Facilitation skills are powerful tools for engaging the community*

A skilled facilitator, who understands what is going on in a group, can assist communities to be actively included in planning processes and to make effective decisions. The skilled facilitator increases the skill capacity of those they work with and enables them to work cooperatively, to manage conflict and to produce positive outcomes.

PLANNING WITH COMMUNITIES: Group Skills and Facilitation Training is an intensive, three day course that caters for those with little past experience and for facilitators who have been practicing for many years.

If you are working with communities in social impact assessments or in community engagement in rural or urban planning, natural resources, health, transport or housing, or in longer term community projects and collaborative planning you will find this course invaluable. The course teaches high level facilitation skills that are transferable to many group situations, including team management.

People learn in different ways and the course provides a mix of theoretical input, discussion, participatory exercises and group simulations, using case material related to work environments. Coaching, feedback and comprehensive study materials are provided.

Course presenter, Margaret Dugdale, Principal of Social and Environmental Planning Partnerships, has developed plans, policies and partnerships between governments and communities throughout Australia and overseas. She specialises in designing and managing community involvement programs, social impact assessments, conflict resolution and facilitation. Margaret is an experienced and dynamic adult educator and has taught group work and facilitation skills for 20 years. She is also a mediator.

If you would like more information email info@planningpartnerships.com.au or phone (08) 8363 3936 or visit www.planningpartnerships.com.au

* Copy supplied by Social and Environmental Planning Partnerships