The Antares Foundation Inc. (Australia) invites you to participate in our 2009 Workshop Program made possible by the funding and support of AusAID.
The comprehensive program of training and meetings aims to increase awareness, understanding and competency in supporting the wellbeing of expatriate and national staff who work for international aid agencies.
The program is designed to support managers, staff and volunteers to integrate psychosocial care strategies at every phase of operations in a considered, contextually appropriate and intentional manner.
The workshop program is also a means of supplementary support for organizations attempting to implement the Antares Guidelines for Good Practice.
The workshops have been developed by a staff team with considerable experience and insight into the humanitarian sector and with expertise in the fields of psychology, management, HR, research and anthropology.
The program is varied and interesting and utilizes a range of material and modalities to enhance the learning outcomes. The program is underpinned by the specialist knowledge, expertise and research of the international Antares Foundation.
Participants of the program will be actively engaged in the workshop modules and their own knowledge and experience will form an integral part of the training program.
Participants are encouraged to be in attendance and present for the full duration of each workshop in order to maximize the learning experience and outcomes for both themselves and the other participants.
Registration is essential. Please note closing date for registrations.
Enquiries regarding the workshop program can be directed to the Programs Manager by emailing antares@antaresfoundation.org.au or by telephoning +61 3 9005 0808
Workshop registration forms may be faxed to +61 3 9349 4477 or emailed.
Find out more about our Workshops [ PDF ]
Training of Trainers – Certification Program
In stress management, mitigation and prevention
The Antares Foundation Inc. (Australia) has successfully developed and piloted a comprehensive Training-of-the-Trainer program for organizations to adopt in-house.
The Antares certified program aims to support meaningful, contextually relevant stress and resilience education and sustainable and supportive in-house organizational policies and practices.
Staff of organizations who become certified by the Antares Foundation Inc. (Australia) to conduct this program receive a complete package of training resources tailored to best fit the challenges of their organizations, contexts and staff teams. By request, the materials can be translated into a language of choice.
Staff selected to adopt a Trainer role with the organization must be prepared to undertake a rigorous and challenging
6-step process before achieving certification. The steps include: 100% participation (in English) in the training; demonstration of training capacity; mastery of core psychosocial concepts and knowledge; demonstrated knowledge of organizational/ HR policies, protocols and practices that the organization has in place to support staff; evaluated feedback of real time training conducted for colleagues; participation in shared reflective forums and a survey to review challenges in conducting the training solo.
Components of the training include: Adult learning principles; Trainer self-knowledge; Training Framework and Metacognitive skills; Organizational contexts and staff support policies & practices; Stress in the workplace; Stress and coping; Self-care plans; Cultural factors that influence expression and mediation of stress; Environmental, organizational, interpersonal and personal domains of stress; Mitigating impact of managers and management style; Conflict resolution style; Cumulative stress; Recovering from trauma; Psychological first aid; Peer support and strengthening of cohesiveness of teams; Role of briefings and active listening and Monitoring for healthy outcomes.
The initial training requires an initial 7-10 day intensive training block - inclusive of two 1-day breaks, a ½ day examination and a 1 day simulated full Training Package with follow up distant and online monitoring.
This program can be conducted in Melbourne at the Antares Foundation or in a convenient location either nationally or internationally.
Please email Amanda Allan at antares@antaresfoundation.org.au for more information as to how this program could be tailored for your organization.
In-House Staff Peer Support Team Development & Training
Peer Support Teams can be developed and trained for supporting staff in different ways. For example Peer Support Teams can play a valuable role in either Headquarter Offices or in Field Offices.
Organizations who deploy staff overseas on a regular basis may consider developing and training a small peer team within the Head Quarter office of their organization to take on peer support roles for deploying staff. This can work particularly well for staff heading out on short term deployments. These staff teams are trained for example, with an emphasis on pre-deployment preparation planning; familiarity with organizational policies; stress education; time management planning; development of self-care plans; active listening; re-entry support; support resource referrals; limitations of the role and ethics and confidentiality.
Peer Support Teams based in the field are trained with an emphasis for example, on environmental awareness; familiarity with organizational policies; stress and fatigue education; leave planning; development of self-care plans; active listening; basic mental health knowledge (within cultural context); psychological first aid skills; limitations of the role and ethics and confidentiality.
Careful selection by organizations to take on these roles is critical and it should be emphasised that the Peer Support Teams are not a replacement for the role of Line Managers nor is the Peer Supporter a pseudo psychologist or an overnight mental health expert.
Typically, this is a five-day training program with follow up supervision opportunities.
This program can be conducted in Melbourne at the Antares Foundation or in a convenient location either nationally or internationally.
Please email Amanda Allan at antares@antaresfoundation.org.au for more information as to how this program could be tailored for your organization.
In the Field Workshops
Workshops in the field can be offered in all psychosocial topics, in any combination. They are usually offered over 2-7 days duration. The design of the field workshops will be adapted to the needs and demands of the organisation and workshop participants involved.
Field workshops can either be a follow up of a preparation course or they can be designed to respond to special demands from the organisation and the field.
Depending on facilities and location, two or three trainers/consultants will be employed (we prefer to work together with a local trainer/facilitator if available).
