Ovens Murray Child & Family Services Alliance

AVITH in Context: Work with Under 12s
2024-08-07 13:00 - 14:00 UTC
AVITH in Context: Work with Under 12s

Many service providers are seeing referrals for children under 12 with violent, aggressive or otherwise “challenging” behaviours. Join us for this online discussion with specialist practitioners about common presenting issues and behaviours seen in younger cohorts and how this work with children (engagement, parent work, expectations of accountability) differs from work with older adolescents.

Wednesday 7 August 2024
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Online

RSVP today to the AVITH event

THE NATIONAL Kinship, Permanent & Foster Care Conference 2024
2024-08-09 08:00 - 2024-08-11 17:00 | Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Convention Centre Place, South wHARF, Melbourne, Victoria, 3006, Australia
The National Kinship, Permanent and Foster Care Conference 2024
Registrations now open for The National Kinship, Permanent and Foster Care Conference, 9 – 11 August, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Submit your abstract to participate in the upcoming Conference.
Register to attend.

The Five Essential Discussion Tools (FREE, 3 hour training session delivered via ZOOM)
2024-08-09 10:00 - 13:00
The original ‘The Five Essential Discussion Tools’ training package has been revised and refreshed. Perfect for practitioners who are new to working with men using family violence or those who have not explored de-escalation techniques in their work, this training explores the Five Essential Discussion Tools whilst applying an intersectional lens. It identifies how practitioners can engage in conversations to help men make sense of their behaviour; examines the client facing tools; develops practice skills in using the tools as additional interventions with men using family violence; and discusses how safety for families can be established by connecting men with their capacity to change.
The revised package includes a video activity to support practitioners to identify invitations to collude, reframing of passive language and safety planning.
Dates of delivery:

9 August 2024 – 10am-1pm
6 September 2024 – 10am-1pm
4 October 2024 – 10am-1pm

For more information and to register, click here.

Commission for Children and Young People Upcoming Webinar - Understanding the changes to the Reportable Conduct Scheme
2024-08-12 10:00 - 11:00
We’re hosting a free webinar for people who want to learn more about the increase in types of employees covered by the Reportable Conduct Scheme, which came into effect on 1 July 2024. This webinar is for people in organisations subject to the Reportable Conduct Scheme, who might be impacted by the changes.
You can read more about the changes on our website:
Changes to workers covered by the Reportable Conduct Scheme

Date: Monday 12 August 2024
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Location: Online, via Teams. You do not need a Teams account to join but registration is required.
Recording: If you can’t make it on the day, a recording of the webinar will be available on our website after the event.

Register for the webinar

Practice Responses to Child Sexual Exploitation: Forum Series
2024-08-14 09:30 - 16:30
Register now via Humanitix

Supporting infants' and toddlers' resilience during daily transitions
2024-08-14 13:00 - 14:00
Presenters: Dr Robyn Dolby, Dr Belinda Friezer, Claudius Reiman and Vicki Mansfield
Partner: Emerging Minds
Date & time: Wednesday 14 August 2024, 1:00 – 2:00PM (AEST). Find your time zone.

Early childhood is a dynamic period of development and critical to a child’s long term social and emotional wellbeing. In their first five years, children experience numerous transitions – some transitions are ‘big’, and some are small, some expected and some unexpected. Often in practice we discuss the big transitions, but it’s the repeated small ones that create relationships and underpin the bond between parents/carers and the child.
The busyness of day-to-day life can sometimes make it challenging for parents/carers to be emotionally available and find opportunities to connect with their infant or toddler. This webinar will explore ways practitioners can support parents/carers and educators to experience the world through the child’s eyes.
Using a case study involving a childcare drop off, this webinar will focus on how practitioners can support educators and parents/carers to be responsive and consistent with infants and toddlers during daily transitions to promote their confidence and sense of security. Panellists will discuss three transition processes, including the rowboat metaphor, the negotiated goodbye, and preparing to launch.
This webinar will help you:

identify how infant and toddler behaviour is a form of communication
understand how changes in everyday moments of caregiving can build infants’ and toddlers’ confidence and sense of security
promote infants’ and toddlers’ sense of security, resilience and confidence during everyday separations, transitions and social interactions
understand how interdisciplinary coordination between parents/carers, early childhood educators and practitioners can promote infant and toddler social and emotional wellbeing.

This webinar will interest practitioners who work with infants, toddlers and their families, such as early childhood educators, child and family services and parenting support, allied health workers, child and family nurses, paediatricians, infant mental health workers, adult mental health workers and family domestic violence services.
This webinar is co-produced by CFCA at the Australian Institute of Family Studies and Emerging Minds in a series focusing on children’s mental health. They are working together as part of the Emerging Minds: National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health, which is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care under the National Support for Child and Youth Mental Health Program.
REGISTER

Join our 'Working with Dads' training
2024-08-14 13:00 - 16:00
Online
For professionals and support servicesIn this workshop, you will gain knowledge and strategies to:
Engage dads and father-figures
Build a dad-focused service
Promote to dads effectively
Understand the different types of dads
Support dads to create positive family relationships

Book your place here

Promoting Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Context of Family and Domestic Violence
2024-08-22 12:30 - 14:00
The Centre, in collaboration with No to Violence, Safe and Equal, and Sexual Assault Services Victoria are working on the Family Violence and Sexual Violence Knowledge Hub Project. The project aims to support children and families experiencing family violence and family violence service users. The project will strengthen practice, identify data gaps and build an evidence base in this sector. As part of the collaboration project, the Centre will be hosting a series three online events.
Interactive online event with Emerging Minds
Family Violence & Sexual Violence Event (FV&SV)
This interactive online event, the second of the series and facilitated by Emerging Minds, will improve understanding of how family and domestic violence and abuse may be affecting children’s health, development and wellbeing.
Practitioners from specialist and non-specialist programs will likely come into contact with families who have been or are currently impacted by family and domestic violence and abuse. Therefore, it’s crucial for professionals to have the skills and confidence to discuss with parents how such situations impact children’s health, development, and overall wellbeing. We know that children will be impacted by family and domestic violence even if they are not subjected to abuse or witness it directly.
This interactive presentation will support practitioners to:

Consider the impact of family and domestic violence on children’s mental health and wellbeing
Understand the importance of being child-aware and parent-sensitive
Explore ways to talk and work with parents to support and improve their children’s mental health and wellbeing.

This online event will be particularly valuable to those designing and leading child and family programs and for passionate-change makers wanting to better embed children’s social and emotional wellbeing in their organisational advocacy and strategy.
The Family Violence & Sexual Violence Knowledge (FV&SV) Hub Project
Register here.

Enhanced – The Five Essential Discussion Tools (FREE, 3 hour online training session delivered via Zoom)
2024-08-23 10:00 - 13:00
For practitioners who have engaged with the Five Essential Discussion Tools before, this enhanced package will refresh knowledge and introduce new topics and practice considerations.
Training content expands upon underlying theories that support the tools – interoception (Body Signs Tool), Name it to Tame it [Dr. Dan Siegel] (Traffic Light Tool) – the theory of behaviour change and brain plasticity; identifying and responding to invitations to collude; and practitioner accountability and best practice principles in the work – managing reactivity and using the tools on yourselves as practitioners.
The enhanced package also includes a case study following the journey of a ‘practitioner’ explaining the benefits of the tools to a ‘client’.
Dates of delivery:

23 August 2024 – 10am-1pm
20 September 2024 – 10am-1pm

For more information and to register, click here.

Foundation Case Notes Training
2024-08-27 09:30 - 12:30
Tailored for professionals such as practitioners, case managers, and social workers, along with other integral members of a comprehensive support system for children, youth, and families, this dynamic 3-hour workshop offers an immersive learning experience.
“The presenters were very knowledgeable and created a safe space for sharing information and learning.” – participant of Foundation Case Notes.

Register now

Engaging Dads Using Family Violence ($369.40, 2x 3 hour online training sessions delivered via Zoom)
2024-08-28 10:00 - 13:00
This training explores the damaging effects of children witnessing/experiencing violence and abuse and how to shift the focus of interventions to the father’s responsibility and accountability for safe parenting.
This training is underpinned by the current evidence base that has established an understanding of the gender drivers of men’s violence against women. Practitioners attending this training examine the understanding that the choice to use abuse includes the ways in which abuse and violence minimise and impact on the parenting of the victim-survivor.
Dates of delivery:
28 & 29 August 2024, 10am-1pm both days

Webinar: Supporting children with a disability and/or developmental delay in kindergarten
2024-08-29 13:00 - 15:00
Early Start, Bright Future
Upcoming webinar: supporting children with a disability and/or developmental delay in kindergarten
Join the ESBF team as we present a case study of a young child with an emerging disability and experience of trauma. We will touch on the support available for this child and their family on their journey to kindergarten and the transition to school. Experts will join us in the field to highlight the assistance they can provide to support the inclusion of all children in early learning settings.

Thursday 29 August 2024
1:00 am – 3:00 pm AEST
Online (Microsoft Teams)

Trauma Sensitive Practice: Working with Complex Trauma
2024-08-30 09:00 - 16:30
(PUB) Trauma Sensitive Practice – Working with Complex Trauma
Melbourne
This training is a blend of foundational information on complex trauma with the introduction of the practice of safety and stabilisation. This training program utilises current research to provide an understanding of trauma, the impacts of trauma and the neurobiological responses that occur. Building an understanding of the key features of complex trauma that can present in our working relationships and the resourcing and regulation that can support in practice.

Professional Member Discount $310.00 incl. GST
Group Booking (3 or more people) Per Person Rate $330.00 incl. GST
$350.00 incl. GST

REGISTER

No to Violence Conference: Leading Radical Change: A Call to Action to End Men's Family Violence
2024-09-02 08:00 - 2024-09-05 17:00
No to Violence will take on the theme Leading Radical Change – A call to action to end men’s family violence at the 2024 conference and will collaboratively explore the radical change needed to end men’s use of family violence.
The conference brings together the insights of people with lived experience, leading policymakers, practitioners, and researchers, learning from each other to create meaningful human-centred responses within communities, families, and workplaces.
Building on our conversations on masculinities and practice with people working in communities, and on prevention, early intervention, and specialist responses, as well as recovery and healing programs, the conference will explore how we de-silo our shared work to lead real, radical change to end men’s use of family violence.
📍 Rydges Melbourne,186 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3000
📅 2-5 September 2024
COST: Refer to registration page
📝 Register here

Rainbow Tick Information Session
2024-09-03 11:00 - 12:30
Rainbow Tick Information Session
Is your organisation considering Rainbow Tick accreditation? Do you want to find out more about what it looks like to embed LGBTIQ inclusion at your workplace? Come along to one of our Rainbow Tick information sessions to find out more about this world-first quality framework, designed to help health and human services organisations become safe and inclusive for the LGBTIQ community.

These sessions are online, free of charge and open to all.
Click on which session your organisation would like to learn more below:
Tuesday 3rd September 11am – 1230pm
Thursday 14th November 2pm – 330pm

REGISTER

The Five Essential Discussion Tools (FREE, 3 hour online training session delivered via Zoom)
2024-09-06 10:00 - 13:00
The original ‘The Five Essential Discussion Tools’ training package has been revised and refreshed. Perfect for practitioners who are new to working with men using family violence or those who have not explored de-escalation techniques in their work, this training explores the Five Essential Discussion Tools whilst applying an intersectional lens. It identifies how practitioners can engage in conversations to help men make sense of their behaviour; examines the client facing tools; develops practice skills in using the tools as additional interventions with men using family violence; and discusses how safety for families can be established by connecting men with their capacity to change.
The revised package includes a video activity to support practitioners to identify invitations to collude, reframing of passive language and safety planning.
Dates of delivery:

6 September 2024 – 10am-1pm
4 October 2024 – 10am-1pm

For more information and to register, click here.

blueknot - Trauma Responsive Leadership
2024-09-11 09:00 - 16:30
This training program explores the application of a trauma lens when supporting teams and individuals who work with complex trauma. Being trauma responsive means both individual and organisation recognise and respond to trauma which can enable change and strengthen resilience and protective factors. A trauma responsive leader embeds trauma informed principles into practice and creates a culture of safety for their team to work from.
The exploration of secure base leadership allows for both safety and exploration in the relationship which builds better client outcomes for staff, as well as greater staff satisfaction and productivity, reduced stress and enhanced well-being for all.

Professional Member Discount $310.00 incl. GST
Group Booking (3 or more people) Per Person Rate $330.00 incl. GST
$350.00 incl. GST

REGISTER

Introduction to Working with Men Using Family Violence ($369.40, 2x 3 hour online training sessions delivered via Zoom)
2024-09-11 10:00 - 13:00
Introduction to working with men using family violence is a foundational training experience for professionals to learn the ways in which men’s family violence is defined and understood.
This training develops practitioner skill and confidence in engaging men in the collaborative conversation about their use of abuse and violence, which is critical in linking them to specialist services and referral pathways that support the behavioural change process.
Dates of delivery:
11 & 18 September 2024, 10am-1pm both days
For more information and to register, click here.

Centre for Excellence - Early Years Forum
2024-09-17 09:30 - 12:30
The ESBF team is excited to announce the second instalment of our bi-annual forum series. This session will dive deep into successful cross-sectoral collaborations in early childhood education, child and family services, and other allied services. We aim to spotlight best practice examples that achieve excellent outcomes for under-supported children and families.

Tuesday 17 September 2024
9:30 am – 12:30 pm AEST

Online (Microsoft Teams)

Forum Series: Practice Responses to Child Sexual Exploitation
2024-09-18 09:30 - 16:30

Enhanced – The Five Essential Discussion Tools (FREE, 3 hour online training session delivered via Zoom)
2024-09-20 10:00 - 13:00
For practitioners who have engaged with the Five Essential Discussion Tools before, this enhanced package will refresh knowledge and introduce new topics and practice considerations.
Training content expands upon underlying theories that support the tools – interoception (Body Signs Tool), Name it to Tame it [Dr. Dan Siegel] (Traffic Light Tool) – the theory of behaviour change and brain plasticity; identifying and responding to invitations to collude; and practitioner accountability and best practice principles in the work – managing reactivity and using the tools on yourselves as practitioners.
The enhanced package also includes a case study following the journey of a ‘practitioner’ explaining the benefits of the tools to a ‘client’.
Dates of delivery:

20 September 2024 – 10am-1pm

For more information and to register, click here.

Young people's experiences of child maltreatment and use of violence in the home- online
2024-10-03 12:00 - 13:00
The 2024 report, ‘Young people’s experiences and use of violence in the home’ investigates four types of child maltreatment, their intersections and self-reported use of violence in the home.
In this webinar we will hear from authors Dr Silke Meyer and Maria Atinézar-Prieto (PhD) who examine findings from the national ANROWS-funded study on young people’s use and experiences of violence in the home and considers the intersection of child maltreatment types and the likelihood of a young person using violence in the home.
REGISTER HERE

The Five Essential Discussion Tools (FREE, 3 hour online training session delivered via Zoom)
2024-10-04 10:00 - 13:00
The original ‘The Five Essential Discussion Tools’ training package has been revised and refreshed. Perfect for practitioners who are new to working with men using family violence or those who have not explored de-escalation techniques in their work, this training explores the Five Essential Discussion Tools whilst applying an intersectional lens. It identifies how practitioners can engage in conversations to help men make sense of their behaviour; examines the client facing tools; develops practice skills in using the tools as additional interventions with men using family violence; and discusses how safety for families can be established by connecting men with their capacity to change.
The revised package includes a video activity to support practitioners to identify invitations to collude, reframing of passive language and safety planning.
Dates of delivery:

4 October 2024 – 10am-1pm

For more information and to register, click here.

Reframing young person violence: Neuroaffirmative practice - online
2024-10-08 11:00 - 12:30
In Victoria, young person violence has typically been viewed through the lens of intergenerational family violence. Many specialist AVITH practitioners here report that many of the young people they work with are neurodivergent. It is time to consider new ways of conceptualising this issue to bring about changes in language, prevention and response?
We talk with Allison Cox (Berry Street) and Jessica Wright (Australian Childhood Foundation) on cross-disciplinary considerations for this work through a trauma-informed and neuro-affirmative lens.
REGISTER HERE

AVITH in Context Webinar: Reframing Young Person Violence: Neuroaffirmative Practice
2024-10-08 11:00 - 12:30
In Victoria, young person violence has typically been viewed through the lens of intergenerational family violence. Many specialist AVITH practitioners report that many of the young people they work with are neurodivergent. Is it time to consider new ways of conceptualising this issue to bring about changes in language, prevention and response?
Join us as we hear from Allison Cox (Berry Street) and Jessica Wright (Australian Childhood Foundation) on considerations for working with young people who use violence in the home and their families through a trauma-informed and neuro-affirmative lens.
REGISTER TODAY

Violence against pets in the context of intimate partner violence: supporting victim-survivors
2024-10-09 13:00 - 14:00
Presenters: Kylie Butler, Jen Howard, Monique Dam and Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald
Nearly 70% of Australian households include pets. For many of us, these animals are family, as much a part of our lives and equally loved as our human family members.
While there is widespread awareness about the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on women and children, less is known about the links between violence against family animals and IPV.
There is evidence that violence against family animals can be an indicator of frequent and severe patterns of IPV. Some perpetrators threaten or harm family pets to manipulate, punish or control their partner, leveraging the emotional connection many people have with their pets. In these situations, many victim-survivors will delay leaving, stay with, or return to perpetrators because they are scared for their pets’ safety.
Victim-survivors of IPV who have family animals face unique challenges in seeking and accessing support. Although research suggests that human and animal victim-survivors recover and heal better when they can do so together, this is often not possible – largely due to a lack of animal-inclusive support services and crisis accommodation.
Within the context of these systematic challenges, this webinar will explore practical ways that practitioners working in child and family services can strengthen support for human and animal victim-survivors.
This webinar will help you:

understand the relationship between violence against family animals and intimate partner violence and the effects of this violence on human and animal victim-survivors

understand the emotional connection between people and family animals and the benefits of recovering and healing together
develop insight into the unique challenges that victim-survivors of IPV who have family animals may experience when trying to access support and strengthen the way you support these individuals.

This webinar is intended for both general and specialist practitioners working in child and family services including general family support, mental health care and health care, family and relationship services, social workers, counsellors and psychologists. It will also be relevant to practitioners working in animal welfare or veterinary services.

REGISTER

Newborn Behavioural Observation (NBO) Live Online Workshop for Professionals Working with High-Risk Infants
2024-10-13 13:30 - 17:30
What is the NBO system?
The Newborn Behavioural Observations (NBO) system is a relationship building tool that fosters a positive parent-infant interactive relationship. A supportive, nurturing relationship that is sensitive and responsive to the infant’s needs is a sign of parents’ successful adaptation to parenting and optimises their infant’s neurological and psychological development.
Is this course for me?
This workshop is for professionals working with young infants age 0-3 months who may have a range of complex medical and surgical conditions, including infants in NICU and SCBU, and for professionals providing post-hospital care or developmental follow-up for families in the community.
It will appeal to Neonatal Nurses and Doctors, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech & Language Therapists, general practitioners, (enhanced) maternal and child health nurses, child and family health nurses, mental health professionals and others working with high-risk infants and their families.
How is it similar and different to the standard NBO course?
This course incorporates the same curriculum, theoretical content, and certification process as our other NBO workshops. In addition, the workshop will include particular considerations of implementing the NBO when working with high-risk infants and their families up to infant age of approximately 3 months (corrected for premature birth if relevant).
The case studies and videos will illustrate how the NBO can be implemented in practice to support babies and families where additional risks may challenge the infant’s abilities for self-regulation, social interaction and/or the parent-infant relationship.
Participating professionals will be supported in reading and responding to infant regulatory-dysregulatory signals and providing and promoting neuro-protective, nurturing care for vulnerable young infants, through the video material and reflective small-group discussion.
This NBO Workshop will be a live online format presented across three part days:
​Workshop Day One: Sunday 13 October 2024, 1:30-5:30pm AEDT
Workshop Day Two: Monday 14 October 2024, 12:30-5:30pm AEDT
Workshop Day Three: Tuesday 15 October 2024 12:30-5:30pm AEDT
Optional Post: Monday 11 November 2024, 5:00-6:00pm AEDT
*Please note times are in Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time (AEDT)
This online workshop will be run by three NBO trainers with an emphasis on interactive exchange and hands-on practice. Presented Live Online via Zoom and NBO Learning Management System.
Presented by:
A.Prof Campbell Paul, Royal Children’s Hospital & Royal Women’s Hospital, Victoria, Australia
Dr Susan Nicolson, Royal Women’s Hospital, Victoria, Australia
Ms Danielle Atkins, Occupational Therapist at Hawkes Bay District Health Board, New Zealand
Bookings via Eventbrite: https://nbo-australia.eventbrite.com
Early Bird Ticket Price: $649 AUD (including GST).
Standard Ticket Price: $792AUD (including GST).

Supporting Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families in the Early Years - online: MS Teams
2024-10-22 13:00 - 14:30
Join the Early Start Bright Future team in exploring some of the supports available for CALD families in the early years that promote engagement with culturally safe early learning opportunities.
REGISTER HERE

Forum Series: Practice Responses to Child Sexual Exploitation
2024-10-23 09:30 - 16:30
Register now via Humanitix

Register now via Humanitix

Let's recommit to the Education State - The 2024 Community Sector Education Forum
2024-10-23 10:00 - 16:00
It’s that time of year again! The Community Sector Education Forum is a flagship event held annually by the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) supported by the Victorian Department of Education.
The 2024 Community Sector Education Forum will explore the theme:
Recommitting to the Education State
Driving another decade of excellence and equity in education in Victoria
This year’s FREE event will be held in person and will feature interactive components. Speakers will include the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, The Hon. Ben Carroll MP and the Minister Children and Minister for Disability, The Hon. Lizzie Blandthorn MP, who will participate in a Q&A session
The forum will also include a keynote address by world renowned Finnish professor of educational leadership Pasi Sahlberg, as well as presentations featuring community sector leaders and a series of interactive breakout sessions.
Together we will explore the connections between education and community services and how the two sectors can effectively work together to shape supportive environments and communities for all Victorian learners and spark fresh ideas to drive another decade of education reform in Victoria.
Date: Wednesday, 23 October from 10am – 4pm (registrations and networking from 9am)
Location: The Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Lonsdale St

Register here

If you have any questions or access requests please  email Joanna Hatcher.
