Overview
The Parenting Research Centre conducts training programs for professionals with the purpose of disseminating evidence-based best practice to professional s with an interest in working more effectively with parents or carers. Every effort is made to deliver training that is relevant, accessible and practical.
The Centre provides training across a range of topics for professionals working with parents. The Centre can also provide training programs exclusively to an organisation with particular needs.
Contracted Training
Each year a wide range of organisations who provide services to parents, request professional training from the Centre for themselves or for a group of professionals in their area. These specially designed training programs are tailored to meet specific needs relating to client groups, particular issues or the skills of staff. Recent topics have included Working with Parents with Special Learning Needs and Toilet Training.
Contracted training is available for organisations on a cost recovery basis. Organisations who are interested in providing specific topics to their staff are welcome to discuss their needs with the Centre. For more information call (03) 8660 3500 or contact info@parentingrc.org.au
Training Programs
The Centre offers several training packages. These have been developed over a number of years and are evaluated according to industry practice. In addition to the programs listed below, we also offer the Parenting Young Children training program, part of our Healthy Start project.
ABCD: Parenting Young Adolescents
This training program is for professionals who work with parents of young adolescents and helps parents discuss and practise a range of strategies and ideas including:
- understanding adolescents
- connecting and communicating with teenagers
- negotiating boundaries
- solving problems so that everybody wins
- setting effective limits dealing with risky behaviour and
getting support.
The two-day workshop introduces participants to the program using a range of presentation techniques including:
- problem-solving exercises
- demonstrations
- group discussion
- small group exercises
- practice exercises.
Training participants also receive a CD-ROM version of the Facilitator Manual that includes a program guide, handouts for parents and a PowerPoint presentation (slides). Resources for parents are also available in translation in six languages: Somali, Vietnamese, Macedonian, Spanish, Arabic and Turkish.
AusParenting in Schools
AusParenting in Schools is a comprehensive, fully integrated school-based parenting and family support strategy. The strategy is designed to establish organisational structures, policies and practices that promote parent involvement and collaborative teacher-parent relationships and strengthen community partnerships. It provides overall planning, implementation and maintenance strategies for schools to address issues of partnership with parents and community. Individual schools or school networks can use the strategy.
Training is designed to equip teachers with skills to work with parents more effectively to improve the outcomes for their children, particularly at the more difficult times within their school life. There are four related training options within the package:
- developing a family friendly environment
- establishing resources and information for parents
- implementing parenting programs (transition to and from primary schools)
- training school personnel in parent consultation.
Schools are provided with one free copy of training materials with the option of purchasing additional copies.
Note that there are no restrictions to trainees and that the training is available on a cost recovery basis. Organisations who are interested in providing this program to their staff are welcome to discuss their needs with the project manager at the Centre.
Signposts
Signposts for Building Better Behaviour is a program for parents who have children with an intellectual disability, a developmental disability or difficult behaviour. It aims to provide families with positive strategies for managing problematic behaviours before such behaviours escalate to the point where intensive behavioural intervention is required.
The training is designed to equip professionals with the skills to deliver the Signposts program in its various forms: group, telephone and self-directed. A facilitator manual, a CD-ROM and parent materials are provided to trainees. For further details of this training package, click on the following link to the Signposts program.
Triple P
Triple P is a unique, multi-level system of parenting and family support developed in Australia by Professor Matthew Sanders and his clinical and research teams from the Parenting and Family Support Centre (The University of Queensland).
Participants who complete the training program will have enhanced knowledge of theoretical principles and therapeutic skills that will enable them to implement the program effectively with families.
Four levels of training are available to professionals:
- Primary Care Triple P (Level 2/3)
- Standard Triple P (Level 4)
- Group Triple P (Level 4)
- Enhanced Triple P (Level 5)
There are no restrictions to participation at any level except to Enhanced Triple P (Level 5). To enrol in Level 5, participants need to have completed Level 4.
Organisations can arrange for exclusive training for their workers on a cost recovery basis. Organisations interested in training proposals and quotations for the Triple P program are welcome to discuss their needs with the training coordinator. Individuals who would like to train in the Triple program can contact us for more information. Read more details about the Triple P program.
Special Topics
The Parenting Research Centre has developed a series of specialist topics for professionals who work with families. Topics have been developed in consultation with practitioners in the field. Contact us for more information about any of the following topics.
Process Issues In Parenting Consultation
This workshop examines the obstacles that sometimes prevent families from joining programs and from engaging in them. Understanding these obstacles can help professionals encourage positive outcomes for their clients and themselves.
Working with parents who have learning difficulties: Issues and challenges
Providing support to families where one or both parents have learning difficulties is a growing issue for professionals working in the fields of health, education and welfare.
Managing non-compliance in children
Non-compliant behaviour in children is one of the most common and distressing problems presented to child health and welfare professionals by parents.
Enhancing parental coping: A cognitive approach
The ability to cope with stressful events and unpleasant emotions is critical in effective parenting. High levels of stress in the family environment and difficulties coping can interfere with a parent's ability to care for their children effectively, as well as reduce the effectiveness of interventions designed to strengthen parenting skills.
Continence in children with special needs: A family-based approach
For all children, the skills required for acquisition of bowel and bladder continence are important developmental accomplishments. Some children achieve these skills with relative ease; others require assistance to learn them.
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