In 2007, The Bouverie Centre secured funding from the Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide an Aboriginal Family Therapy Training (AFTP) Program for Aboriginal family workers state-wide. La Trobe University, in collaboration with Take Two, Berry Street and VACCA’s Yarning Up on Trauma five-day training program, has enabled students to enrol in the University to extend the AFTP training to a Graduate Certificate level of competency. Students may elect to complete either the Graduate Certificate in Family Therapy or the shorter Aboriginal Family Therapy Training Program. Although students in both the AFTP and the Graduate Certificate training program will participate in all aspects of the program, the Graduate Certificate students formally enrolling in La Trobe University will be required to meet the attendance and assessment requirements, complete an extra six days of training as well as having completed the Yarning Up on Trauma training with Take Two, Berry Street.
The Bouverie Centre, a clinical centre for families attending family therapy, will offer Aboriginal Family Therapy training programs at both the AFTP and Graduate Certificate levels, held off-campus in four Aboriginal Community Co-Operatives throughout Victoria before June 2010. While this Graduate Certificate in Family Therapy is offered through The Bouverie Centre (La Trobe University), it has been developed in collaboration with Take Two, Berry Street’s Yarning Up on Trauma Programme that comprises the first unit of the Graduate Certificate. The course is being offered to Aboriginal child, family and mental health workers who have had experience in working with families in community. It can be completed over an 18 month period from the point of enrolment.
A critical component of the training is the support of the managers and team leaders who supervise the family work within the agencies from which the course participants come.
Banu Moloney, Shaun Coade and Kerry Proctor are currently the Bouverie teaching staff for these two courses. Throughout the training, other Aboriginal trainers may be invited to participate in the teaching of the course. The Yarning Up on Trauma component of the Graduate Certificate is taught by Shaun Coade and other trainers provided through Take Two, Berry Street.
Students will be required to participate in the evaluation of the course. They may also be invited to talk with Robyne Latham, Bouverie’s Indigenous Researcher, throughout the training to ensure that the training meets the needs of Aboriginal child and family workers working with families in Community.
Further information on the two courses offered as part of this project is available from the menu on the left.
First group of Aboriginal Family Therapists graduating 2009, Shepparton!
Ten Family Therapy students from the Rumbalara Aboriginal Community Co-Op, Njernda Aboriginal Community Co-Op, Goulburn Valley Community Health Service and Take Two have completed their training in November 2008 and will graduate as the first group of Aboriginal Family Therapists emerging from the training program .
The second cohort of students began their training in the Ballarat region in October 2008, and come from Ballarart and District Community Co-Op (BADAC), the Wathaurong Aboriginal Community Co-Op, Ballarat Children and Family Services, Take Two and VACCA. They will complete their training in June 2009.
Shepparton Graduates (clockwise from left): Kim Warde, Frances Loder, Rhonda Dean, Anita Baxter-Waters, Ryan Dean, Shelley Drake, Kaye Babarovich and Banu Moloney (trainer). Missing are: Shaun Coade (consultant) and Herb Goonan
