Practitioners Professional Development Workshops

All NESA workshops can be delivered in-house.

For further information contact Max Croft on 03 9686 3500 or email at maxc@nesa.com.au

Workshop Facilitators > Biographies

Further Important Information

All Participants of NESA workshops will be issued with a Statement of Attendance for their professional development portfolio. 

All NESA public workshops are fully catered and delivered from comfortable CBD located venues.

All NESA workshops are developed and facilitated by professionals identified as being the experts in the workshops' subject area.

Did you know that all NESA workshops can be delivered in-house?

This means that any savings on the costs associated with NESA providing a venue and the refreshments for the day will be passed onto you.

All you need to provide on the day is a training room with a whiteboard, and a power source for the facilitator to plug in their lap top and data projector.

NESA will co-ordinate the facilitator's travel and accommodation arrangements, the workshop evaluation, certificates of attendance, and any hand outs of the day.

Book two of our

workshops for delivery

on back to back days,

and receive a discount!

 

Engaging Job Seekers by Jules Dymke

Workshop Outline

Engaging job seekers as well as their continued motivation and commitment to finding work are key components of achieving improved outcomes. 

This one-day workshop explores your input into establishing an effective support framework towards fast and effective outcomes. It does this by increasing your awareness of the dynamics of people and relationships! 

Participants will explore:

  • Setting scene and the importance of first impressions
  • The goals of both parties - do they conflict?
  • Relationship dynamics (task and maintenance) and your role in setting the boundaries and the relationship atmosphere
  • Self reflection on personality types and leadership
  • Tips to increase client involvement and buy-in
  • Setting the scene- rules, goals and norms
  • Group behaviour and stagegrowth
  • Group climate -Task maintenance
  • Personality type awareness 

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Working with Clients Who Have Alcohol & Drugs (AOD) Issues by Kathleen Orr

Recognising the importance of our workers' roles in the lives of our clients with AOD issues, the purpose of this workshop is to enhance skills, knowledge and understanding of ways to work more effectively with clients with substance use problems.

The one day interactive workshop will focus on:

  • The importance of employment, personal support and vocational training for clients with AOD issues
  • Signs and symptoms of intoxication, withdrawal and overdose
  • Risk assessment and working with clients who present substance-affected
  • A local knowledge of the AOD sector, treatment options and services
  • An understanding of Harm Minimisation and Harm Reduction in practice
  • An introduction to Motivational Interviewing and Risk & Resilience
  • A brief overview of strategies and issues for working with clients with both mental health and AOD issues
  • How to work with clients with AOD issues within the Employment Services Industry

The cost to attend for NESA Corporate Members is $357.50, NESA Associate Members is $400.00 & Non Members $475.00. Prices are inclusive of GST. To register please call Max on 03 9686 3500 or email on: maxc@nesa.com.au

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The Disability Services: Quality Practice = Quality Outcomes Workshop by Jules Dymke

This workshop focusses on the DES contract - Disability Management Services (program A) & Employment Support Services (program B).  

Numerous strategies are explored to ensure the provision of quality services and optimum outcomes for people with a disability in gaining quality employment as reflected in the Disability Standards and Outcomes.

The workshop explores the potential for the client to be lost within the layers of the framework, but securely monitored by the Disability Standards. It will also focus upon Quality Outcomes for people with disabilities.

Participants will explore:

  • Who is the client before them?
  • Quality employment support
  • The employment framework
  • Reverse marketing for people with a disability
  • Employer negotiation
  • Overview of the National Standards for Disability

The cost to attend for NESA Corporate Members is $357.50, NESA Associate Members is $400.00 & Non Members $475.00. Prices are inclusive of GST. To register please call Max on 03 9686 3500 or email on: maxc@nesa.com.au

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Managing the Work Experience Phase by Margie Gadd

Work experience is a principal strategy in Job Services Australia for developing job seeker skills and improving their chances of finding sustainable employment. As the first Work Experience Phase for job seekers in the Stream Servicing Cycle approaches, many practitioners will need concrete information on contractual obligations and servicing strategies associated with managing job seeker participation.

This is a one day workshop for employment practitioners managing job seekers through the Work Experience Phase. It works through the compliance requirements for commencing, monitoring and completing individual placements in the Work Experience Phase, and explores strategies for maximising job seeker participation with a focus on achieving an employment outcome. NB: This workshop does not cover the setting up and management of group work experience projects.

The topics covered in the course include:

  • Eligibility and participation requirements
  • Flexible options for work experience
  • Consultant accountabilities in work experience
  • Commencement processes and compliance requirements
  • Practical aspects of monitoring job seeker participation
  • Completing work experience placements
  • Keeping the focus on employment throughout the Work Experience Phase
  • Coordinating work experience placements
  • Converting work experience to jobs 

The cost to attend for NESA Corporate Members is $357.50, NESA Associate Members is $400.00 & Non Members $475.00. Prices are inclusive of GST. To register please call Max on 03 9686 3500 or email on: maxc@nesa.com.au

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Managing Challenging Client Behaviour by Darren John

This workshop aims to provide you with all the skills to help you understand and deal with the challenges of a modern day client centred employment service framework. You will acquire the knowledge on how to build a "therapeutic alliance" with your colleagues and therefore create a consistent team approach. 

The training particularly focusses on providing participants with an opportunity to review and discuss techniques and consider alternative and innovative approaches.

The outcomes of this program include:-

  • Understand the principles of how to self manage and remain resilient in confronting situations
  • How to develop a non threatening therapeutic alliance and foster team work
  • Having an opportunity to work on techniques for developing consistency in professional employment practice
  • How to maintain safe limits and set client expectations
  • Building effective communication skills
  • Learn how to develop effective listening skills and assist clients to develop new skills in communication
  • Understanding the barriers to effective communication and how to effectively maintain limits on client behaviour
  • Learning skills of how to effectively communicate using an assertive style of relating to others
  • How to recognise and deal with client's effectively when you feel like you are being provoked
  • Having opportunities through case examples to link theory to practice and discuss applications in a safe environment

The Managing Challenging Client Behaviour Workshop has received excellent evaluations and feedback from the practitioners that participated in past workshops.

Here are some of their comments:

"The format and audience participation was great"

"Really relevant, enjoyed the feedback and the discourse with others"

"Lots of great tips, great to share ideas"

"Thank you for a great and informative workshop"

"Brilliant"

The cost to attend for NESA Corporate Members is $357.50, NESA Associate Members is $400.00 & Non Members $475.00. Prices are inclusive of GST. To register please call Max on 03 9686 3500 or email on: maxc@nesa.com.au .

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Supporting Job Seekers with Mental Health Difficulties by Dr Priscilla Yardley

Many people who suffer with mental health problems find trying to enter (or re-enter) the workforce highly stressful and may feel stigmatised and isolated in their endeavour to find suitable training or employment opportunities.

Receiving support from an employment assistance service may provide an excellent opportunity for the sufferer to feel more productive and confident, to reconnect with the community and work toward recovery.

This one-day workshop will help Employment Practitioners:

  • Gain a better understanding of the common types of mental health problems
    • Anxiety Disorders
    • Mood Disorders
    • Psychotic Disorders
  • Develop motivational interviewing skills to enhance engagement and develop achievable goals in those with a mental health problem
  • Enhance the range of practical strategies to address barriers related to anxiety, depression, or negative symptoms of a psychotic disorder
  • Acquire basic skills in working more effectively with people who have avoidant, dependent, or borderline personality traits
  • Reflect on factors that may lead practitioners toward burnout and what to do about it
  • Identify warning signs and symptoms of a mental health problem and be able to make appropriate referrals
  • Explore effective shared care: working with other service providers

This workshop is available for in-house delivery only. Enquire with Max on 03 9686 3500 or email on: maxc@nesa.com.au

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Demystifying Mental Illness by Felicity Humble

Workshop Outline 

One in five Australians will experience a mental illness at some point over their life span (ABS 2007). It is also estimated that 70% of jobseekers who have been unemployed for more than 12 months have some level of mental illness - making this workshop a must for ALL employment service providers.

This one-day workshop aims to improve awareness and understanding of mental illness. It focuses not only on symptoms of mental illness, but on strategies for working with people with mental illness.

Participants will explore: 

  • The features of mental illness - what is mental illness?
  • Principles and practices in the treatment of mental illness.
  • Mental processes that influence behaviour
  • Major categories of mental illness
  • Needs of people with mental illness
  • Strategies for meeting the needs of people with mental illness - communication, workplace adjustments, managing your own behaviour

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Managing Complex Case Loads by Darren John

This is a one day interactive workshop to build on skills to effectively manage complex case loads from an employment agency perspective.

Clients that frequently present with challenging and a diverse range of issues require specialised individualised support.  This workshop aims to provide you with the skills to help you manage the complexities in a clear effective framework.

Topics covered:

  • An understanding and development of clear boundaries for clients and other services providers. (including development of clear client expectations and the establishment of manageable clients outcomes)
  • An awareness of the parameters of which case management operates with in your agency guidelines
  • To build on skills to write clear objective case notes that clearly identify key progress notes
  • Enhancing skills in client time management
  • How to utilise effective co-agency referral networks
  • To develop and understand the necessity of holistic case plans that build in critical elements of the Employment Pathway Plan (EPP)
  • Skills to enhance internal supervision opportunities to help relieve workload stress and manage your clients effectively
  • How to build client focussed interagency relationships
  • An opportunity to work on case examples to build on prioritising complex clients needs
  • The management of effective case closure - understanding the essential elements and processes

The cost to attend for NESA Corporate Members is $357.50, NESA Associate Members is $400.00 & Non Members $475.00. Prices are inclusive of GST.

To register please call Max on 03 9686 3500 or email on: maxc@nesa.com.au

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Reverse Marketing by Margie Gadd 

Reverse Marketing Case Managed Clients to Employers

Successful reverse marketing demands proper preparation of a job seeker for marketing, careful matching against employer skills and fit factors, and professional selling and advocacy skills to demonstrate the value of the match for both job seeker and employer.

This one day reverse marketing workshop develops the skills, knowledge, and techniques for reverse marketing high priority job seekers. Consultants are guided through a logical reverse marketing approach that enables them to work effectively with other team members in preparing clients for marketing, creating employment opportunities in the hidden labour market, and setting up the right conditions for long term retention in employment.

Course Content

During this course participants will:

  • Prepare a client for marketing
  • Target employment opportunities
  • Develop a tailored offer for employers
  • Make initial phone contact with employers
  • Sell the benefits of clients to employers
  • Respond to frequently stated objections
  • Negotiate placement opportunities

Course Outcomes

At the end of training participants will take away:

  • A workbook to refresh knowledge back in the workplace
  • Take-away tools for the workplace
  • Confidence to commence and maintain reverse marketing
  • A fresh approach to working with case managed clients

The cost to attend for NESA Corporate Members is $357.50, NESA Associate Members is $400.00 & Non Members $475.00. Prices are inclusive of GST. To register please call Max on 03 9686 3500 or email on: maxc@nesa.com.au

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The Workplace Coaching Workshop by Margie Gadd

Skills and Tools for Coaching in the Workplace

The secret to maximising the benefits of formal training is on-the-job coaching. Frequently people complete a formal course and then struggle with the transfer of new knowledge and skills back in the workplace. In these situations a trained workplace "coach" such as, a manager, team leader, program coordinator and quality / compliance officer can identify specific areas for coaching and set up a coaching plan that will build the confidence of the coachee, enabling them to improve their performance and deliver an improved return on investment for the organisation.

The Workplace Coaching Workshop provides the knowledge, skills and tools to coach individuals and teams as part of an internal coaching program. Participants will learn how to establish a coaching plan, deliver a coaching session, monitor the progress of the person being coached, and evaluate the success of the coaching intervention.

Topics Covered

During the workshop participants will learn about:

  • The coaching continuum
  • The explanation of coaching principles
  • The introduction to a coaching framework
  • The development of a coaching plan
  • Skills for coaching
  • Evaluating effectiveness of coaching
  • Linking coaching and performance management

Workshop Outcomes

  • Comprehensive Workbook for reference in the workplace
  • Skills and techniques to undertake workplace coaching
  • A framework to implement internal coaching programs

The cost to attend for NESA Corporate Members is $357.50, NESA Associate Members is $400.00 & Non Members $475.00. Prices are inclusive of GST. To register please call Max on 03 9686 3500 or email on: maxc@nesa.com.au

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Post Placement Support by Margie Gadd

Maximising Job Seeker Retention and Outcomes

This is a one day face-to-face post placement support workshop that is suitable for new case managers, sales and marketing consultants, and dedicated post placement support consultants. It provides skills and techniques for identifying potential risks after placement, planning interventions to reduce risk, tracking continuity of placements, and implementing recovery strategies to maintain employment continuity for claiming outcomes.

Topics Covered

At the workshop participants will learn about:

  • The critical role of post placement support
  • Employment Services Deed 4 (ESD4) outcome requirements
  • Assessing risks to placements
  • Negotiating a post placement support plan
  • Setting up work place training
  • Coaching job seekers after placement
  • Seeking and responding to feedback from employers
  • Tracking client retention
  • Implementing recovery strategies
  • Claiming outcomes

Course Outcomes

At the end of training participant will take away:

  • Comprehensive Workbook for reference in the workplace
  • An understanding of risk assessment and risk management
  • Coaching and feedback skills
  • Improved post placement support

The cost to attend for NESA Corporate Members is $357.50, NESA Associate Members is $400.00 & Non Members $475.00. Prices are inclusive of GST. To register please call Max on 03 9686 3500 or email on: maxc@nesa.com.au

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Front Office Reception Skills Workshop by Margie Gadd

Skills for Delivering Quality Customer Service

Front office reception is the first point of contact for job seekers and employers seeking information about Job Services Australia. Therefore a competent front-office receptionist is able to improve site performance by handling personal and telephone enquiries in a professional manner and offering solutions that satisfy individual needs. This increases site potential to attract clients and employers.

NESA and our training partner Barini Consulting offers a one day workshop for consultants performing front office reception duties. In this workshop participants will learn how to communicate more effectively with clients via the telephone and face-to-face, provide explanations and service solutions based on eligibility criteria, and provide first-level information and advice on job search strategies, techniques, and resources. The workshop will be based around the functional activities performed by receptionists to support achievement of business objectives.

Topics Covered

During the workshop participants will learn about: 

  • Clarification of role requirements and expectations
  • Client rights and responsibilities in Job Services Australia
  • Greeting clients and building rapport
  • Using effective telephone skills
  • Communicating in a team environment
  • Understanding labour markets
  • Strategies and resources for finding work
  • Following workplace health and safety procedures

Workshop Outcomes

At the end of training participants will take away:

  • Comprehensive Workbook for reference in the workplace
  • Skills and techniques for providing quality customer service
  • Techniques to communicate more effectively with team members
  • Information to provide improved labour market advice

The cost to attend for NESA Corporate Members is $357.50, NESA Associate Members is $400.00 & Non Members $475.00. Prices are inclusive of GST. To register please call Max on 03 9686 3500 or email on: maxc@nesa.com.au

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Planning Pathways to Employment by Margie Gadd

Taking a Planned Approach to Achieving Job Seeker Goals

The Employment Pathway Plan (EPP) sets out goals and strategies for helping job seekers develop their readiness to take up employment. In some instances the strategies will be as simple as targeted marketing of employers. However, for those job seekers who have been out of work for some time or who live in depressed labour markets, a longer term approach needs to be taken to helping those job seekers prepare for work.

The workshop takes a career planning approach to assisting consultants develop structured and effective Employment Pathway Plans. Over a one day intensive face-to-face training course, consultants are introduced to career planning techniques that involve individualised skills assessments, career exploration activities, and finally construction of Employment Pathway Plans incorporating short, medium and long term strategies. Course content integrates contracted services and best practice career planning.

Topics Covered

During the course participants will learn about: 

  • ESD4 requirements for assessment and planning
  • Negotiating an employment goal
  • Linking assessment and planning
  • Planning client activities using an EPP
  • Monitoring client implementation of the EPP
  • Evaluating effectiveness of strategies and activities
  • Working collaboratively to achieve outcomes

Course Outcomes 

At the end of training participant will take away: 

  • Comprehensive Workbook for reference in the workplace
  • Techniques for collaborative employment planning
  • Confidence to apply the skills immediately
  • Appreciation of taking a planned approach to outcome achievement

The cost to attend for NESA Corporate Members is $357.50, NESA Associate Members is $400.00 & Non Members $475.00. Prices are inclusive of GST. To register please call Max on 03 9686 3500 or email on: maxc@nesa.com.au

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Developing Effective Team Leaders by Margie Gadd

Supporting the Growth of Future Leaders 

Bringing together a group of people and developing them into an effective team requires both leadership and management skills. Good leadership inspires people to work while good management ensures that the work gets done efficiently and effectively. Without formal training in these areas, many new team leaders and managers struggle to perform effectively which has a negative impact on the people, the organisation, and the business results.

This workshop can assist organisations in building the skills of their team leaders and managers. Through the course Developing Effective Team Leaders, participants will gain skills, knowledge and strategies to provide clear direction to staff, support achievement of good business results, and encourage individuals and teams to take responsibility for their role. The workshop is conducted in a face-to-face environment over two days to enable sharing of ideas and experiences, as well as discussion of workplace challenges.

Topics Covered

Topics to be covered in this course include: 

  • Module 1 - Leader Role in Managing Performance
  • Module 3 - Fixing the Goalposts for Good Performance
  • Module 3 - Conducting Performance Conversations
  • Module 4 - Career Development Planning

Workshop Outcomes

At the end of training participants will take away:

  • Comprehensive Workbook for reference in the workplace
  • Take-away tools for the workplace
  • Frameworks for leading and managing staff
  • Confidence to tackle workplace challenges 

The cost to attend for NESA Corporate Members is $650.00, NESA Associate Members is $750.00 & Non Members $850.00. Prices are inclusive of GST. To register please call Max on 03 9686 3500 or email on: maxc@nesa.com.au

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Employer Relationship Management by Margie Gadd

Strategies to Build Employer Loyalty

Long term employer relationships enable Employment Services Providers to achieve revenue forecasts and performance targets. To engage effectively with employers, employment consultants need to apply a customer relationship management (CRM) structure to their business development activities.

This one day course to workshop practical CRM strategies is aimed at building solid business relationships with employers. Consultants will work through the phases of CRM starting with sourcing and attracting employers through to development of trust relationships. At the end of the day consultants will have an approach that they can readily apply in their local labour market.

Topics Covered

In this course participants will explore:

  • Customer relationship management phases
  • Segmentation of the labour market
  • Networking tactics
  • Setting up referral and lead generation partnerships
  • Email marketing applications
  • Consultative questioning techniques
  • Management of existing employers
  • Developing prospects through the sales pipeline
  • Setting up marketing contact cycles 

Workshop Outcomes 

At the end of training participant will take away: 

  • Take-away tools for the workplace
  • A structured approach to employer relationship management
  • Renewed energy to business development

The cost to attend for NESA Corporate Members is $357.50, NESA Associate Members is $400.00 & Non Members $475.00. Prices are inclusive of GST. To register please call Max on 03 9686 3500 or email on: maxc@nesa.com.au

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Motivational Interviewing (MI) by Kathleen Orr

Practitioners attending NESA workshops are asked to take a couple of minutes and complete an evaluation form. A common training theme noted from their feedback is to provide practitioners with the tools to motivate their clients into accepting responsibility for their actions and to commence working towards a positive future.

This two day workshop has been designed to assist you in the difficult task of knowing how to work with clients who resist needed change. The workshop seeks to provide practitioners with tools that will help clients to think differently about their behavior and about what they might gain through change.

MI is a clinical, evidence-based method that helps people engage and enhance intrinsic motivation. It helps clients increase motivation for change, resolve ambivalence, strengthen commitment and carry through with behaviour change. Practitioners should find this course especially useful for rolling with resistance.

This face-to-face workshop will give you improved knowledge and skills to effectively work with clients in your field. Participants will gain an understanding of this communication style which can be applied in a variety of settings.

Learning Outcomes:          

Practitioners will:

  • Gain an awareness and essential understanding of the principles on motivational interviewing
  • Practice key motivational interviewing techniques
  • Build on their current level of counselling skills
  • Learn how to handle resistance

Cost per Practitioner for this two day workshop: NESA Corporate Members $650, NESA Associate Members $750 and non members $850.00 (Prices include GST). To register please call Max on 03 9686 3500 or email on: maxc@nesa.com.au

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Managing a Dual Diagnosis with Job Seekers by Darren John

How to effectively manage job seekers with complex needs address barriers and move on to create successful outcomes.

The one workshop aims to provide you with the skills that can aid practitioner confidence in dealing with difficult to manage issues such as mental health, homelessness, low self esteem that all have a major impact on the job seeker in sustaining meaningful employment.> Back to top 

The workshop focuses on the underlying principles which are imperative to understand to help the practitioner manage and resolve barriers to employment. The workshop  involves an element of role play. 

Workshop outcomes

At the end of training participants will take away: 

  • An understanding of the importance and practical application of client centered management.
  • Practical advice on how to work within a holistic framework and engage other service providers in both the government and the not for profit sectors.
  • Knowledge on alternative models of service delivery including serial, parallel & integrated models.
  • Increased knowledge and confidence in dealing with complex client issues.
  • A Statement of Attendance for their professional development portfolio 

 The cost to attend for NESA Members is $357.50, NESA Associate Members is $400.00 & Non Members $475.00. Prices are inclusive of GST. 

To register please call Max on 03 9686 3500 or email on; maxc@nesa.com.au

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Maximising outcomes with the power of the conversation - make conversations count!

This is a 1 day interactive workshop designed to build skills in managing the daily conversations necessary between the employment practitioner and the job seeker.  

The workshop will provide you with a range of skills and techniques to enable your conversations with job seekers to address the "tricky and challenging" topics that we often prefer to avoid, but need to be discussed.  Conversations such as these are best managed in a way that simultaneously maintains and enhances a productive and professional working relationship, and holds the job seeker accountable to focusing on their employment goals.

The outcomes of the program include:

  • Understand the principles of how to most effectively obtain outcomes in human services programs.
  • Understand how to handle conversations to keep job seekers accountable for their actions / and their inactions.
  • Understand how to maximise the effectiveness of working relationships within case management.
  • Understand the difference between being "friendly" and being "a friend".
  • Practice conversations in role play situations to build confidence and skills.
  • Observation of commonly presenting "difficult conversations" handled effectively to engage client commitment and responsibility.
  • Example / suggestion of scripts on how to respond effectively to commonly presenting case management issues.
  • Tools to encourage the jobseeker to participate in the EPP action items.

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Workshop Facilitator Biographies

Kate Connors

Kate Connors is an energetic and commonly requested speaker within the employment sector.  She has been working in the field for over 17 years and has high level expertise in dealing with clients with complex and challenging needs.  As a psychologist, Kate has significant experience in working with clients who are reluctant to participate in services, and are finding it difficult to take charge of their lives and turn things around.  Kate's successful style is built upon a commitment to working with individuals in a respectful way and using the power of the conversation to facilitate change.  Attendees at Kate's workshops leave feeling empowered, energised and keen to put the ideas into practice.          

Rod Cunningham 

Rod Cunningham has over 40 years experience in management, performance management and professional development facilitation across various industries in different size organisations, from small family operated entities to large multi-site public (unlisted) companies. With almost 20 years experience in the field, he has delivered training and development programs in almost all aspects of employment services. Rod's  passion is in strategic planning, organisational design and performance enhancement practices.                          



 

Jules Dymke

Jules has had an array of experience in community services, in particular working with clients with complex support needs, such as disability, mental illness, and alcohol and drug issues. She has seen direct hands on experience through to management with extensive involvement in community based programs in particular Aboriginal communities .Swinging across to training and education, she has taught in the TAFE sector, private international colleges and numerous RTO's (Registered training organisations).

Jules's passion has been the active participation of both staff and clients in developing, engaging relationships in a person-centred approach in both community and employment services. Recipient of both the Ethel Temby Award, and Training and Assessment Award for the Community Service and Heath Industry Awards, she continues to deliver fun, engaging and active sessions that challenge the audience to centre focus back onto the client and not simply the service outcome requirements. 

Margie Gadd (OAM)

Margie Gadd has over 25 years of structured training and facilitation experience.

She has consulted to the Employment Services Industry for nine years and has an established reputation for developing learning solutions that change mindsets, develop skills, and transform workplace practices. Her deep sense of passion for changing hearts and minds and her commitment to best-practice in delivering employment services result in tangible training outcomes. Margie is a professional member of NESA, RCSA, AITD, AIM.     

Felicity Humble

Felicity has over 30 years experience in psychiatric nursing. In her extensive career she has worked in England and many sites in Australia. Most recently Felicity held the team leader position for professional development and training for Barwon Health Community and Mental Health in Geelong.

Felicity has presented at several conferences and is proficient working with small and large groups, from both the corporate and the public sector. She has also provided training and professional development to tertiary students, allied health workers, local council and various community based groups. Felicity is a qualified Mental Health First Ad (MHFA) and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) trainer. Her tertiary qualifications include a Master of Nursing Studies and Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training. Felicity is passionate about improving acceptance and understanding of mental illness.

Felicity's friendly, relaxed and professional manner when presenting has resulted in excellent participation and involvement from participants. Feedback for her work is always ranked highly from those involved. Felicity has great skills in demystifying the medical understanding and management of mental health problems and in enabling participants to grasp complex subjects in her workshops.

Darren John

Darren has an extensive background in social work / psychology and has experienced success in establishing and running two businesses. As an accredited trainer, he has been designing, facilitating and evaluating a vast range of group work practices for over 15 years. The majority of Darren's expertise has been gained from working with high risk clients with complex needs in secure welfare settings. He currently manages a crisis accommodation facility and continues to provide training in the fields of anger management and, working effectively with high risk clients.

Kathleen Orr

Kathleen Orr, (Dip AOD, TAA, MA Medical Anthropology, Dip Ed, BA Hons), Senior Trainer with Odyssey Institute of Studies, worked in the AOD sector as a clinician for over 5 years. As a trainer with Odyssey Institute since 2006 she develops material for the Certificate IV and Diploma in AOD work in Odyssey's online classroom. Previously she lectured in Social Sciences and Sociology of Health, and once worked in a Job Club and in the CRS. Over the past two years she has been delivering one-day workshops to Job Network Providers across Australia.

Dr Priscilla Yardley

Dr. Priscilla Yardley is the Senior Psychologist at Peninsula Community Mental Health Service and is the coordinator of the Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Group Programme run at the service for clients with severe Borderline Personality Disorder. She also provides training in basic Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for general practitioners, mental health clinicians, and psychiatrists as well working in private practice part-time.  She is a strong advocate for training that equips health care providers with a practical psychological approach to the management of psychiatric disorders.

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