Book your professional development and training

Forensicare’s Forensic Mental Health Professional Development Program (FMHPDP), delivered in collaboration with the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, provides a professional development program for individuals, teams and organisations looking to expand their knowledge and understanding of forensic behaviour and mental health issues. Workshops are provided throughout the year and are also available on request.

Improving Knowledge, Improving Practice

Our training program aims to promote knowledge and skills utilising evidence-based expertise developed on a foundation of advancing consumer-informed best practice.

As a specialist service, trainers from Forensicare and the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science include some of the most highly regarded and experienced clinicians and researchers in the field of forensic mental health. Our current program will be of interest to a wide cross section of individuals and organisations including those who work in health, community, and criminal justice sectors.

Workshop program

6 February 2025 9am – 5pm Venue: Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Level 1, 582 Heidelberg Road, Alphington Cost: $375 (+GST) Book your place

Working with people who have a history of violence

This workshop aims to introduce methods for understanding violent behaviour and identifying the personal characteristics of people who act violently and the situations that might trigger and maintain violence. Approaches to formulating violent behaviour and determining treatment needs will be discussed. The workshop will then move to a discussion of intervention approaches, with an emphasis on psychological treatment and the practices and setting conditions that seem to facilitate change. The challenges and benefits in providing treatment and establishing and maintaining a therapeutic alliance will be considered. This workshop is designed for professionals working with mental health or justice involved people. If you have questions about your suitability for this workshop, please contact FMHPDP@forensicare.vic.gov.au

Facilitator: Professor Michael Daffern Professor of Clinical Forensic Psychology and Director of the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Michael is a Consultant Principal Psychologist with the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare). He divides his time between research, teaching and clinical practice. His research focuses on understanding and intervening with people who have a history of violence or who are considered at risk of violence.

Friday 21 February 2025 9am – 5pm Venue:Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Level 1, 582 Heidelberg Road, Alphington Cost: $375 (+GST) Book your place This is an online event. Access details will be provided by the event organiser.

Working with people with high levels of psychopathy

People with psychopathic personality traits are amongst the most challenging and concerning cases for professionals to work with. This one-day training will give participants an overview of the latest research and best practice recommendations for working with people with significant psychopathic traits. It will cover the nature and definition of psychopathy; the aetiology and development of psychopathy; comorbidity, differential diagnosis and overlaps with other conditions; the association with offending and violence; and its life course. But the main focus will be on relevant practice skills and knowledge such as interview skills, assessment issues, treatment approaches, and risk assessment and management. Videos and case studies will be used to enhance the practical application of the training. This is not training in using a particular instrument to assess psychopathy and no such prior training is required to attend. The day will be suitable for a wide range of professionals who work with or want to develop their skills in relation to people with psychopathic traits, including those who work in forensic or general mental health services, correctional services, law enforcement, child and family protective services, legal settings or other support/intervention services particularly for people who offend. If you have questions about your suitability for this workshop, please contact FMHPDP@forensicare.vic.gov.au

Facilitator: Dr Rajan Darjee Dr Rajan Darjee is an Adjunct Associate Professor and Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist. He has extensive experience over the last 20 years of preparing expert reports and giving evidence regarding mental state defences and at sentencing in the UK and in Australia. This has included several high- profile murder cases. He has also written several publications on psychiatric defences and legal provisions for mentally disordered people in the criminal justice and forensic mental health systems, and on the characteristics and outcomes of forensic mental health patients.

Wednesday 26 March 2025 9am – 5pm Venue: Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Level 1, 582 Heidelberg Road, Alphington Cost: $375 (+GST) Book your place This is an online event. Access details will be provided by the event organiser.

Applying the Risk Need Responsivity Model (RNR) to working with justice involved people

The Risk-Needs-Responsivity (RNR) Model is the predominant framework used internationally to guide the assessment, treatment, and management of offending behaviour in correctional, community and forensic mental health contexts. This full day workshop will provide professionals with an introduction to the RNR model and how they can implement this in their practice with justice involved adults and young people. Through taught content and case study exercises, the workshop will cover the history of RNR, key principles underpinning the model, and considerations for translating these principles into practice. The strengths and weaknesses of RNR and how professionals working with justice involved people can better distinguish between effective programs and “correctional quackery” will also be discussed. This workshop is designed for professionals working with mental health or justice involved people. If you have questions about your suitability for this workshop, please contact FMHPDP@forensicare.vic.gov.au

Facilitator: Associate Professor Ashley Batastini & Dr Nichola Tyler Dr. Ashley Batastini earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Texas Tech University and is currently an Associate Professor in the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science at Swinburne University of Technology. Her research emphasis is broadly at the intersection between the mental health and criminal legal systems. Dr Nichola Tyler is a Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology at the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Swinburne University of Technology. Dr Tyler’s research primarily focuses on improving understanding, assessment, and prevention of deliberate firesetting and arson, and justice professionals’ wellbeing.

Wednesday 9 April 2025 9am – 5pm (AEST) Venue: This is an online event. Access details will be provided by the event organiser Cost: $375 (+GST) Book your place

Formulation of complex and potentially harmful behaviour

One of the most challenging aspects of working in forensic contexts is responding to behaviours that have the potential to cause significant harm (e.g., violence, threats, harmful sexual behaviour, stalking). To work effectively with such clients, professionals need to be able to formulate the client’s behaviour; i.e. understand and explain the behaviour and harm potential, and use knowledge this to guide risk management and intervention. Formulation of problem behaviour is particularly important in cases where there are multiple interacting comorbidities and co-occurring biopsychosocial challenges; in client groups with whom it can be difficult to establish a rapport; and in cases where there is a high risk of inconsistent management across agencies and over time. The aim of this workshop is to teach a method of formulating problematic and potentially harmful client behaviour that goes beyond the application of structured risk assessment guides. The workshop will involve both didactic learning and case study-based practice. Participants will finish the workshop with a framework for formulation that they can use to understand and communicate about concerning client behaviour, and to shape risk reduction and intervention efforts. This workshop is intended for health and human services professionals who are keen build their ability to work with clients who present with problematic and potentially harmful behaviour towards others. If you have questions about your suitability for this workshop, please contact FMHPDP@forensicare.vic.gov.au Participants in this workshop may be invited to participate in research evaluating the effects of formulation training.

Facilitator: Professor Troy McEwan Troy McEwan Professor Troy McEwan is a Professor at the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, and a Senior Psychologist with Forensicare’s Problem Behaviour Program. She also convenes the Doctorate of Psychology (Clinical and Forensic) training program and the Graduate Diploma of Forensic Psychology at Swinburne University of Technology.

Friday 9 May 2025 9.30am – 5pm Venue: The Paul Mullen Centre, 505 Hoddle Street, Clifton Hill Vic 3068 Cost: $375 (+GST) Book your place

Instilling trauma-informed care when working with justice-involved individuals

This training provides an overview of trauma-informed care and considers opportunities for instilling trauma- informed care and practice within services working with justice-involved clients. At the completion of this training, participants should have an understanding of the ethos, principles, and research underlying trauma-informed care, and practical approaches to enlivening trauma-informed care in their workplace. As part of the workshop, participants will be invited to undertake personal reflection about their approaches towards clients, colleagues, and self-care. This full-day training is suitable for clinicians working with justice-involved clients, whether in community, inpatient, or custodial settings. This training is also suitable for those who manage or supervise clinicians in such client-facing roles. If you have questions about your suitability for this workshop, please contact FMHPDP@forensicare.vic.gov.au

Facilitator: Dr Bonnie Albrecht Dr Bonnie Albrecht is a Senior Psychologist with the Problem Behaviour Program, Forensicare, and a Clinical Associate with Swinburne’s Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science. Bonnie has been actively involved in trauma-informed care initiatives at Thomas Embling Hospital and the Problem Behaviour Program.

Wednesday 14 May 2025 9.30am – 12.30pm Venue: The Paul Mullen Centre, 505 Hoddle Street, Clifton Hill Vic 3068 Cost: $175 (+GST) Book your place

Mental illness, personality disorder, and offending: Clinical perspectives and practical approaches

This half-day workshop offers mental health professionals an overview of the complex relationships between mental illness, personality disorders, and offending behaviours. Participants will gain insights into how mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, intersect with various personality disorders, including antisocial and borderline personality disorder, to influence offending behaviours. Drawing from clinical and empirical evidence, we will examine the risk factors, patterns, and trajectories associated with offending in these populations. The workshop will outline assessment approaches to and techniques to assist in evaluating the relationship between mental illness and offending. The workshop will consider risk prevention and risk management strategies. This workshop is designed for professionals working with mental health or justice involved people. If you have questions about your suitability for this workshop, please contact FMHPDP@forensicare.vic.gov.au

Facilitator: Distinguished Professor James Ogloff AM FAPS Distinguished Professor James R. P. Ogloff AM is the Dean, School of Health Sciences and University Distinguished Professor of Forensic Behavioural Science at Swinburne University of Technology. Distinguished Professor Ogloff leads the School of Health Sciences, one of Australia’s leading tertiary education health sciences schools. He is also holds a senior advisory appointment in forensic mental health at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare). He is a Fellow of the Canadian, American and Australian psychological societies as well as the International Association of Applied Psychology. Distinguished Professor Ogloff has worked in clinical and forensic psychology in a variety of settings for more than 40 years, publishing 18 books and more than 350 scholarly articles and book chapters.

Thursday 5 June 2025 9am – 5pm Cost: $375 (+GST) Book your placeThis is an online event. Access details will be provided by the event organiser.

Understanding and assessing adolescent family violence

This full-day workshop offers an overview of current knowledge and practices in assessing adolescent family violence that occurs in the home. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of adolescents who use family violence, characteristics of victims, the overlap between adolescent family violence and mental health, and considerations for risk assessment and intervention. The workshop will provide guidance on current best practice and include a case example to apply learnt knowledge. This workshop is primarily targeted at mental health clinicians, however, would also be appropriate for youth justice professionals, child protection practitioners, and other professionals working with family violence. If you have questions about your suitability for this workshop, please contact FMHPDP@forensicare.vic.gov.au

Facilitator: Dr Maddison Riachi & Dr Abi Sheed Dr. Maddison Riachi is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist based at the Victorian Children’s Court Clinic and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Swinburne University’s Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science. Her clinical and research work is centred on the assessment and treatment of child maltreatment, family violence (including adolescents using violence in the home), and young people engaging in harmful behaviour. Dr Abigail Sheed is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare) and Postdoctoral Research Fellow with dual roles at Swinburne University’s Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and Victorian Children’s Court Clinic. Her clinical work focuses on the assessment of high-risk problem behaviours, while her research work is centred on the domains of child maltreatment, family violence, and youth problem behaviour.

Wednesday 18 June 2025 9.30am – 1.30pm Venue: The Paul Mullen Centre, 505 Hoddle Street, Clifton Hill Vic 3068 Cost: $175 (+GST) Book your place

Understanding and responding to anger and difficult behaviour

This half-day workshop is suitable for anyone who comes into contact with angry and aggressive people who can be challenging to deal with. It covers anger and aggression, what is difficult behaviour and ways of managing it, as well as ways of managing yourself in the face of anger and difficult behaviour. It is appropriate for reception staff, customer service staff, council staff, health workers, support workers and mental health clinicians. If you have questions about your suitability for this workshop, please contact FMHPDP@forensicare.vic.gov.au

Facilitator: David Willshire David Willshire was a Principal Consultant Psychologist at Forensicare. He has worked as a clinical and forensic psychologist in a variety of settings for more than 30 years.

Cancellation policy

The FMHPDP team reserves the right to cancel workshops, in which case, all fees will be refunded. If participants withdraw up to 72 hours prior to the commencement of the workshop, 50% of the fee will be refunded. There will be no refunds for cancellations within 72 hours of the workshop. Bookings are non-transferable to future workshops, but bookings for a particular workshop can be transferred to another person.

Customised training

We also provide customised training and related services based on your needs and specific requests. This includes a range of organisational services including individual and team supervision, facilitation of team processes, and organisational advisory services drawing on specialist clinical, management and service delivery experience.

More information

For more information, please email the Forensic Mental Health Professional Development Program team: FMHPDP@forensicare.vic.gov.au.