Workshops and Seminars - Working with Children and Families

Working with Children and Families

Child Abuse

Child abuse and neglect is Australia's most significant social problem; over 30,000 cases of Australian children being abused or neglected were confirmed last year alone. Child abuse is known to increase the risk of negative outcomes in adulthood such as substance addiction, crime, homelessness, poor physical health, educational failure, poor employability prospects, depression and suicide. Help protect the safety and wellbeing of children by providing training in child abuse and neglect to your staff and volunteers.

Key Competencies Gained by participants:

  • Understanding of the dynamics of different types of abuse and neglect, and how they affect children
  • Ability to recognize warning signs of abuse
  • Practical skills for responding to disclosures of abuse
  • Understanding of abuse Reporting Requirements

Family Violence

Family violence has devastating effects on both the adults and children involved. Enable your staff and volunteers to provide appropriate support whilst ensuring their own personal safety by providing this training for your organisation.

Key Competencies Gained by participants:

  • Skills and confidence to identify and support individuals and families impacted by violence
  • Understanding of different types of family violence, the cycle of violence, and how it affects all involved
  • Practical strategies to appropriately respond to those affected by family violence
  • Referral resources for assisting people experiencing family violence

Mental Illness and the Family

Mental disorders are diagnosable illnesses that significantly interfere with an individual's cognitive, emotional or social abilities. There are many different types of mental illness, all varying in their degree of severity. In Australia, almost 20% (1 in 5) of Australians will suffer a mental illness in any 12-month period. The impact upon families and particularly children and youth is significant causing stress that can bring a variety of negative outcomes if appropriate support is not provided. Give your staff and volunteers the skills to effectively respond to families struggling with the impact of mental illness.

Key Competencies Gained by participants:

  • Understand what mental illness is, why it occurs, and how it can be treated
  • Knowledge of how to respond compassionately and support those experiencing mental illness
  • Knowledge about how a family member's mental illness impacts upon children
  • Practical strategies on how to support family’s affected by mental illness, and specifically how to respond to children with a parent suffering a mental illness

Suicide Prevention

Suicide claims the lives of over 2000 Australians each year including increasing numbers of adolescents and children. Each life lost is a tragedy that causes grief to countless individuals, often devastating family and friends. Create safer communities by training your staff and volunteers in suicide and self harm awareness and prevention.

Key Competencies Gained by participants:

  • General knowledge about suicide, and specific knowledge about suicide in children/youth
  • Ability torecognise the warning signs related to suicidal behaviour in children/youth
  • Practical strategies for responding appropriately
  • Knowledge of referral resources to minimize risk and provide ongoing support for at risk children/youth

Working with Difficult Children

Anyone involved in the care of groups of children knows how difficult that challenge can be when you have to contend with disruptive or anti-social behaviour. Help equip your staff and volunteers with effective strategies to respond to children exhibiting disruptive and difficult behaviour from a positive framework of understanding.

Key Competencies Gained by participants:

  • Brief understanding of conditions presenting with behavioural problems
  • Understanding of different Behavioural Modification theories and methods
  • Practical Strategies for responding to difficult behaviour
  • Knowledge of referral sources for children/young people and families requiring further support and intervention

How to work with Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are lifelong developmental disabilities characterised by marked difficulties in social interaction, impaired communication, sensory sensitivities, restricted interests and repetitive behaviours. Research shows that about 1 in 110 children have an ASD. The effects of an ASD can often be minimised by early diagnosis and with the right interventions, many children and adults with an ASD show marked improvements. Equip your staff and volunteers with practical strategies to most effectively work with children with an ASD, and help them meet their full potential.

Key Competencies Gained by participants:

  • General Knowledge of Autistic Spectrum Disorder and how it impacts thinking and behaviour
  • Brief knowledge of Co-morbid conditions often diagnosed with ASD (e.g. ADD)
  • Understanding of how Autistic Children learn and skills to adapt activities to cater for children with ASD
  • Knowledge of where to access further resources on working with children with ASD

Depression

Everyone feels sad from time to time, but for people with depression, these feelings of lowered mood can be experienced intensely and last for long periods of time – often without reason. Depression is the most common mental illness in children and youth and the number of cases being diagnosed are increasing. It can affect normal day-to-day functioning; causing them to withdraw from activities they previously enjoyed and increases the risk of a number of other negative outcomes including substance abuse and suicide. Equip your staff and volunteers to recognise and appropriately assist children, youth and adults struggling with depression by providing this training workshop.

Key Competencies Gained by participants:

  • Awareness and understanding of depression
  • Ability to identify signs and symptoms of depression and respond appropriately to individuals and families impacted by it
  • Strategies to reduce the impact of depression on your organisation’s staff, volunteers, and/or other individuals your organization assists
  • Awareness of referral resources for providing individuals suffering depression with ongoing support specific to their situation

Grief and Loss

Grief is the natural response to loss as people try to come to terms with significant change. Grief can be an isolating experience as every person grieves in a different way, often experiencing a wide variety of emotions over time. When grieving individuals are able to share how they are feeling with a supportive listener, it can greatly reduce the sense of isolation and loneliness that often comes with grief. Equip your staff and volunteers to effectively respond to children, and families experiencing grief and loss by providing this practical workshop.

Key Competencies Gained by participants

  • Understanding of grief and bereavement, including basic understanding of complex and prolonged grief
  • Awareness of common grief reactions and possible behaviors of grieving children and families; knowing when to be concerned
  • Confidence in recognising the needs of grieving children and families
  • Identify and implement effective strategies to support grieving individuals
  • Receive resources that can assist children and youth who are experiencing strong emotions when grieving
  • Understanding of when to refer to specialist services for ongoing support