Program details
- Priority area: Access and inclusion
- Primary audience: Educators
- Delivery mode: Group training, online, face-to-face
- Strength of evidence: Level 6 – Supported by expert opinion
- AEDC sub-domains: Not applicable
- Item cost: Moderate ($200-$2,000 per person/item)
Program description
The Family Partnership Model is a ‘relational change’ model that aims to enhance the capacity of parents/carers and practitioners to work together, sustain relationships and develop mutually agreed plans that are relevant and achievable for parents/carers in a variety of contexts.
Participants will develop their knowledge, skills and confidence in the processes of the evidence-based Family Partnership Model, including engaging and relating well to parents, and effectively supporting them to achieve jointly identified outcomes.
Learning objectives include:
- Participants are able to apply the core principles of the Family Partnership Model to their work with families.
- Participants are able to identify and implement changes in their practice with families to enable more effective and sustained partnerships.
The provider offers a 5.2 hour Introduction to the Family Partnership Model and a 5 day Family Partnership Model foundation course that explores in detail the Family Partnership Model through an experiential and reflective approach, alongside other early childhood professionals.
Introduction to the Family Partnership Model: Building and sustaining relationships with parents (online only workshop)
A series of facilitated seminars (total of 5.2 hours via Zoom hosted by MCRI) that introduce practitioners to the Family Partnership Model with particular focus on building and sustaining a partnership relationship with parents.
The series is designed to be delivered sequentially with a consistent group of participants, preferably in groups of nine or twelve to enable breakout groups of three.
Content of sessions:
- An introductory session – Why engage parents? What we know about parent engagement
- Introduction to the Family Partnership Model
- Skills involved in engaging and helping families
- Family ecology – risk and resilience factors
- Review within a partnership
- Review of the course and reflecting on my practice.
Family Partnership Model Foundation Course (online or face-to-face workshop)
This course explores the evidence-based Family Partnership Model and uses activities to build participants' skills.
The course explores all aspects of the model, including ways to work with families to identify their needs, to build a genuine and respectful 'partnership', to set goals and to help families to achieve these goals. The course takes an adult learning approach which values, recognises and builds on the experience that participants bring with them. During the course, participants are encouraged to actively practise their skills in a supportive learning environment.
There will be some instances where face to face delivery of FPM Foundation Training is not possible. Face to face delivery will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
Detailed cost
2025
Introduction to the Family Partnership Model: Building and sustaining relationships with parents
Online workshop: $375 per participant (including GST). Full workshop exclusively for service educators with a minimum of nine and maximum of 15 participants: $5,625 (including GST) per workshop.
Family Partnership Model Foundation Course
Hybrid course: $2,545 per participant (including GST). 4.5 days.
The Family Partnership Model Foundation Course can also be provided to an organisation.
A quote will be provided upon application.
2026
Introduction to the Family Partnership Model: Building and sustaining relationships with parents
Online workshop: $395 per participant (including GST). Full workshop exclusively for service educators with a minimum of nine and maximum of 15 participants: $5,925 (including GST) per workshop.
Family Partnership Model Foundation Course
Hybrid course: $2,672 per participant (including GST). 4.5 days
The Family Partnership Model Foundation Course can also be provided to an organisation.
A quote will be provided upon application.
Further details
- A quote will be provided on application. Contact provider directly for information about travel and accommodation costs
- Please note: Costs are based on standard weekday pricing. Weekends and out of hours sessions are negotiated at additional cost
- These workshops are also available through the Centre for Community Child Health training calendar
Implementation considerations
Target population: early years educators and staff working directly in the service with parents and their children.
Program/practice descriptions and details: this course can be provided in two parts, initially across three days and then as another two days several weeks later. Contact provider directly to discuss.
- Organisations wishing to host a family partnership course in their region may wish to partner with other organisations to meet minimum numbers.
- All training is participatory and highly interactive. Participants attending online workshops are asked to have cameras turned on throughout the sessions with a preference for one participant per screen.
- All materials are included in the course cost and provided upon commencement.
Program adaptability: the provider has facilitated the model across Australia, and is the lead Australian collaborator with the model’s UK authors. This helps to ensure that quality standards in implementation and training fidelity are maintained. The provider has recently trained medical practitioners to implement the model in Israel.
- The provider acknowledges the experience and expertise that practitioners bring and involves them in interactive learning experiences to extend their knowledge and skills. Practitioners are asked to reflect on the implications of their learning for practice.
- There will be some instances where face-to-face delivery is not possible. Face-to-face delivery will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
Staffing: services should consider the cost of backfill in determining the cost of accessing this resource.
Implementation model: provider can deliver training in any Victorian community. The structure and timing of the five-day course can be tailored to meet the specific needs of practitioners. Contact the provider to discuss specific training needs.
Supervision/coaching: experience has shown the importance of supervision and mentoring support, through a reflective practice approach, for training participants. Provider offers this to small groups and individuals (over the phone).
Australian experience: the Family Partnership Model and associated training program was developed in the UK and is available throughout Australia, including in metro, regional and rural areas of Victoria. To be cost-effective and meet minimum numbers, services in rural and regional areas are encouraged to pool funding and choose a suite of workshops.
Tools and systems: for the online workshops participants will require access to a device (computer or tablet) with microphone and camera functionality to participate fully in this workshop. Ideally participants should be on their own device and not sharing screens with other participants.
- For face-to-face workshops the contracting organisation is responsible for the venue and catering. The venue must be able to accommodate participants in a safe environment, allowing for current restrictions around social distancing.
VEYLDF alignment
Item uses these practice principles
- Reflective practice
- Partnerships with families
- Respectful relationships and responsive engagement
- Partnerships with professionals
Item responds to these sub-outcomes
Not applicable.
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