Skip to main content
Gippsland Family Violence Alliance
Courses Filter
Sort by
Type

Practice and Connection Registration

Practice and Connection Forums are aimed at practitioners across Gippsland from all sectors.

The aim is to provide a space where practitioners can build and share their skills and knowledge, meet and build connections with other practitioners from their local area and to gain insights into the other programs being provided across the sector.

Each Forum is structured around a specific topic with an annual plan developed via feedback from the practitioners that attend the forums and from the Gippsland Family Violence Alliance Network and Governance Groups.

We hold these Forums in both Inner and Outer Gippsland, with locations rotating to try to capture as many practitioners as possible.

We hold ten Forums in both Inner and Outer Gippsland each year, with a mix of local guest speakers and guest speakers from out of area.

To register please go to our Humanitix Page

Register Here

To learn more about the previous Practice and Connection Forum’s Gippsland has run, explore the topics, with links to resource and information below.

Summary: 

Gippsland practitioners undertook an interactive case study to unpack risk assessments and safety planning for children, via the non-offending parent. This is the first in a series of practice and connections focusing on working with children and young people.

Facilitated by:

  • Quantum Support Services
  • The Orange Door
  • Uniting Vic/Tas
  • Anglicare Victoria

Attendance: 

Inner Gippsland: 24 practitioners

Outer Gippsland 52 practitioners

Resources: 

Summary: 

Gippsland was provided with information and case scenarios about the overlap between Family Violence and Human Trafficking.

Facilitated by:

  • Australian Federal Police
  • ACRATH

 Referral Pathways: 

Attendance: 

Inner Gippsland: 37 practitioners

Outer Gippsland 31 practitioners

Resources: 

Summary: 

Practitioners heard from a range of legal supports the options to support clients.

Presented by:

  • Sandra Roennfeldt – Gippsland Community Legal Services
  • Juliette Murray, Riley Cooper, Saskia Colberg – Aboriginal Family Violence Legal Service: Djirra
  • Britt Aquilina – Family Advocacy and Support Services: Quantum Support Services
  • Laura Cooper, Placedia Chihota,  Andrew Legge – Magistrates Court of Victoria
  • Kristen Poel – Better Place Australia

 Resources: 

 

Summary: 

In partnership with Quantum Support Services ‘Strengthening Communities Project’ agencies came together to share their knowledge about supporting multicultural women and their children in Gippsland.

Guest Speakers: 

  • Danijela Stojanovic – Migration Agent: Stojanovic & Associates
  • Jill Page – Quantum Supports Services
  • Rebecca Hutchinson, Nikki McNeilage – Latrobe Community Health Services
  • Tanja Desouza – Australian Red Cross
  • Julia Rovery , Sally Gafa – Centre for Multicultural Youth
  •  Gippsland Multicultural Services
  • Indunil Ekanayake , Arfa Khan – Gippsland Multicultural Services

Resources:

Attendance: 

Inner Gippsland: 39

Outer Gippsland: 31

Change in Practice:

  • 78% indicated that their practice would change as a result of the practice and connection forum
  • 100% indicated they were confident that they could identify collaborative practice opportunities

I especially liked learning about the specific services available in our area – Red Cross & SETS – I also really enjoyed the presentation on the different Visa and which visa types could be specifically applied to people experiencing family violence.

Summary: 

Guest Speakers from the Hope Centre Residential Rehabilitation Service,  Adult Alcohol & Drug Services- Care & Recovery and the Specialist Family Violence Advisors to Alcohol and Drug Services spoke about the complexity of working with people who use alcohol or other substances.

Guest Speakers: 

  • Kerrie Robertson- Odyssey House
  • Cristina Francioli- Odyssey House
  • Kate Olsen- Latrobe Community Health Service
  • Luke Salienko –Latrobe Community Health Service
  • Louise Kennedy Young- Latrobe Community Health Service
  • Pauline Bommer- Gippsland Lakes Complete Health

Resources:

“All presentations are to be used as a resource for practitioner and not for delivery of presentations.  If you would like this information presented to a group or service please contact the relevant services.”

Attendance: 

Inner Gippsland: 40

Outer Gippsland: 36

Change in Practice:

  • 60% indicated that their practice would change as a result of the practice and connection forum
  • 99% indicated they were confident that they could identify collaborative practice opportunities

“Great informative presentations, became aware of services that I previously did not know about for Clients. Venue was good, food was good and networking opportunities were good. Would recommend to others to attend in future

Summary: 

Victoria Police gave a comprehensive session on how to respond to instances of non-fatal strangulation and to how to work in a non-collusive manner with men.

Guest Speakers: 

  • Ben Vahland, Victoria Police Training Officer

Attendance: 

Inner Gippsland: 46

Outer Gippsland: 44

Change in Practice:

  • 74% indicated that their practice would change as a result of the practice and connection forum
  • 92% indicated they were confident that they could identify collaborative practice opportunities

“This was the most engaging training I’ve been to in a long time and had the perfect amount of listening, chatting openly with the whole group, and small group chats. Loved it”

“It was one of the best topic presentations we’ve had, very informative”

Summary: 

Agencies were encouraged to bring service information and we had several guest speakers from new services or from services which were holding capacity to take referrals.

Guest Speakers: 

  • High Risk Panel Coordinators
  • Personal Safety Initiative Coordinators
  • Wellbeing Hub
  • Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault
  • Gamblers Help
  • Parent’s Next
  • Good Shepard Financial Hub

Attendance: 

Inner Gippsland: 40

Outer Gippsland: 44

Change in Practice:

  • 70% indicated that their practice would change as a result of the practice and connection forum
  • 100% indicated they were confident that they could identify collaborative practice opportunities

“This connection forum was my first and i gained a lot of knowledge about services in the area. I am new to working in Outer Gippsland and so my knowledge of services was very limited and I now feel much more confident in referring to services for my client needs. Great Idea and look forward to attending another in the new year”

Summary: 

Practitioners gained an understanding of supporting clients with suicide ideation, based the Suicide Narrative Framework.

Facilitated by: 

  • Humane Clinic

Referral pathways:

Attendance: 

Online Session: 46

Change in Practice: 

  • 76% indicated that their practice would change as a result of the practice and connection forum
  • 85% indicated they were confident that they could identify collaborative practice opportunities around mental health

“The presentation by Matt Ball was engaging, hope filled and led with courage of conviction, experience and education. A potent mix. I am thoroughly heartened to hear and see signs of change in respect to human distress and suicide purpose, meaning and risk.”

 

Summary: 

Practitioners were supported to understand the theory behind Intersectional Feminism and reflective Practice.

Facilitated by: 

  • Gippsland Family Violence Alliance

Resources: 

Attendance:

Inner Gippsland: 30 practitioners

Outer Gippsland: 16 practitioners

Change in Practice 

  • 77% indicated that their practice would change as a result of the practice and connection forum
  • 91% indicated they were confident that they could identify collaborative practice opportunities around working collaboratively

Summary: 

Practitioners were supported to develop an understanding of delivering Care Team Meetings. Information provided by practitioners on the day indicated that the majority had only been part of a Care Team Meeting facilitated by DFFH. This session allowed practitioners to develop skills so that greater collaborative practice can be undertaken in Gippsland.

Facilitated by: 

  • Gippsland Family Violence Alliance

Resource: 

Attendance:

Inner Gippsland: 50

Outer Gippsland: 47

Change in Practice: 

  • 75% indicated that their practice would change as a result of the practice and connection forum
  • 82.7% indicated they were confident that they could identify collaborative practice opportunities around working collaboratively

“Change of language was highlighted throughout the session which I had enjoyed and will implement in my daily practice. Very informative session”.

Summary:

Victoria Police spoke to practitioners about what is included on an L17, how police assess the level of risk, the process which is undertaken during assessment and touched on non-fatal strangulation.

Facilitated by: 

  • Victoria Police Family Violence Training Officers

Attendance: 

Inner Gippsland: 54

Outer Gippsland: 59

Change in Practice: 

  • 79% indicated that their practice would change as a result of the practice and connection forum
  • 87.6% indicated they were confident that they could identify collaborative practice opportunities around working with Victoria Police

“Been fantastic to have access to Victoria Police and the work they are doing around Family Violence. And to understand how they process a call out and the training they doing with all members now”.

Summary: 

Experienced practitioner who work with men, spoke to us about working with complexity, collusion and engagement with men. They also explained how Men’s Group work and case management works in Gippsland and answered questions.

Facilitated by: 

  • Latrobe Community Health
  • The Salvation Army
  • Anglicare Victoria

Attendance: 

Inner Gippsland: 19

Outer Gippsland: 21

Change in Practice: 

  • 66.66% said they gained an understand of how to dismantle systems of oppression affecting the client group
  • 100% said the Forum assisted them to build connections/networks with other practitioner

“The panelist were really informative and passionate about providing appropriate support for Men using Family Violence”

Summary: 

The E-Safety Commissioner came to provide information to Gippsland practitioners about how technology is being used to perpetuate forms of family violence.

Facilitated by: 

  • E-Safety Commissioner

Referral Pathways:

Attendance: 

Inner Gippsland: 28

Outer Gippsland: 21

Change in Practice: 

  • 60% said they gained an understand of how to dismantle systems of oppression affecting the client group
  • 75% said the Forum assisted them to build connections/ networks with other practitioners

“Excellent topic, brilliant delivery”.

Summary: 

Held across two sessions, an online session and a face to face session, participants gained an understanding of how to unpack the MARAM Safety Planning Tool.

Facilitated by: 

  • Gippsland Family Violence Alliance

Resource: 

Attendance: 

Inner Gippsland: 38 practitioners

Outer Gippsland: 51 practitioners

Online: 41

Change in Practice: 

  • 55.17% Said they gained an understand of how to dismantle systems of oppression affecting the client group
  • 82.76% Said the Forum assisted them to build connections/networks with other practitioners

“The deep dive into safety planning options and alternative questions was extremely valuable”.