Setting Relations Right Workshop

Setting Relations Right:

Transforming conflict into cooperation through group conferencing

Three-day Professional Development Workshop

This workshop provides 3 days of training on the practical theory of restorative practices and relationship management. The workshop is relevant for facilitators, managers, policymakers, and evaluators. Workshop participants will:

examine dispute-handling and conflict management techniques for addressing challenging situations in justice, health and education systems, and in families, workplaces, residential &/or other communities;

distinguish several formats of the group conferencing process and related skills for addressing conflict &/or complex issues, &/or promoting conflict resilience;

identify situations that can be addressed effectively using these techniques;

practise facilitation techniques that can be applied in a wide range of situations;

understand how these techniques support broader systems of relationship management.

Training schedule

All participants will receive a copy of Setting Relations Right in Restorative Practice. This 2024 text is consistent with the Best Practice Standards developed by the Australian Association of Restorative Justice (AARJ) for Group Conference facilitation.

What participants say about our course

“This has truly been the best training I have participated in my professional development journey, and I am confident in its applicability across a wide range of contexts. The workshop and the book [Setting Relations Right in Restorative Practice] both stand out for their practical approach, clear explanations of key concepts, and use of real-world examples... "

“I’d definitely recommend this workshop to anyone working in the social services sector. I would emphasise the skill of changing conflict into cooperation. This training will enable me to work with families in a very different way. The skills I have learnt will create opportunities for families to participate in a process that enables them to be heard and to create a journey of recovery.”

“You come away with both a solid understanding of the theory underpinning restorative approaches, practical experience in convening and an understanding of how restorative approaches can be applied in a wide range of settings.”

“The three-day course took me on a journey through emotion, understanding and insight. The approach of 'practice by doing' is great. You sit observing others and listening to the great coaches, David and Alikki, but it is actually when you have a go yourself - as this course enables you to do (and as I did in the role of convener in a scenario of a conference with multiple parties) - that you truly learn and adjust your approach. Conferencing is different to mediation and mediation is different to negotiation. All have a logic and use for different situations…I would highly recommend the course to others.”

“In the short term it has been a real boost to my confidence in the utility of talking and listening through issues in a structured way to resolve issues. I really liked the juxtaposition of theory and demonstration via role plays…and the highly sensitive way in which [the workshop] was designed and run.

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