For new and/or inexperienced workers in domestic violence services, and for workers in community and health services whose primary role is not domestic violence but who may encounter women and children who are in domestic violence situations in the course of their work.
Course description
This four-day course provides the basic skills, knowledge and understanding to work effectively with women and their children affected by family violence. It is suitable for new workers in family violence services and for workers in community or health services who have limited experience in working with women experiencing family violence.
On successful completion of assessment tasks, participants will receive a Statement of Attainment for national units:
CHCDFV301A: Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence
CHCDFV403C: Provide crisis intervention and support to those experiencing domestic and family violence
What you’ll learn
The basic skills, knowledge and understanding to work effectively with women and children who are in, or have been in, a domestic violence situation.
Prerequisites
None
Length
26 hours, delivered over four days from 9.30am -4:30pm each day. Lunch and morning and afternoon tea is provided.
In addition to participant readings, a further 6-10 hours (approximately) will be needed for participants to complete the post-training assessment tasks.
Teaching methods
DVRCV recognises that people learn in different ways. To this end the course is structured to maximise experiential learning and participants’ existing skills and strengths using adult learning principles. Methods include short presentations, small group exercises, video, discussion, case studies and role-plays.
Language and target group
DVRCV acknowledges that while men are sometimes victims of domestic and family violence it has been consistently shown that women and children are victims/survivors in over 90% of research findings and statistics. For this reason the term “she” will be used when referring to victims/survivors. However, the skills learned can be applied equally when working with males and females experiencing domestic and family violence.
An issue that often arises in training concerns working with men who use violence. As the units of competency show, the purpose of this course is to provide skills in working with victims/survivors. For this reason we will not be dealing with issues of working with men who use violence against family members.
Nationally Recognised Training
Introduction to Domestic Violence is aligned to meet two of the domestic violence units of competency in the Community Services Training Package (CHC08).
When you successfully complete all the assessment criteria for this course, you will get the nationally accredited Statement of Attainment for the following Domestic Violence competencies:
- Unit CHCDFV301A Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence
- Unit CHCDFV403C Provide crisis intervention and support to those experiencing domestic and family violence
Read more about Community Services Training Package on the National Training Information Service website
Assessment
Participants who would like to receive accreditation for the course will be required to do the assessment tasks.
Assessment of competence is determined by a range of methods:
- observation
- structured questioning and discussion during training through the use of group work and role-plays, and
- a post-training assessment booklet.
The post-training assessment booklet has case studies and questions and answers addressing the Learning Outcomes, as well as an Employer Checklist.
Participants have 4 weeks to complete and return the booklet and Employer Checklist for assessment.
If a participant is not yet competent in any of the learning outcomes they will receive feedback from the assessor and have a second opportunity to complete that part of the assessment within an agreed upon time. In order to receive the Statement of Attainment, participants are expected to attend all four days of the course.
DVRCV is flexible in its assessment methods in order to provide access and equity for all participants. Participants who experience difficulty completing the assessment tasks or have special needs should discuss this with the Training Coordinator at DVRCV.
Cost
$200 SHS*; $400 non-SHS funded workers
Feedback
I have learnt so much! You have raised my awareness, opened my mind and inspired me. Both of you were friendly, humourous, relaxed, kind and the best instructors I can think of. I had been dreading this course but I have thoroughly enjoyed it.
Would be fantastic if all police did this course! Really important for police to know the material and have an understanding of the wider/holistic response to family violence. This is important to achieve our goals of partnership policing, intelligent policing and confident policing.
I will now feel much more confident when working with clients who are experiencing DV.
Semester 1 2012 dates and location
- Wednesdays & Thursdays – 7, 8, & 14, 15 March (Melbourne CBD). Registrations close: 15 February
- Wednesdays & Thursdays - 16, 17, 23, 24 May (Colac). Registrations close: 2 May
Enrol
Click here to register using our Training Registration form.
Fax or post it to us: 292 Wellington St Collingwood Victoria 3066 Australia. Fax (03) 9486 9744
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