A strengths-based approach: effective pathways to transforming sustainable futures

Why take this course?

This training offers a transformative reframing of change for sustainable futures, marking a shift away from the traditional ‘problem-solving’ approach. If you engage with people in any change process, this course is for you. This training offers the thinking, practical action, and evidence-base to inform more effective ways to transform our future.

Participants will gain:

• an appreciation of the philosophy of a strengths-based approach
• an appreciation of how a strengths-based based approach aligns with contemporary perspectives on self-determination, place-based approaches, complexity and systems thinking and participatory approaches
• an understanding of how a strengths-based approach works within international development to inform change and with social change processes in Australia
• insights into practical applications of the approach including (re)framing the focus of change, project cycles, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) and the facilitation role of professional workers.

What will you learn?

This course will cover the theory behind a strengths-based approach and its practical application.

Course topics:

• why a strengths-based approach is beneficial
• evidence and experience of this practice across multiple disciplines including organisational change processes, community development, health, and international development
• philosophical underpinnings (the values of a strength-based approach)
• common processes in a strengths-based approach
• reframing your practice as a professional change facilitator

Who is this course for?

• people interested in supporting change processes as well as those questioning dominant problem-based or needs-based approaches in transforming sustainable futures

Course format/features

• experiential learning processes
• participatory processes

Speakers and facilitators

Dr Keren Winterford

Keren is a Research Director at the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney. Prior to this, Keren worked in multiple capacities with managing contractors, civil society and as a private consultant. Keren has completed PhD research on practice and outcomes of a strengths-based approach

Deborah Rhodes

Deborah Rhodes is an international development practitioner, author, and trainer with 35 years of experience largely in Pacific and Asian countries, specialising in topics including working across cultures, capacity development, disability inclusion and strengths-based approaches.

Christopher Dureau

Christopher Dureau is a social psychologist, community development facilitator, and senior manager in humanitarian aid and international development. He has worked in a wide range of programs to improve front line service delivery in health, education, and democratisation with multi-lateral, bi-lateral and INGOs in over 40 countries of Sub-Sahara Africa, South-East Asia and the Pacific.