Walking together, learning together mentoring program
Walking together, learning together mentoring program
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Walking together, learning together mentoring program, delivered by WorkUP Queensland and Heywood Consulting.
The six-month program was tailored for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers in the domestic and family violence, sexual assault, and women’s health sector. It focused on developing personal and professional skills and strengthening the First Nations and Torres Strait Islander workforce.
Informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander terms of reference that were designed by participants, the program shed light on the diverse range of skills, experience, and knowledge in the workforce. There were many robust conversations, and wonderful connections were strengthened.
The final sessions of the program opened with a Welcome to Country by Aunty Deborah Sandy, before participants reflected on what growing a committed, responsive, and resilient workforce means, and how workers can be supported to reach their full potential.
Participants, ranging from Cairns, Mackay, and South-east Queensland, took part in two face-to-face workshops over six months and four online workshops. Each mentoring pair developed their own schedule of regular meetings outside of group workshops, as they worked together to build their skills and move towards individual and shared learning goals.
“For me personally, working in the space in domestic and family violence, this was a great opportunity to take a breath and work on my personal goals, which I achieved, and my self-confidence in believing in myself has made this program successful for me.”
Jasmine from Far North Queensland
Thank you to everyone who attended, and for your commitment to maintaining connections and mentoring relationships into the future.
Watch this space for future programs in 2022.
Save the date: 14 December Improving workforce capability for leaders and frontline workers
Be part of the story – Register for Workforce Capabilities Conversations
14 December
Capability isn’t just about having the right knowledge and skills – it is about using them in the most effective way.
As individuals and organisations adapt, grow, and improve, a capability framework is a great tool to help you achieve high standards of practice. It does this by clarifying the knowledge and behaviour required at different levels of the workforce.
WorkUP Queensland’s Workforce Capability Project builds on existing evidence through meaningful conversations with sector networks and stakeholders.
Get involved
Every conversation is part of the story.
Join us as we work closely with the women’s health, sexual assault and domestic and family violence sector to develop a capability framework that will provide insight into what is needed to work most effectively with women and children now and in the future.
We would love to hear from you at one of our upcoming virtual consultations:
14 December – For managers and leaders
15 December – For practitioners and frontline workers
As the Workforce Capability Project evolves, it is critical that we hear from all parts of our diverse workforce. WorkUP Queensland will provide diverse, flexible, and easy ways to get involved, including face-to-face and virtual engagement, feedback opportunities, and one-on-one discussions.
If you can’t make it to the workshops above, we’d love to hear from you via our online form, or in conversation with Alisa Hall - alisa.hall@alisahallconsulting.com.au
What are some of the benefits of a capability framework?
A capability framework:
- provides practical support for organisations to attract, retain, and manage staff
- promotes better pathways and informs professional development and learning
- supports organisations in meeting demands and standards
- supports small and large organisations to plan and manage people and processes
- creates a common language to better support worker mobility across the sector.
To learn more about how a capability framework can improve your organisation click here or contact John Turrisi at John@healingfoundation.org.au.
For more information, including an introductory video and the discovery report, click here.
Support for TAFE and VET applicants
Support for TAFE and VET applicants
This year, WorkUP connected with TAFE Queensland to support applicants to the Free Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program offered across the state, which included several qualifications relevant to the family and domestic violence sector.
Thank you to those who registered with TAFE and noted their interest via our booking platform. This enabled WorkUP Queensland to connect after the RPL process to see what support we could offer to assist students work towards their qualification.
If we haven’t connected with you already, we’d like to!
If you are enrolled in or have recently gone through the Recognition of Prior Learning process and are interested in additional support to finish your remaining credits please fill out this survey link.
WorkUP Queensland can offer various types of support including, but not limited to, online peer groups and tutoring sessions.
We want to ensure that workers in the domestic and family violence sector are recognised for the valuable on-the-job skills they have developed and that they are supported to gain a qualification or pursue further study.
Join us – Practice Studio showcase
Join us on 7 December – Practice Studio showcase
Practice Studios support organisations to meet workforce and service needs through small, funded implementation projects that translate the latest research in the family and domestic violence space into practice.
Join us in person or online on 7 December to hear from organisations supported by WorkUP Queensland as they share insights into their experiences with evidence-informed approaches.
Speakers include:
- Melissa Kulan from Women’s Health Queensland. Melissa will share insights from the Community Ally practice studio, as they worked to upskill community members from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to recognise and respond to domestic violence.
- Liliana Sanchez from Children by Choice. Liliana will share resources about reproductive coercive control and choice, developed with and by community members from diverse cultures.
- Julie M from DVConnect. Julie is working in partnership with multicultural and settlement services to improve their capacity to respond to people experiencing violence, while at the same time learning more about what DVConnect can do to support culturally and linguistically diverse peoples to access support.
- Talia van Gils from Community Action, Gympie. Talia will talk about the challenges faced in implementing an ambitious practice studio that involved developing a tool for use in Queensland civil courts, which supports women to tell their stories. She will discuss the complex patterns of coercive control and abuse and how they can be better understood.
- Marta Barnes from Cairns Sexual Assault Service. Marta will launch an implementation report sharing what was learned during work to implement trauma- and violence-informed practice across the Cairns service sector.
WorkUP Queensland will also launch the next round of practice studios and answer all your questions about becoming a host.
Details:
When: 2:00pm, 7 December
Where: WeWork building, 25 King Street, Bowen Hills, Brisbane, QLD, 4006
Accessibility: accessible to all people.
Register here
To learn more, please contact workforce@healingfoundation.org.au
Assistance in understanding and implementing practice standards and regulatory frameworks
Assistance in understanding and implementing practice standards and regulatory frameworks
Did you know that WorkUP Queensland offers flexible and tailored support to assist services to understand the DFV practice standards and regulatory framework and how they apply in practice?
If you have any questions or concerns, or just want to check if you are on the right track, we offer support via phone, email, Zoom, or Teams. You can also request support here.
After we receive your request, Gabrielle Borgaard Nicholson will be in touch. Gabrielle is a DFV specialist consultant and will arrange a mutually convenient time to gain more understanding about your needs.
This involves engaging in a structured, reflective conversation about the practice standards and regulatory framework, which may take up to one hour. You may find that you are on the right track, or you may identify areas where you would like additional support or resources.
Gabrielle will work with you to understand your specific needs and make tailored recommendations to support your service. These could include one-on-one targeted support, group support sessions in key areas, referral to other specialist support or resources.
To learn more, please contact Christine at WorkUP on 0400 999 184 or christine@healingfoundation.org.au