Training and Professional Development

My approach to training combines practical experience, youth work principles and evidence-informed practice to create learning experiences that are relevant, engaging and grounded in the realities of working with young people.

Diverse team collaborating on a business strategy diagram with markers and paper

  • Every organisation and team has different strengths, needs and learning priorities. I work with organisations to identify those priorities and develop training that responds to their context, workforce and practice goals.

    This might include strengthening practitioners’ understanding of trauma-informed practice, developing confidence in responding to young people experiencing crisis, exploring communication and relationship-based practice, or supporting teams to reflect on professional boundaries, ethical decision-making and the principles underpinning their work.

    Training can also focus on broader practice development, including youth participation and agency, youth development, reflective practice, practitioner wellbeing and translating organisational frameworks into everyday practice.

    The aim is not simply to deliver information, but to create opportunities for practitioners to deepen their understanding, examine their existing approaches and build practical skills they can apply in their work.

  • For organisations looking for accessible, structured professional development, I also offer a range of ready-to-deliver workshops covering foundational youth work knowledge and practice.

    These workshops are designed to support practitioners to develop a strong foundation in youth work principles, knowledge and skills. They can be delivered as individual, standalone sessions or combined into a more comprehensive professional development program.

    Two-day foundational workshops provide an opportunity to explore core concepts in greater depth, connect theory with practice and work through practical scenarios. Individual topics can also be delivered as standalone workshops for teams wanting to focus on a particular area of practice or build on existing knowledge.

    Potential workshop topics include:

    • Foundations of youth work practice — youth work principles, professional identity, ethics and the role of the practitioner.

    • Trauma-informed practice — understanding trauma, its potential impacts and what trauma-informed responses look like in everyday practice.

    • Crisis intervention and response — understanding crisis, responding effectively and supporting young people through challenging situations.

    • Communication and relationship-based practice — building trust, navigating difficult conversations and strengthening professional relationships.

    • Youth development, voice and agency — understanding young people’s development and creating opportunities for meaningful participation and decision-making.

    • Professional boundaries and ethical practice — navigating complexity, professional responsibility and ethical dilemmas.

    • Reflective practice and practitioner wellbeing — developing reflective approaches to practice and understanding wellbeing as both an individual and organisational responsibility.

  • My approach to training is informed by approximately 18 years of experience across youth work, program development, leadership and education. This includes supporting and developing new youth workers, designing and delivering learning experiences for practitioners, and teaching youth work and community services in vocational and higher education settings.

    My training experience includes work in trauma-informed practice and the application of youth work knowledge and principles to real-world practice. Across these settings, I have worked to connect theory with practice, making complex ideas accessible and helping learners consider how their knowledge translates into their day-to-day work.

    I also bring my core belief that practitioner wisdom and skills should be shared and taught to others. Shared wisdom can assist to equip practitioners to engage in highly skilled, responsive practice, resulting in overall practitioner wellbeing and better experiences for young people by having access to consistent, supportive and quality practitioners and organisations.