Description

Violence has no place in family life. Its effects can persist and influence future generations.

This course provides a practical introduction to the skills and mindset required to work effectively in Domestic, Family, and Sexualised Violence (DFSV) interventions. It focuses on how to engage safely with users of DFSV, identify and manage risk, and contribute to coordinated safety responses. You’ll build a grounded understanding of what effective DFSV practice looks like; work that is reflective, values-driven, and centred on the safety of users of DFSV, their partners, children, and families / whānau.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the purpose and core values of Domestic, Family, and Sexualised Violence (DFSV) Programmes and the role of Practitioners in supporting accountability and safety.
• Recognise patterns of behaviour, coercive control, and key risk factors that signal change in safety over time.
• Apply a safety-focused approach that prioritises the wellbeing of partners, children, and whānau while maintaining accountability for users of DFSV.
• Use engagement and communication strategies that invite reflection, reduce defensiveness, and build responsibility for behaviour.
• Develop and maintain a DFSV-focused safety plan that addresses triggers, warning signs, de-escalation strategies, and support networks.
• Reflect on your own professional values, responses, and limits to maintain integrity, self-awareness, and wellbeing in practice.