Managing Complexity Workshop: Practical Approaches

Women’s specialist services are increasingly supporting clients facing multiple, intersecting challenges. Many women experience health and mental health concerns alongside family, domestic, or sexual violence, substance use, legal and financial stress, and complex trauma.

This two-day workshop is designed to support staff across all levels - front-line, clinical, and management - who may feel over-stretched or under-resourced when responding to these complex needs.

This practical, trauma-informed workshop aims to equip staff with the skills, strategies, and resources needed to navigate complex cases with greater confidence. Through interactive sessions and real-world scenarios, participants will strengthen their capacity to support women effectively and improve outcomes for women.

Day 1 will cover:

• supporting intersecting health, family violence and legal challenges

• de-escalation and triage of mental health crises

• managing vicarious trauma, burnout and ethical boundaries

• lived experience learnings

Day 2 will cover:

• navigating complexity with cultural safety: migrant and refugee health

• unpacking practical tools: workforce wellbeing toolbox, sensitive practice

• peer knowledge exchange and learning in complex cases

• lived experience learnings