Working with Vulnerable Children

Program details

Program description

Educators play a unique role in promoting resilience, wellbeing and recovery in children. Bethany Community Support professional development packages for early childhood educators aim to strengthen and further develop the understanding and professional practice of educators to better support children who have experienced challenges, trauma and adversity. 

The professional development packages are:

• Managing Anxiety in Children for Educators (two modules: 3-hour foundational workshop and 2-3 hour reflective practice session)
• Trauma-Informed Practice for Educators (two modules: 3-hour foundational workshop and 2-3 hour reflective practice session)
• Building Resilience in Children for Educators (one module: 3-hour foundational workshop)
• Reflective Practice for Educators (one module available)
• Developmental Differences in Children: Managing Emotional Dysregulation and Diminished Social Reward (two modules: 3 hour foundational workshop and 2-3 hour reflective practice session)
• Developmental Differences in Children: Managing Difficulty with Executive Functioning and Enhanced Threat Bias (two modules: 3 hour foundational workshop and 2-3 hour reflective practice session).

Individual coaching and mentoring are also available with some packages. Contact provider to discuss coaching and mentoring options. 

Packages can be delivered onsite at kindergartens or at Bethany Community Support Offices in Geelong or Warrnambool.

Detailed costs

• Supporting Children with Anxiety for Educators (3-hour workshop): $195 (excluding GST) per participant
• Trauma-Informed Practice for Educators (3-hour workshop): $195 (excluding GST) per participant
• Building Children’s Resilience for Educators (3-hour workshop): $195 (excluding GST) per participant
• Developmental Differences in Children: Managing Emotional Dysregulation and Diminished Social Reward: $195 (excluding GST) per participant
• Developmental Differences in Children: Managing Difficulty with Executive Functioning and Enhanced Threat Bias $195 (excluding GST) per participant.

Costs include all materials and preparation of tailored case examples. 

Additional travel and accommodation costs may apply for training more than 40 km radius of Geelong or Warrnambool. 

Implementation considerations

• Target Population: educators.
• Program/practice descriptions and details: each training package is theory-informed with a particular emphasis on educator skill development. The use of relevant case examples enhances the learning process and the provision of practical strategies for educators. All packages are designed to support educators to build resilience, promote recovery and optimise educational outcomes for all children, regardless of their background and social vulnerability, so they can reach their full potential and arrive at school ready to learn and thrive.
• Program adaptability: the packages can be tailored in response to educator/kindergarten needs and group training packages can be delivered face to face or via digital/ online platforms.
• Staffing: services should consider the cost of backfill in determining the cost of accessing this resource.
• Supervision/coaching: individual coaching and mentoring are also available with some professional development packages.
• Tools and systems: services will need access to a PC with reliable internet access for online training.

VEYLDF alignment

Item uses these practice principles 

• Reflective practice
• Partnership with families
• High expectations of every child
• Respectful relationships and responsive engagement
• Equity & diversity
• Partnership with professionals.

Item responds to these sub-outcomes 

Children become strong in their social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.