Family Work Champions Program

A family-inclusive practice capability building program for the Victorian AOD Workforce

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Working with people impacted by alcohol and other drugs often means navigating complex, changing circumstances. Even when engagement is brief or unpredictable, practitioners have valuable opportunities to build trust, strengthen relationships, and support meaningful change.

Research and practice experience consistently demonstrate that outcomes are enhanced when families and supporters are included in the therapeutic journey.

In partnership with the Victorian Department of Health, the Bouverie Centre will provide no-cost professional development opportunities for the AOD sector to build capacity and capability in family-inclusive practices through The Family Work Champions Program.

Useful links

Register for Family Work Champions Program

Family-inclusive practice library

Contact our Service Support Team

Eligibility Criteria

This training has been funded for workers employed in state and federally funded Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) services.

Benefits of the Family Work Champions Program

The program will give you the opportunity to you:

  • Strengthen your family-inclusive practice skills
  • Build confidence in engaging families
  • Enhance your ability to motivate and support practice change
  • Develop practical strategies that can be applied immediately in your service
  • Learn alongside experienced practitioners from across the Victorian AOD sector
  • Become a champion for family-inclusive practice within your organisation

Register as a team for greater impact

The Family Work Champions program is aimed at small teams of staff who are willing and supported to lead practice change in their organisation. While individuals are welcome to participate, we strongly encourage organisations to register groups of staff.

Why we recommend team impact

Participating as a team:

  • helps build shared knowledge
  • strengthens organisational commitment to family-inclusive practice,
  • increases the impact of local improvement initiatives developed throughout the program.

Program components

A key feature of the program is translating learning into meaningful workplace change.

Practitioners will be required to complete all these components

  • STEP 1: Family Sensitive Practice

    • LEARNING METHOD: Online – self-paced learning
    • CPD HOURS: 1 hour

    A concise, self-paced foundational module that introduces the key principles and themes of family work through a one-hour e-learning package.

    Complete Family Sensitive Practice now

  • STEP 2: Family Work Skills workshop

    • LEARNING METHOD:  2-day in-person workshops
    • LOCATION: Metro Melbourne and Regional Victoria
    • CPD HOURS: 14 hours
    • WORKSHOP DATES: August - November 2026

    A comprehensive advanced training program designed to:

    • Build participants' capability and confidence to undertake family work
    • Develop skills to influence, support and champion family-inclusive practice within services

    Learn more about Family Work Skills workshops

  • STEP 3: Service based initiative

    • LOCATION: Your workplace
    • CPD HOURS: 7 hours

    Participating teams will undertake a small, practical initiative designed to strengthen family-inclusive practice within their service. This ensures the program delivers tangible benefits beyond professional development and supports sustainable organisational improvement. Teams will be supported through the 2-day workshop and Communities of Practice to identify and undertake their initiatives.

    Examples may include:

    • Trialling a family-sensitive intake prompt or consultation pathway
    • Introducing family inclusion discussions into supervision or team meetings
    • Developing or adapting family information resources
    • Improving processes for identifying and recording family and carer involvement

    Each participating group will share the progress of its initiative during the Community of Practice series, creating opportunities to learn from and inspire other services across the sector.

  • STEP 4: Community of Practice (CoP)

    Continue your learning and connect with colleagues across the sector through facilitated Communities of Practice focused on the challenges and opportunities of implementing family-inclusive practice.

    • SESSIONS: 5 Sessions per stream
    • SESSION DURATION: 1 x 120 mins and 4 x 90 mins
    • CPD HOURS: 8 hours
    • LOCATION: Online
    • SESSIONS DATES: Commencing in February 2027

    The CoP streams are structured to reflect that family‑inclusive practice is influenced by each service context. They bring together participants working in similar environments, creating opportunities to explore relevant examples, share dilemmas and focus on practical implementation strategies.

    Learn more about the Community of Practice sessions

  • Practice Resources

    The program includes:

    • practice materials developed in response to needs identified through the Champion Program and in the Community of Practice (CoP) sessions.
    • Sector wide access will be provided through the Bouverie Centre’s Family-Inclusive Practitioner Library.

Completing the program

At the conclusion of the final CoP session, participants will receive a certificate of completion for the Family Work Champions Program, including all completed CPD hours.

Start the Family Work Champions Program now

Family Sensitive Practice

Turn insight into action with practical strategies for how to create family inclusive practices.

Back to the library

Presentation overview

Family Sensitive Practice introduces practitioners to foundational trauma-informed approaches that strengthen relational health between their clients and the important people in their lives. Drawing on the Bouverie Centre’s extensive experience, this video presentation provides practical guidance to help workers meaningfully engage with the connections that matter most to consumers.

Presentation Length: 57 minutes

Presented by: Liz Malone – Systemic Practice Consultant and Family Therapist

Who is Family Sensitive Practice for?

Designed for health and human services workers who are interested in building their confidence and capability in supporting family and relational wellbeing within their practice.

Learning outcomes

  • A foundational understanding of Family Sensitive Practice from a trauma-informed perspective
  • Practical tools and strategies to incorporate the consumer’s relational context into care
  • Reflective prompts to enhance preparedness and confidence in delivering family sensitive care
  • Insights from the Bouverie Centre’s long-standing work in family-focused practice

Relevant learning and development courses

Take the next step

Register for Family Work Skills and Community of Practice

When registering, please note that you can select only one Family Work Skills workshop. You will also be asked to choose your preferred workshop and Community of Practice sessions to help tailor your experience.

Cancellation policy: This program is at no cost to participants; however, if your circumstances change, please contact our Service Support Training Team no later than 7 days prior to advising of your inability to attend.

Register now (Metro Melbourne) Expression of Interest (Regional Victoria) Register now (Online)

Help and support

Contact our Service Support Training Team for any further information at bouverie.training@latrobe.edu.au

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