Family Sensitive Practice
Develop practical skills to recognise and respond to the needs of families, carers, and other significant relationships while maintaining a client-centred approach
Families, carers, kin and other supporters are often profoundly impacted by a loved one's mental health challenges while also playing a crucial role in recovery and ongoing support. National policy, safety and quality standards recognise both the importance of family and carer participation and the need for services to attend to their wellbeing and support needs.
Delivering meaningful family-inclusive practice requires more than inviting a family member into a conversation. Practitioners must navigate consent, privacy, differing perspectives and cultural understandings of family, while recognising families and carers as people with their own experiences, strengths and support needs. They must also be able to respond effectively in situations where involvement is constrained, contested or unsafe.
This interactive workshop explores the principles and practices of family-sensitive practice relevant to a range of health, mental health, and community service settings. Participants will develop practical skills to recognise and respond to the needs of families, carers, and other significant relationships while maintaining a client-centred approach.
The workshop examines how health, mental health, and other life challenges can affect families and relationships, and highlights the important role families often play in supporting wellbeing and recovery. Through discussion, reflection, case examples, and skills practice, participants will learn strategies to engage families, share information appropriately, value family expertise, and work collaboratively with those who matter most to the people they support.
Participants will be encouraged to consider how family-sensitive practice can be applied within their own role, service setting, and professional context, leaving with practical ideas they can confidently implement in everyday practice.
What will you learn
By attending this workshop you will be able to:
- Understand the principles and importance of family-sensitive and family-inclusive practice across health, mental health, and community service settings.
- Build knowledge and confidence to engage and collaborate effectively with families, carers, and supporters in ways that strengthen inclusion, participation, and shared understanding.
- Apply practical skills to recognise and respond to families' needs, experiences, strengths, and expertise while maintaining a client-centred approach.
- Identify opportunities and strategies for incorporating family-sensitive practice into your own role, team, and service context.
Who should attend
This workshop is suitable for practitioners, clinicians, team leaders, and support workers who work with individuals and want to strengthen their ability to engage with families, carers, and other significant supports. It is relevant across health, mental health, disability, education, and community service settings, and for anyone seeking practical ways to apply family-sensitive practice in their everyday work.
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