A strengths-based approach: effective pathways to transforming sustainable futures

Why take this course?

This training offers a transformative reframing of change for sustainable futures, marking a shift away from the traditional ‘problem-solving’ approach. If you engage with people in any change process, this course is for you. This training offers the thinking, practical action, and evidence-base to inform more effective ways to transform our future.

Participants will gain:

• an appreciation of the philosophy of a strengths-based approach
• an appreciation of how a strengths-based based approach aligns with contemporary perspectives on self-determination, place-based approaches, complexity and systems thinking and participatory approaches
• an understanding of how a strengths-based approach works within international development to inform change and with social change processes in Australia
• insights into practical applications of the approach including (re)framing the focus of change, project cycles, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) and the facilitation role of professional workers. 

What will you learn?

This course will cover the theory behind a strengths-based approach and its practical application.

Course topics:

• why a strengths-based approach is beneficial
• evidence and experience of this practice across multiple disciplines including organisational change processes, community development, health, and international development 
• philosophical underpinnings (the values of a strength-based approach)
• common processes in a strengths-based approach
• reframing your practice as a professional change facilitator

Who is this course for?

• people interested in supporting change processes as well as those questioning dominant problem-based or needs-based approaches in transforming sustainable futures 

Course format/features

• experiential learning processes
• participatory processes

Speakers and facilitators

	Dr Keren Winterford, Research Principal, UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures Keren has more than 20 years’ experience of working in the international development sector, in multiple capacities with Managing Contractors, NGOs, as a private consultant, and more recently in development research. Keren's areas of expertise include research design in partnership, particularly with NGOs; participatory research; facilitation and training; design, monitoring and evaluation; and strengths-based approaches to development. Keren is co-author of the book, A Strengths-based Approach for International Development: Reframing aid (2023, Rugby, UK: Practical Action Publishing).
	Deborah Rhodes Deborah Rhodes is an international development practitioner, author, and trainer with 35' years of experience largely in Pacific and Asian countries, specialising in topics including working across cultures, capacity development, disability inclusion and strengths-based approaches.
	Christopher Dureau  Christopher Dureau is a social psychologist, community development facilitator, and senior manager in humanitarian aid and international development. He has worked in a wide range of programs to improve front line service delivery in health, education, and democratisation with multi-lateral, bi-lateral and INGOs in over 40 countries of Sub-Sahara Africa, South-East Asia and the Pacific.