Training and facilitation services

Real Options provides both training and facilitation services. We have managed and facilitated workshops with a wide variety of groups including Catchment Management Authorities and Landcare groups, State and Local Government, senior managers, tertiary institutions and Deliberative Polls. We have a particular interest and skills in:

• strategic and action planning
• strategic questioning
• community participation in policy development

During 2002-3 Graeme took time out from Real Options and worked as the National Education and Training Manager with the Commonwealth Government’s Green Corps program. In this position he used and developed his skills in many areas, particularly in balancing informal learning with accredited training.

We use both informal and formal methods and will tailor the content and delivery of training, or the methods of facilitation to meet your needs. Some of our recent work includes:

Bushcare

Facilitation skills training

A half-day participatory workshop covering roles and responsibilities of council and coordinators, a range of simple cooperative decision making methods including:

• PNU – Positive, Negative, Uncertain (well suited to internal group situations)
• SWOT – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (external situations)
• ORID – Objective, Reflective, Interpretive, Decisional (assessing information or a group activity)

This training also includes basic methods of conflict resolution.

Group support

On behalf of Shoalhaven City Council we provide qualified and experienced Support Workers to assist Bushcare groups to develop and implement their action plans on a regular basis. The Support Workers we engage have the appropriate technical skills and skills in working with voluntary groups.

Stay on Your Feet WA: Falls prevention for older Australians

During 2003 – 2004 Real Options worked with the West Australian Department of Health to rewrite a community training guide, The Stay on Your Feet Action Guide. We were also responsible for the recruitment, training and support of 70 community facilitators across Western Australia to facilitate groups on falls prevention for older people using the guide.

Developing community dialogue

A one day workshop for managers, project officers, community group leaders and others interested in using dialogue to develop social capital, improve group trust and purpose or enjoy exploring new ideas. This highly participatory workshop includes skills and techniques in facilitation and project planning.

Facilitating a learning circle

A half day workshop for managers, project officers, community group leaders and others interested in organising and facilitating small group discussions and learning circle programs. This workshop provides opportunity for practice, dealing with difficult issues and identifying opportunities and barriers for learning circle groups.

Developing learning circle or discussion programs

We work with you to develop learning circle resources and programs on issues of concern to your organisation. This can be provided in-house for a single organisation or in a workshop for various groups with specific interests. Real Options has extensive experience in developing learning circle programs, some of which are available free of charge in the publications on this web page.