Facilitation Fundamentals: Building Confidence in Group Work with Participants with Psychosocial Goals

INTRODUCTION

This workshop is part of CPD Empower, the must-attend event designed to inspire, connect, and equip you with cutting-edge tools for success.    

CPD Empower offers a series of 2-day and 1-day workshops led by expert presenters, intimate group sizes for meaningful interaction, and stunning venues that foster collaboration, these events are set to reshape your practice. Networking breaks and an evening event provide time to recharge, connect, and share stories with fellow OTs.  

Don’t miss your chance to build new skills, gain fresh perspectives, and connect with a vibrant OT community.   

For more information about CPD Empower, click here  
 

SESSION OVERVIEW

As social beings, many of our occupations occur within a social or group-based context and therefore group facilitation skills are a must have for occupational therapists working in many practice areas, especially psychosocial practice.

This one-day workshop will provide you with a solid theoretical understanding of group work in occupational therapy, and the foundational skills required to plan, facilitate and evaluate psychosocial groups.

This interactive workshop invites participants to enhance their knowledge and skill development by engaging in experiential learning activities that comprise key elements of group work.

Throughout the workshop there will be opportunities to reflect on learning and consider application of these skills to your own work setting.

By attending this workshop, you will be able to:

• Understand the unique value of group interventions to support occupational participation and social connection
• Develop a group module plan tailored to an identified cohort, objectives, and with consideration to factors such as group size, composition, environment, open/closed membership, and duration  
• Reflect on group member roles, leadership style and roles and how to support and foster helpful group dynamics
• Learn a number of methods to evaluate your groups
• Feel inspired and passionate about the role of OTs in facilitating effective group work

THIS SESSION IS SUITABLE FOR

Suitable for OTs at any stage of their career who are planning or delivering group-based interventions for clients with psychosocial goals. This may include OTs working in community or inpatient settings with a range of client demographics.

PRESENTERS

Sonya, Jo and Rachel are co-directors of The Social Confidence Collective, an independent Melbourne-based OT practice that works with young people (aged 15- 25) and with the people and systems who support them. The practice specialises in running therapeutic groups for youth with goals relating to their social occupations, as they believe groups are the best modality to support young people with these goals in a real-life context.

 Rachel D’Souza

Rachel started working with young people as a disability support worker before becoming an occupational therapist. She has since dedicated the past 18 years to supporting teens and adults with their mental health. 

She has worked across public and private health settings in a variety of clinical, teaching, supervisory and consultation roles. 

Rachel has specialist skills in facilitating group work for young people and their families, delivering training and supervision for professionals and consulting with community care systems. 

 Jo Rouse

Jo has spent the past 16 years of her career working in both public and private mental health settings. Jo has held a range of positions including senior clinical roles, delivering training and consultation. Jo is passionate about developing the OT profession and has been involved in the university teaching of OT students.

Jo also has experience providing OT intervention to young people and adults who identify as neurodivergent. Jo firmly believes that a person should be supported to connect with others in a way that feels real and comfortable - whatever their neurotype.

 Sonya Vargas Stagg

Sonya has worked as an occupational therapist for 16 years. She has primarily worked in mental health settings during that time, across both public and private settings in Melbourne.

Sonya has worked with many adults and young people experiencing a range of difficulties with their mental health and has also worked extensively with people who identify as neurodivergent. Alongside direct clinical work, she has held a variety of supervisory, administration and consultation roles, where she has learned the important need to specifically tailor her work to who is on the receiving end.

Sonya has a passion for supporting the growth of the mental health OT workforce, and has spent time in teaching roles across several Melbourne universities, as well as nurturing the graduate OTs in the mental health settings she has worked in.

WORKSHOP DETAILS

DATE

Thursday 27^th February 2025 (1 day)

TIME

9:00 am – 5:30 pm  

Registration commences at 8:30 am

CPD HOURS

A certificate of attendance will be issued on the completion of the course for 6 hours. 

Please note: Your certificate will be available in your CPD Tracker within 48 hours after course completion.

INCLUSIONS

The following are included in your registration: 

• Tea & Coffee on arrival 

• Daily Catering - Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea (please note any dietary requirements at time of registration) 

• Thursday evening networking event from 5:30pm – 6:30pm, includes drinks & canapes 

• Workshop materials 

REGISTRATION FEES 

OTA Member

Earlybird - $555  - Register on or before 15 January 2025

Standard - $610 - Register on after 16 January 2025

Non-Member

Standard - $790 – Register before 12 February 2025

Note: Earlybird pricing is not available for non-members

All pricing is inclusive of GST

Registrations close on 12 February 2025 at 11:55pm 

Members must be logged in with username and password to register at the member rate. 

VENUE 

The Langham Melbourne, 1 Southgate Avenue, Southbank, Melbourne VIC 3006 

DISCLAIMER 

All information is correct at the time of publication. OTA reserves the right to alter or delete items from the CPD calendar as required, and takes no responsibility for any errors, omissions, and changes.  

All resources including copies of the presentation, along with all supporting documents and links are not for distribution and are the property of the presenter.  

An OTA staff member or representative may be photographing this event for use in OTA publications and/or on OTA social media sites. If you do not wish to be photographed, or have your image published please make this known to the OTA representative at your course or contact OTA on 1300 682 878 or info@otaus.com.au  

TERMS AND CONDITIONS 

Terms and Conditions including OTA’s refund and cancellation policy are available here  

CONTACT US 

Please email info@otaus.com.au or phone 1300 682 878