Group Work Solutions
A variety of new courses for group work or working with men are now available.

• Strengths based group work - 12 Sepember
• Facilitating therapeutic-educational group work programs - 26 September
• Using sculpture and other action methods in group work - 27 September
• Working with Men - Accredited - 14 October
• Working with Men - 20 October
• Group Work Workshop - 22 October
• Generative Fathering - a force of change - 19 November

Contact: www.groupworksolutions.com.au

Planning & Evaluation - $700
An intensive workshop which will overhaul the way you look at your organisation and the techniques you have for making decisions. You'll unpack your program logic, review organisational capacity, and look at how to make strategy planning and evaluation really deliver benefits.
Social Ventures Australia (SVA) is an independent non-profit organisation providing services to other non-profit organisations to strengthen the social sector. www.socialventures.com.au/content/workshops

Mental Health & Psychological Assessment of At Risk Aboriginal Clients
The training workshops cover the following areas:

• Cultural Competency in service delivery - a profile for participants (incl in workshop)
• How can culture be put in an evidence based framework?
• Cultural formulation of cultural and mental illness
• Differential cultural and clinical diagnosis - how to asses mental illness in Aboriginal clients. The difference between:

• Psychosis or spiritual visits
• Self-harm or sorry cuts
• Culture-specific grief reactions
• Trauma and its manifestation
• Culture-specific depression - what are the key indicators?
• The nature of Aboriginal suicides - assessment and intervention

• Interventions - traditional and mainstream approaches - what is the best ‘fit’ for your client

• Using mainstream interventions with culture bound and mental illnesses
• Effective counseling, engagement and interventions with Aboriginal clients

• Conducting valid and reliable assessments of Aboriginal people
• A unique psychological test for Aboriginal clients - accreditation in the Westerman Aboriginal Symptom Checklist - Youth (aged 13-17 years)
  

Included in Workshop costs: Extensive cultural competency profile (usual value $250); pre-workshop reading material, full catering & participant workbook
www.indigenouspsychservices.com.au

25 September, Waterloo
27 November, Western Sydney

Multicultural Youth Issues Network - MYINN
The Multicultural Youth Issues Network meets bi monthly to address issues for multicultural young people and the services they use. We need to here what you have to say, so come join us at our meetings.
www.yapa.org.au/youthwork/facts/myinn.php

FPNSW The Warehouse - 21st Birthday + Youth Health Conference
Keynote presenters include:

• Clinical Professor David Bennett University of Sydney + The Children's Hospital, Westmead
• Dolly Doctor Dr Melissa Kang
• Anthony Stralow NSW Association for Adolescent Health
• Educator and Therapist Peter Slattery
• Michael DePercy Lecturer, University of Canberra

Cost: $140 - register by 30 August
Contact: 02 4721 8330 or julieg@fpnsw.org.au
www.fpnsw.org.au myspace.com/thewarehouseyhc

Economic Evaluation and Priority Setting in Child Protection
An Access Grid Seminar at University of Technology
This presentation will provide an introduction to economic evaluation in the area of child protection and discuss its usefulness as a priority setting tool.
There is no charge for attending the Access Grid however bookings are limited according to the venue capacity.
Contact: www.aracy.org.au

NCOSS Conference - State Plan: Which Way to Social Justice?
A timely NCOSS conference which sets out to further develop productive and effective working relationships between the Government and the sector - to achieve better outcomes for individuals, families and communities in NSW.

What is the conference about?
The 2008 NCOSS conference will be focusing on the State Plan and the role of non-government organisations (NGOs) in providing our input and expertise to delivering the targets set by the State Plan.

The conference also aims to provide an opportunity for the NGO sector to learn about how other sectors are engaging with the State Plan.

Who Should Come to the Conference?
Anyone who has an interest in being involved in discussions on, and providing feedback about, the implementation and evaluation of the NSW State Plan.

Why is the State Plan Important?
The State Plan will have a big impact on the way that the Government operates, sets priorities and arranges funding. It will determine where the Government will focus its budget expenditure. It is already being used to measure Departmental performance. Other Government plans will also align with the State Plan. The NGO sector needs to be an active part of this process.
www.ncoss.org.au/conferences

Presented by - Andrew King.
Have you ever wanted to release the Genie of creative, lateral thinking in your group and use a more creative set of exercises and group work techniques?
This allows group leaders to:
* work beyond the limits of speech and everyday body language?
* balance the thinking, feeling and action dimensions
* communicate concepts that are not so easy to name or even identify?
NSW Institute of Group Leaders www.igl.org.au

The 4Rs - Rights, Reconciliation, Respect, Responsibility - International Conference
Planning for a socially inclusive future for Australia
Locating Australian policy & practice dilemmas within an international context
University of Technology Sydney, City Campus

The 4Rs is the pre-eminent national event in 2008 for discussion and debate on Australia's future as a cosmopolitan civil society. Over 100 speakers and up to 400 delegates will explore opportunities for building a more inclusive society. The themes traverse human rights, Indigenous reconciliation, inter-cultural relations and citizenship in a globalizing world.

The 4Rs Organising Committee invites submissions on the conference themes for speakers, panels, presentations, performances and other forms of participation.
Cross Theme proposals that support innovative approaches to issues that bridge more than one theme are also welcome.
Interested people are invited to submit an abstract/proposal through the website by 2 July 2008.
Contact: www.the4rsconference.org or associate@the4rsconference.org

Lets talk about Drug Use & Hep C
Held at The Rex Centre Darlinghurst and is in partnership with the Kirketon Road Centre and the Hep C Council.
A free one day interactive workshop to better equip youth and AOD workers around approachng clients on harm minimisation.
Limited places available so please register by September 26.
Contact: hkalsi@hepatitisc.org.au or 9332 1853. www.hepatitisc.org.au

October & December, Sydney

Mental Health for community agencies in NSW
Foundations of Mental Health Work – series of workshops for community workers offered by the NSW Institute of Psychiatry
- Risk, Assessment & Crisis Management - 15 October
- Supporting recovery from mental health problems - 3 December
1 workshop = $80
2 workshops = $140

Contact: Sarah Stewart at NSWIOP on 9840 3833 or sarah.stewart@nswiop.nsw.edu.au

16 October, Orange

NSW Ombudsman
Some of these workshops will be run on the date listed.

• Introduction to the Ombudsman
• Frontline Skills for Complaint Handling
• Effective Complaint Systems
• Resolution Options
• An overview of investigating

Cost: $148.50
Contact: 02 9265 0400 or nswombo@ombo.nsw.gov.au or www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/trainingworkshops/onlineregform.html

Joining the Dots
Education + Training + Industry = Growth
This Conference looks at who Gen Y and Gen Z are and what they are looking for. These two emerging Gens are the generations coming through in the next 10 years for education and training and your next workforce. How do you attract them? Is education and training a significant factor in retaining your future workforce? And what is Industry looking for over the next decade.
Beyond 2020 offers you the rare opportunity of examples on how to engage youth. This is a unique Conference in a regional environment - with each session of knowledgeable facilitators; speakers from education and industry; and the amphitheatre environment of full discussion with the panel.
Contact: rhonda@blueprintshoalhaven.com.au

22 October 2008, Surry Hills

This workshop is smorgasbord of group theory and skills that group leaders can use to aid group development and thus enhance the learning and experience of the group members.
Participants will:

• Review essential basics for working with groups
• Refresh knowledge of group dynamics model
• Practice skills used to deal with issues/problems arising in the group setting

NSW Institute of Group Leaders www.igl.org.au

23 October 2008, Harris Park

Big Brekky
The next big brekky based on what workers have requested on topics about young people.
23 October - ADHD & Substance Abuse in Y.P. Dispelling the Myths - Register by 13 October

Big Brekky is organised for youth and refuge workers, counsellors and those working with young people in Western Sydney.
It includes free breakfast, discussion and support. It gives support and ideas for working with young people including those experiencing mental health and/or drug and alcohol issues. To provide the opportunity to brainstorm ways of working with young people who may present particular challenges to your work.
Contact: HSYHS on 9687 2544 or fiona.tung@swahs.health.nsw.gov.au

LGCSA Youth Division
24 October 2008 at NCOSS, 9.30am - 1.00pm Change of date & time!
21 November 2008 at CCYP, 9.30am - 1.00pm Change of date & time!

Organised by Local Government Community Services Association. All council youth development officers and youth workers welcome. Contact Charlie Coorey, Marrickville Council, woyth@marrickville.nsw.gov.au (02) 9335 2158

5-6 November,
Coffs Harbour

A Survival Guide for Youth Workers: 2 day training program
Have you been employed as a youth worker for less than 6 months or want to update your skills? Then this is the course for you! Details at www.yapa.org.au/yapa/events/survival.php

11 November, Parramatta

13 November 2008
Parramatta

Working intensively within a child protection framework requires a strong working relationship between the family and DoCS, provides new learning and relationship opportunities for families and DoCS. This also supports the continuation of consistent goals and a strengths based approach.

Health Care for Kids – The People, The Map and The Measure (children's health conference)
To highlight the importance of advocating strongly for the healthcare needs of children and young people in Australasia. For:

• Health professionals from Paediatric and Child Health Nursing, Medical & Hospital Practice, Paediatric and General Practice, Community Health, Play & other creative therapies, Mental Health, Psychology, Allied Health, Child Protection.
• Young People, Parents and Carers
• Support Groups, Volunteers and Children's Charities
• Practitioners specialising in early childhood, youth, education and disability services
• Professionals in Administration, Research, Policy, Safety & Quality Child health practice from: Government, Universities, Community Services, Health services, Child Protection Services, Management and Planning.

Contact: www.kidsconference.org.au or sharynlow@pacific.net.au

17-19 November, St Clair, Sydney

24-26 November, Newcastle

Rock & Water
The Rock and Water course offers youth workers and teachers a new way to interact with boys in relationship to their physical and social development. The program is also effective for girls. Physical exercises are constantly linked with mental and social skills. In this way the program leads from simple self-defence, boundary and communication exercises to a strong notion of self-confidence. The program offers a framework of exercises and thoughts about boys and manhood to assist boys to become aware of purpose and motivation in their life.

The Rock and Water program has met with critical acclaim in Australia and internationally as a way of reducing bullying and violence among young people and of building self-control, self-confidence and self-respect.

Contact the Family Action Centre FAC-Events@newcastle.edu.au or 02 4921 6403
www.newcastle.edu.au/centre/fac/rock-and-water/workshops.html

19 November, Surry Hills

NSW Rural Mental Health Conference
Themes - Promotion, Early Intervention and Recovery

• Partnerships
• Research in Rural and Remote Health: Making it work
• Mental Health and Drought

www.astmanagement.com.au/NSWrnm8/

Fighting Fair: Mediation & Conflict Resolution Training
This interactive and stimulating 2 day course will assist professionals to explore conflict and impart the essential principles and process of mediation. The structured 5-step mediation model and specific conflict resolution skills will be presented and practiced. The course can be utilised in many different areas of conflict e.g. client work, workplace disputes and interpersonal conflict.

The training is endorsed by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and the Australian Psychological Society (APS). It attracts 24 CPE points through the AASW and 14 Generalist PD points through the APS.

Learning outcomes
On completing the 2-day course, participants will be able to:

• Identify factors contributing to possible causes of conflict and barriers to resolution
• Identify the different levels of conflict and approaches to conflict situations
• Identify the conditions under which mediation is an appropriate intervention and how it differs from the counselling process
• Identify where mediation fits as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process
• Identify the skills, qualities and attitudes that a mediator requires
• Identify the underlying concepts and principles of the mediation process
• Identify and demonstrate an understanding of the 5-stage mediation model
• Identify the various cultural considerations when mediating with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) or Indigenous communities / families
• Demonstrate communication skills that effectively facilitate the mediation process

Cost $290+GST for AASW members or $310+GST for non-members.
Registration: www.fightingfair.com.au and fill in the online registration form.
Contact: Scott Dutton. fightingfair@bigpond.com or 0425 837 756.

11 December,
Surry Hills