FH St.Pölten

Family Group Conference

In spring 2012 the first continuing education course for the coordination of Family Group Conferences started at the UAS St. Pölten. At two weekends participants are taught the process of Family Group Conferences, and all phases of a conference are acted out and practiced in role plays. The participants conduct a Family Group Conference, have the possibility of peer consulting and meet for a reflection module. Our target groups are people with basic psychosocial training preferably aiming at working in Lower Austria. The course headed by Christine Haselbacher comprises 7 ECTS.

Family Group Conference is a meeting of the family, relatives, friends, and acquaintances at which serious problems are tried to be solved. Thus, the Family Group Conference is a possibility for families to learn how to manage difficult situations by themselves in the future.

The model of the Family Group Conference originates from New Zealand and is intended for every form of family regardless of culture or religion. The family itself can decide who is to participate at the conference. Most commonly, relatives, friends and neighbours sit down together and develop and discuss ideas and possible help strategies. During the conference the attendants reflect upon what they themselves can contribute to the family. In this way the strengths of the family but also of relatives, neighbours and friends may be benefited from.

Aim of the Family Group Conference is to work out a concrete plan of support. Experts and social workers are not present during that phase – it’s the family itself that creates the plan!

Target Group
This certified course is intended for people with psychosocial basic training. It enables participants to carry out Family Group Conferences and teaches steps of implementation in the process. It is committed to European standards of the Family Group Conference and aims at activating regional coordinators.