A series of training courses is set to strengthen the Counselling Services Centre team’s understanding of the barriers people can face when accessing support.
Centre Chief Executive Tayyaba Khan says it’s important the team continues to expand its understanding of clients’ communication needs, disability, cultural differences and the particular experiences of Rainbow and ethnic communities.
About 20 kaimahi from the centre, based in Papatoetoe, will take part in family violence capability training between now and December through four Eclipse Entry to Expert Family Violence Capability Framework Diversity workshops.
They will cover working with Rainbow communities, disabled people, ethnic communities and Pacific peoples.
These online training sessions will give the team flexibility to complete the learning around their client work and other commitments. The courses are self-paced and include opportunities to reflect.
“Where possible, we’re also planning to have most of the team complete the online training together in our training room. This means they can talk through the material, share ideas and learn from each other’s experiences,” Tayyaba says.
About 15 team members will also have the chance to participate in Alo Fā Cultural Responsiveness Training this month.
“It will allow our team to build on their current understanding of Pacific values and worldviews, and how we can continue to work in a culturally responsive way with Pacific clients and whānau. Pacific peoples make up a significant part of our community, so this is really valuable.”
CSC has 42 kaimahi and delivers around 7,000 counselling sessions a year, supporting around 2,000 clients and their families.
Tayyaba says their clients and whānau come from a wide range of backgrounds and may have very different experiences of family violence and trauma. The training will support the team to continue developing how they work with people and whānau from different backgrounds and with different experiences.
The workshops are being funded by a grant from Trillian Trust, with the application supported by the Wiri Licensing Trust.
Wiri Licensing Trust Community and Marketing Manager Sophie Rider says the Trust is proud to support CSC as it continues to strengthen the services it provides for the diverse communities of South Auckland.
“People come to the centre with different backgrounds, experiences and needs, and this training will help ensure its team has the knowledge and confidence to respond in ways that work for the people and whānau they serve.”
The grant will also help the centre replace some ageing IT equipment, including computers, laptops and screens, as well as provide equipment for new team members.
“Reliable technology is an important part of being able to do our jobs well and continue providing services to clients and whānau,” Tayyaba says.
Among the new purchases are three iPads and anti-theft stands. These will allow CSC to collect client feedback digitally, giving people a simple and accessible way to share their experience of the services they have received.
“That feedback is really valuable to us. It helps us understand what is working well and where we can make improvements to better meet the needs of the community.”
Wiri Licensing Trust wants to connect with local community groups and organisations that are doing great work in our hood to understand how we can better support you – email us at info@wiritrust.org.nz.
