Description

This qualification applies to workers employed in roles that provide non-therapeutic supports, interventions, information and referral and education and skills training to individuals, couples, and to families. The role is primarily that of education and skills development including affective, cognitive and psychomotor learning outcomes.

The life skills programs delivered by these workers are designed to help people learn how to enhance their relationships with intimate partners, spouses, parents, children, siblings, colleagues or friends. Specific client groups can be men, women, parents, couples, children, young people and families. Clients may face specific issues such as separation and mental health, alcohol and other drugs issues. Programs deal with issues across the life cycle.

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.

Workers at this level may be delivering existing programs but are also able to develop new programs including developing and delivering community education and community development programs. The role is not a counselling one. Workers at this level require effective communication skills, conflict management, and program development, delivery and review. They may also require skills for more complex group facilitation and psycho-education. Additionally they may require a greater depth of skills and knowledge to work with specific client groups.

This qualification may also be appropriate for workers who have a responsibility for managing the delivery of relationship education services. These workers would need to undertake appropriate management units from the identified management electives.

These services are being provided in a number of different ways by a wide range of service providers within the health, human services and education sectors. Workers in these roles may work with limited supervision and utilise elements of counselling/dispute resolution skills and knowledge incidentally when working with families. However, primary functions do not involve clinical or therapeutic higher level knowledge or skills application.

Occupational titles for these workers may include:
Coordinator relationship education services
Family support worker
Family/parent educator
Marriage and family educator
Family/parent facilitator
Men's service officer
Family relationships support worker
Relationship educator
Fathers worker