ‘difficult’ issues may emerge and the moral/ethical issues and obligations which may arise in these situations.
3. Been introduced to a practice map specific to these kinds of conversations.
4. Had the opportunity to both view demonstrations and to practise using a strengths approach when ‘difficult’ conversations are required.
5. Highlighted considerations and cautions during these kinds of conversations.

Constructive Ways of Working with Conflict

Outline – This workshop is designed for workers working in the human service industry who often find themselves needing to work through conflict relationships whether these been between adults or young people. Participants will have opportunities to reflect on their own approach to working with conflict situations and what ideas inform their current practice. This is an experiential workshop where participants will be provided with the opportunity to learn and practice Strength Based mediation skills drawing on narrative practice ideas.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Been introduced to the application of the strengths approach principles and beliefs to facilitating conflict resolution.
2. Practised the application of this approach to their work by first observing demonstrations on the use of strength based mediation through the mediation map and then ‘having a go’ themselves.
3. Discussed how these skills can be used when working with adults and or young people where conflict is derailing relationships.
4. Discussed how these ideas may ‘fit’ within a duty of care framework.
5. Explored how to bring these ideas back to the work environment and the potential for incorporating them into their current organizational practices and structures.

Counselling and Therapy Using a Strengths Approach

Outline – This 2 day workshop will explore how the strengths approach can be applied to therapeutic conversations. It is a highly experiential workshop that provides opportunities for discussions, demonstrations and practice opportunities. The workshop will focus on externalising and documenting for change, as well as offer a practice map for a tool for conversations.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Revised the key concepts of the strengths approach and their relevance to therapeutic conversations
2. Explored the skill of externalising in depth
3. Explored the benefits and purposes of letter writing and other documents as supporters for change
4. Explored the use of the five stage practice map as a tool for therapeutic conversations

Documenting for Difference

Outline – The pen can be powerful! What we write about people can contribute to the maintenance of problems or open up new possibilities for change. What kind of documenting practices can be useful or make a difference in the lives of the people who consult us? Workers playing with strengths-based and narrative ideas find themselves questioning the “client file” systems they have largely inherited from medical traditions. St Lukes have coined the phrase “client owned recording” to help us think about ways of putting the principles of self-determination and transparency into action in our recording practices. Have you ever wished that documenting your work could be an enjoyable activity that enhances your practice rather than an administrative chore? In this workshop we will clarify why we could be interested in documenting our involvement with the people who consult us and what might be important to record. Participants will have opportunities to review examples of the “service folders”, paperwork tools and “change documents” developed at Kyabra and in other agencies committed to these approaches. There will also be a chance for participants to apply these ideas to the construction of documents they may actually take back into their practice after the workshop.

Outcomes - At the completion of this workshop participants will have:

1. Briefly reflected on the place & history of “practices of the written word” in welfare practice, and what can be learned from times our own lives have been written about.
2. Identified guiding principles and values that inform strengths-based approaches to documenting & recording, and key skills & tools for this aspect of practice.
3. Distinguished “client-owned recording” from other “client file” traditions, and briefly examined St Lukes’ “Service Folders” and other examples of client owned recording systems & tools.
4. Explored the concept of “change documents”, and practiced using these ideas to draft a document relating to their own recent practice.

Enhancing Supervision Skills

Outline – This workshop is designed for supervisors to extend on the skills and practice maps touched on in the Strengths Approach to Supervision workshop. Participants will have opportunities to reflect on their own supervisory practice and develop their skills through demonstrations and practice opportunities and discussions. Each workshop session will involve a particular practice map, a demonstration of its use and a practice opportunity.

Outcomes - At the completion of the sessions participants will have:

1. Revisited the principles, beliefs, skills and processes of the strengths approach to supervision.
2. Observed and deconstructed a number of live supervisory interviews.
3. Explored and had a go at a variety of supervision practice maps.
4. Practised the application of strengths-based skills and processes to both one-to-one and peer/group supervision models.

Ethical Practice

Outline – This workshop will provide participants with opportunities to explore ways of responding to the ethical challenges of day to day human services practice. Participants are encouraged to bring to the workshop examples of ethical issues of dilemmas they have come across in their practice.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Identified the variety of ethical and moral challenges experienced by human service workers
2. Been offered a range of processes and frameworks for making sound ethical choices
3. Explored the impacts of their own values and ethics on their practice
4. Discussed the importance of establishing and maintaining appropriate boundaries
5. An increased awareness of the dimensions of power in a human service role

Facilitating Parent Groups Using a Strengths Approach

Outline – This workshop looks at how a strengths approach can be applied to the facilitation of parenting groups/workshops. It will demonstrate how the principles, practice maps, skills and tools of the Strengths Approach can be used by facilitators of parent groups. The approach outlined in this workshop will provide an alternative to traditional problem or deficit focussed parent education. Specifically it will focus on ways to assist parents to identify their own strengths and capacities, and develop plans around how to apply these to the struggles that they may face in their journey toward being the parent that they want to be.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Explored how the philosophy, values, principles and beliefs of the strengths-based approach can be applied to work with parents in groups.
2. Developed an understanding of what is required by a facilitator when using a strengths approach to establish, facilitate and close groups for parents.
3. Adapted and practised the key skills of the strengths-based approach to the parenting group process:

externalising
reframing
exploring exceptions and identifying strengths
defining pictures of the future and goals
developing proposals for action.

4. Been exposed to a range of creative ideas and tools consistent with a strengths approach for use in parent groups.
5. Had the opportunity to develop their own session/course plans.
6. Identified some of the barriers that may get in the way of this approach to facilitation and explored ways of addressing these.

Going Further with a Strengths Approach

Outline – The strengths approach invites workers and organizations to step into a ‘way of thinking’ about practice that is often at odds with traditional human service thinking. This contrast will be highlighted in the workshop through an exploration of the post-structuralist philosophical foundations of the strengths approach. The workshop is specifically designed for workers who want to use this philosophy to ‘go further’ in applying a strengths ‘way of thinking’ to their work. Particular attention will be given to the skills and resources workers can use when trying to further incorporate a strengths approach into their work. Key concepts covered during the workshop will be ‘hearing strengths over the noise of problems’ and the ‘absent but implicit’. The workshop will be highly interactive with participants invited to reflect, discuss and ask questions.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Revisited the principles, beliefs, skills and processes of a strengths approach
2. Reflected on the initiatives they have taken to incorporate into their practice a strengths approach “way of thinking”
3. Explored the post-structuralist philosophical foundations of the strengths approach
4. Had opportunities to further develop skills such as externalising, reframing and exception-finding
5. Developed a plan for taking further steps into a strengths approach “way of thinking”

Group Work Using a Strengths Approach

Outline - This workshop looks at how a strengths approach can be applied to the facilitation of groups. It will demonstrate how the principles, practice maps, skills and tools of the strengths approach can be used by facilitators of groups. The workshop will explore ways in which everyone in a group has an opportunity to express their views and unique experiences. Specifically it will focus on ways to set clear goals and processes with a group and how to make decisions about whether and how to intervene as a facilitator. The development of boundaries and bottom lines will also be explored.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Explored how the philosophy, values, principles and beliefs of the strengths-based approach can be applied by facilitators of groups.
2. Adapted and practiced the key skills of the strengths-based approach to a group process:

externalising
reframing
exploring exceptions and identifying strengths
defining pictures of the future and goals
developing proposals for action.

3. Developed an understanding of setting clear goals and processes with a group which are consistent with a strengths based approach.
4. Explored when and how to intervene as a facilitator.
5. Been exposed to a range of creative ideas and tools consistent with a strengths approach for use with groups.
6. Identified some of the barriers that may get in the way of this approach to facilitation and explored ways of addressing these.

Implementing Strengths Based Practices Within Organisations

Outline – Many workers who complete introductory in the strengths approach go away feeling enthusiastic but then experience frustration when they try to apply these ideas in their own organisational contexts. This workshop is an opportunity for workers to explore how they can contribute, within their sphere of influence, to the development of strengths-based practices within their team or organisation. Participants will revisit and expand their understanding of the central principles, beliefs, skills and processes of strengths approach and have opportunities to develop practical approaches to four facets of organisational life - planning, leading, managing, and organising. A number of practical strengths and solution focussed resources will be offered including:

• PEP, an innovative, worker driven alternative to traditional performance appraisal systems.
• Ben Furman’s Twin Star model for organisational development.
• David Rocks’ “Quiet Leadership”.

Participants in the workshop will enjoy an interactive learning experience.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Revisited the principles, beliefs, skills and processes of the strengths approach.
2. Developed a clear understanding of what the strengths approach could look like when implemented in an organisational context.
3. Identified practical strategies that may be used to foster a strengths approach in their own organisations.
4. Developed knowledge of practices and processes that are congruent with a strengths approach to planning, leading, managing and organising.

Introduction to a Strengths Approach

Outline - This workshop will introduce participants to the fundamental principles, skills and processes of a strengths approach. Building on the St Luke’s “From Strength to Strength” package, this 3-day training incorporates new exercises, ideas and stories that illustrate the ways a strengths approach may be applied in human services. This training will be experiential and interactive. There will be plenty of opportunities to reflect on demonstrations and then have a go at using the ideas, skills and tools in a spirit of play and experimentation. Attention will also be given to the opportunities and restraints participants may encounter in applying these ideas and practices in their own work contexts. Thousands of workers in Australia and New Zealand have attended and enthusiastically endorsed this workshop.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Identified and explored:
• the key principles and beliefs of a strengths approach
• the stages and processes of strengths-based work.

2. Practised key skills of the approach:
• externalising
• reframing and ‘normalising’
• exploring exceptions and identifying strengths
• defining pictures of the future and developing goals
• developing proposals for action and plans
• ensuring change is noticed and measured
• using strengths tools (strengths cards, etc.)
• using ‘change documents’ such as certificates and letters

3. Discussed implications for service delivery and organisational processes including:
• client-owned recording and information systems
• implications for service delivery for specific work contexts.

Introduction to a Strengths Approach for Admin Workers

Outline – This workshop is specifically designed to introduce admin workers to the ‘basics’ of a strengths approach. It will assist them to better understand the practices and language of workers using the strengths approach. Additionally it will allow participants to discuss how the way they interact and work could reflect these principles and beliefs.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Been introduced to the principles, beliefs, skills and language of a strengths approach.
2. Contrasted a strengths approach with other traditional approaches to human service work.
3. Explored the relevance of a strengths approach to their day to day tasks and responsibilities.

Introduction to a Strengths Approach for Respite Carers

Outline –
Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

Introduction to Narrative Practice

Outline – This 3 day workshop will answer the question “what is narrative therapy?” It will explore both the foundation and the practice maps of the approach. The workshop will provide a ‘hands on’ experience of narrative practice through discussions, demonstrations and practice opportunities.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Identified and explored the key concepts of narrative practice
2. Been introduced to the introductory skills and ‘micro maps’ of narrative practice
Considered the relevance of narrative practice in their own work and explored how these ideas could be applied.

Leading and Facilitating Change Within Organisations

Outline – This workshop is designed to resource those who are actively involved in the facilitation of change processes within their organisation. It will identify and explore the range of skills and knowledge required when responding to the challenges and opportunities of organisational change. Ideas used during the workshop will be drawn from a range of post structuralist sources including Strengths Approach, Solution Focused, Ben Furman ‘Twin Star’ model, David Rocks ‘Quiet Leadership’, Appreciative Inquiry and Narrative Practices.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Developed an understanding of how post structuralist ideas principles, beliefs, skills can inform the approach taken to leading and facilitating change at different levels with the organisation.
2. Explored the range and complexities of situations in which leadership and facilitation skills may be utilized.
3. Been introduced to a range of practice skills specific to leading and facilitating change conversations within individuals and teams.
4. Had the opportunity to both view demonstrations and to practise using Leadership process tools.

Narrative Approaches to Group Work

Outline – This workshop looks at how a Narrative Approach can be applied to the facilitation of groups. It will demonstrate how the principles, practice maps, skills and tools of the Narrative approach can be used by facilitators of groups. The workshop will explore the ways in which Narrative ideas and practices; externalising, re-authoring conversations, statements of position and outsider witness conversations, influence conceptions of groups and through this the type of practice and facilitation undertaken.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Explored how the narrative ideas, its philosophy, values, principles and beliefs can be applied by facilitators of groups.
2. Practiced the key practices of a narrative approach to group work:
• externalising
• re-authoring
• statement of position maps
• outside witness practice
3. Experimented with creative tools for exploring and bearing witness to group members stories
4. Explored ways of developing authentic documentation of a groups journey and reflected on opportunities for sharing knowledge from the group with others.
5. Explored the idea of ‘positioning’ in relation to the role of facilitating group work.
6. Identified some of the barriers that may get in the way of this approach to facilitation and explored ways of addressing these.

Out of the Box

Outline – Human services workers within Australia and overseas are increasingly familiar with the range of conversation-building ‘seriously optimistic’ practice tools produced by St Luke’s Innovative Resources. Using high quality illustrations and graphic design, these hands-on tools offer rich interpretive metaphors that can act as catalysts for change, re-storying and transformation by individuals, families, groups or communities. In addition to Innovative Resources, a number of other tools have recently been developed by other individuals or organisations, such as “Illuminations”. This workshop will offer participants a number of immediately useful ideas for the use of these tools within a range of practice contexts. The client-directed philosophy behind the tools will also be explored throughout the day. Participants can look forward to a highly participative, interactive workshop in which their own creativity, storytelling and sense of humour will be encouraged. A full range of tools produced by Innovative Resources and others will also be available for sale at this workshop.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Been provided with a range of immediately useful ideas for the use of the practice tools.
2. Had the opportunity to experience several of these ideas in pairs or small group exercises.
3. Considered the client-directed philosophy behind the tools.
4. Had opportunities to share and reflect on the creative possibilities for the use of the tools within their own practice.

Professional Enhancement Planning : An Alternative to Traditional Performance Appraisal Systems

Outline – Professional Enhancement Planning (PEP) is an innovative, worker-driven system for ensuring professional/skill development, and fostering a 'culture of learning'. A few years ago, while shopping for a performance appraisal process, Kyabra discovered that most workers have horror-stories about processes that have seemed to be more about ‘control’ than ‘promoting positive change and growth’. They wanted a process more congruent with the strengths approach used in their work with the individuals, families and communities who consult them. The PEP process was developed to be energising and effective in enhancing workers’ skills by harnessing their own interests and passions. The process assists workers and their supervisors to invite reflections from clients, colleagues and other stakeholders on the important themes they encounter in their work. Participants in the workshop will enjoy an interactive learning experience.
Outcomes - At the completion of this workshop participants will have:
1. Revisited the principles, beliefs, skills and processes of the strengths-based approach.
2. Gained an understanding of the processes and skills involved in Professional Enhancement Planning.
3. Had the opportunity to practise individual steps in the process.
4. Explored how such a strengths-based system could be employed in their own workplace.

Resilience Work : Noticing and Supporting Initiatives Taken in the Face of Adversity

Outline – Resilience can be defined as the human capacity to face, overcome, and even to be strengthened by experiences of adversity (Grotberg, 1999). Increasingly, practitioners and researchers alike are recognizing resilience as a useful concept to inform and guide our work with individuals and families. Rather than only focusing on the risk factors of people’s lives - ie. what is going wrong - we also need to identify the protective factors – ie. what’s working well – if we would like to see the people we work with positively adapt to an adverse situation(s). This interactive workshop looks at how a strengths approach can be used to build the resilience of individuals and families. It views distressed individuals/families not as damaged, but as challenged, and shows how the strengths approach affirms the individual/family's potential for repair and growth. Participants will be introduced to a range of strengths-based tools and strategies that will assist them in identifying the protective and risk factors in people’s lives, and designing interventions that aim to minimise risk and maximise protective factors.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Explored how the principles, skills, processes and beliefs of the strengths approach can be applied to building the resilience of individuals and families
2. Explored the key theoretical concepts of resilience including protective and risk factors
3. Been exposed to a range of strengths-based tools and strategies to identify the protective and risk factors in people’s lives, and to design interventions that aim to minimise risk and maximise protective factors
4. Developed practical strategies to foster a strengths approach in their resilience building practices with individuals and families

Responding to People in Crisis Using a Strengths Approach

Outline – Being available when clients are in the midst of a crisis can be especially challenging for workers. As well as reconceptualising the concept of ‘crisis’, this workshop seeks to apply the principles, beliefs, skills and processes of a strengths approach using a prevention (before), intervention (during) and post-vention (after) framework. Priority is given to the naming and further development of the skills and knowledges used by workers when responding to these challenging events. There is exploration of how these skills and knowledges can be used with both the ‘danger’ and ‘opportunity’ dimensions of a crisis experience. A strengths based practice map will be offered as an additional resource. Attention will also be given to the development of worker support/development processes within organizations.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Been re-acquainted with the principles, beliefs, skills and processes of strengths-based practice
2. Explored how a strengths approach shapes the way workers and organisations respond to crisis using a framework of prevention, intervention and post-vention.
3. Had opportunities to develop a collection of strategies that can assist them when responding to others’ crises
4. Been offered a framework for reflecting on their own practice at these times
5. Been offered a framework for assisting young people to reflect on their own actions and hopes for their lives following crisis events

Stepping Further into Narrative Conversations

Outline – This 2 day workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to further develop their interviewing skills using utilizing narrative conversation maps. A key focus will be the building of ‘rich story development’ by introducing the concepts and practices involved in ‘retelling’ and outsider witnesses processes.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Reviewed the key concepts of narrative practice.
2. Practiced interviewing using the ‘statement of position’ and re-authoring maps.
3. Explored the concept of ‘retelling’ as a tool for ‘rich story development’.
Practiced interviewing ‘outsider witnesses’ using a 4 step process.

Supervision : Facilitating Conversations of Learning

Outline – This workshop explores the implications of strengths-based and narrative practices for how workers, managers and organisations engage in supervision. It focuses on supervision as a worker-driven process of practice review/reflection within an organisational culture of learning.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Considered the principles, beliefs, skills and processes of both strengths-based and narrative approaches and their implications for supervision.
2. Been introduced to a range of ideas and ‘maps’ for use in supervision conversations.
3. Explored both one-to-one and peer/group supervision models.
4. Reflected on the importance of contracting and supervision agreements for implementing supervision/practice review.
5. Reviewed their current supervision practices in relation to strengths and narrative practices.

Using Narrative Practices in Work with Groups and Communities

Outline – This workshop will explore how narrative ideas and practices can be used in work with groups and communities. It will focus on how these ideas and practices enable people to be linked through shared experience and collective action. Examples from both Australia and overseas will be offered including the Tree of Life and the Dunedin Safer Schools/Safer Communities Projects. Participants will be involved in the creation of a collective document during the workshop. It will complement the Narrative Approaches to Group Work workshop.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Identified the key narrative ideas and practices relevant to work with groups and communities.
2. Been offered practical examples of how these ideas and practices have been applied in projects both in Australia and overseas.
3. Had an opportunity to create a collective document during the workshop.
4. Reflected on how these ideas and practices ‘fit’ with their own work contexts and how they could be taken back.

Using Strengths and Narrative Approaches to respond to Anger and Other Strong Emotions

Outline – Drawing from strengths-based approaches, this workshop will explore ways of responding appropriately to young people who are struggling with anger.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Explored the concepts of anger and violence.
2. Considered the ways in which young men and young women construct and express anger differently.
3. Explored for whom the anger is a problem.
4. Identified and practised ways of enabling young people to talk about anger that lead them to having a sense of control.
5. Been introduced to externalised ways of viewing anger rather than ways that pathologise the young person.
6. Identified specific skills for responding to situations where anger is becoming dangerous.
7. Considered ways of responding that are age, gender and culturally appropriate.
8. Explored duty of care issues.
9. Identified ways of ensuring workers’ safety and wellbeing.
10. Had opportunities to reflect on their own experiences of responding to young people who have been angry or violent.
11. Developed an understanding of the skills and processes needed to manage critical incidents involving anger and violence in an organisational context.

Working with Children Living with Domestic Violence Using a Strengths Approach

Outline – This workshop offers the opportunity for workers to consider the application of the strengths-based approach to their work with children experiencing domestic violence. It is designed to enable workers to develop a strengths approach to their practice that is complementary to domestic violence frameworks, child-centred practices and child development knowledge. The workshop content comes largely from the Shaping the Future Training Resources manual developed recently by St Luke’s and a coalition of other agencies, and funded by the Partnerships Against Domestic Violence [PADV] through the Office of the Status of Women.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Explored the application of a strengths-based approach to work with children living with domestic violence.
2. Been provided with a practice framework that incorporates domestic violence principles, child-centred practice principles and strengths-based approach principles and processes.
3. Practised key strengths-based approach skills in work with children living with domestic violence.
4. Explored organisational responsibilities when implementing a strengths-based approach to working with children living with domestic violence.

Working with Children Using a Strengths Approach

Outline – This workshop is designed to introduce participants to strengths and solution-focused ways of working with children around their learning. It challenges the traditional approach to focusing on the problem or problem behaviours and how to ‘fix it’, and taps into the strengths and abilities of children to develop skills for positive change. The workshop will look at the impact of labeling children in relation to their behaviour and/or physical capabilities. It will also explore ways in which children may have choice in their learning, through ‘personal agency’, and how this approach can be implemented while maintaining a duty of care. The workshop is designed to not only challenge thinking but also to give practical examples of how a Strengths Approach may be used.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Been introduced to the application of the strengths approach principles and beliefs to working with children.
2. Practised the application of this approach to their work by first observing demonstrations on the use of a variety of tools and skills and then ‘having a go’ themselves.
3. Discussed how these skills and tools can be used specifically when working with children whose behaviour is impacting on their own as well as others’ learning.
4. Discussed how these ideas may ‘fit’ within a duty of care framework.
5. Explored how to bring these ideas back to the work environment.

Working with Families Using a Strengths Approach

Outline – This workshop will apply strengths-based principles, processes and skills to work with families. It will particularly focus on how to crate goal-driven ‘partnerships for change’ with families.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop, participants will have:

1. Explored the principles, beliefs, skills and processes needed to create change-focused partnerships with parents and families.
2. Identified stages in strength-based work with families (referral, engagement, assessing for strengths, exceptions and resources, goal setting and working towards goals).
3. Discussed ways of engaging and working with parents or families who are ‘reluctant’.
4. Been exposed to a range of creative ideas for using St Lukes practice tools in work with parents and families (including the family strengths tool Our Scrapbook of Strengths)
5. Explored how ‘parent education’ may be done in ways that respect/honour and build on parents’ existing strengths, capacities and resources in contrast to traditional prescriptive expert-driven approaches.
6. Had opportunities to apply strengths-based principles, processes and skills to their current work with families.

Working with Young People Using a Strengths Approach

Outline – This workshop will introduce participants to strengths and solution-focused ways of working with young people around their learning and development. It questions the traditional approach to focusing on the problems and problem behaviours and how to ‘fix them’, and taps into the strengths and abilities of the young people. The workshop will look at the impact of labelling young in relation to their behaviour and/or physical capabilities. It will also explore ways in which young people are able to have choice in their learning approaches, through ‘personal agency’, and how these practices can be implemented while maintaining a duty of care. The workshop is designed to not only challenge thinking but also to give practical examples of how this approach may be used in variety of settings and relationships.

Outcomes - At the completion of the workshop participants will have:

1. Been introduced to the application of the strengths approach principles and beliefs to working with young people.
2. Practised the application of this approach to their work by first observing demonstrations on the use of a variety of tools and skills and then ‘having a go’ themselves.
3. Discussed how these skills and tools can be used specifically when working with young people whose behaviour is impacting on their own as well as others’ learning and relationships.
4. Discussed how these ideas may ‘fit’ within a duty of care framework.
5. Explored how to bring these ideas back to the work environment.