Schools that are serious about developing a restorative culture must use restorative conferencing to address serious issues and incidents. After all, this is what Restorative Justice was designed for. Without a formal conferencing program headed by specially trained conference facilitators, schools very quickly slip back into short-term punitive reactions to incidents of high-level misconduct and soon end up where they started out. A restorative culture does not embed. 

This training is for those who will be responsible for preparing and facilitating restorative responses to major incidents of harm and conflict; this intensive two-day workshop will train participants in the skills and understandings needed to work with highly distressed children and adults to resolve severe matters through restorative conferencing (the highest point on the Restorative Practices Continuum).

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

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• Communicate with those harmed and those responsible for the harm (as well as others involved in an issue or incident) in the lead-up to, during, and after the conference

• Understand and manage the emotional dynamics of conferencing through a deeper knowledge of Affect Script Psychology and Shame Management practices.

• Assess the appropriateness of a conference based on discussions with involved parties prior to the conference.

• Assess and manage risks involved with conferencing

• Organise, plan and facilitate a conference within a given timeframe

• Prepare participants for a conference

• Manage and facilitate a conference

• Use a repertoire of conference facilitation skills to ensure conferences are safe for all involved.

• Produce a written conference report/conference agreement

• Undertake conference follow-up in a thorough manner