Description

This qualification covers workers who are employed in a range of family and relationship education services across a broad range of agencies. Most work is undertaken with clients face to face, often with more than one client or couple at a time. This work usually involves the delivery of existing programs with clearly identified information, education and skill development outcomes. Some work can be undertaken on a more individual or couple basis and can contain aspects of case management and outreach work.

Work at this level is in prevention and early intervention. Workers at this level do not undertake clinical or complex therapeutic interventions. The role is that of education and skill development, not counselling.
Key skills and knowledge for this work include the ability to work effectively in the area of family and relationship work, effective communication skills, conflict management and group facilitation and program planning and delivery.

Practitioners working with specific client groups also need to be able to demonstrate the ability to work effectively with those specific groups. Client groups may include but are not limited to men, women, couples, parents, young people, children and families. Client groups are highly diverse, especially in relation to cultural backgrounds and family structures. A broad understanding of family and family arrangements is fundamental to this work.

Examples of relationship education programs include programs on communication and relationships for school age children, sessions with couples intending to marry, education and skills training in relationships and parenting for groups and relationship enrichment programs for couples.

Workers in this area are required to deliver services to clients with a wide range of personal and relationship issues and need to be able to distinguish between clients who are appropriate for education programs and those needing critical intervention and /or referral. These workers need to respond appropriately to clients involved in, for example, domestic/ family violence, abuse, gambling, alcohol and other drugs and mental health issues.

Occupational titles for these workers may include:
Community education worker
Group worker
Education officer
Marriage and family educator
Family relationship support worker
Men's service officer
Family relationship worker
Neighbourhood centre worker
Family skills worker
Parent educator
Family support worker
Program development worker
Fathers worker
Relationship, marriage and/or family educator