Course overview

Working with clients who are repartnering and establishing stepfamilies requires practitioners to look beyond traditional nuclear family frameworks. Stepfamilies are structurally distinct systems born out of loss, and relationship building is non-linear and often complex. This workshop explores how to help clients manage expectations, stabilise the couple relationship and support caregivers as they help children navigate the new family system. It is based on the comprehensive work of Stepfamilies Australia. 

What you’ll learn

By completing this workshop, you will be able to:

• Explain why and how stepfamilies are different 
• Identify which theoretical frameworks to use when working with couples in stepfamilies 
• Work with the five stepfamily challenges: the insider/outsider dynamic, the children, the roles of the adults, the new family culture, and the other parent 
• Apply specific evidence-based interventions that lead to better outcomes for adults and children in stepfamily systems. 

Who should attend

Counsellors, family dispute resolution practitioners, mediators, family support and school wellbeing staff, and relationship counsellors. 

Course structure

This interactive full-day online workshop combines presentations, case discussions and practical exercises to explore working with clients who are repartnering and establishing stepfamilies. Across 7 hours, you will examine 5 common stepfamily challenges and explore evidence-based interventions to support couples, caregivers and children. 

About the presenters

Simone Young is a couples therapist and group facilitator with 20 years’ experience in community services and private practice. As Senior Program Facilitator at Relationships Australia Victoria, she delivers couples counselling training and oversees the Clinical Internship program. Simone is a PACFA-registered clinical counsellor and holds a Master of Clinical Family Therapy from the Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University.

Enrolment and course access

When you register, you will be directed to our secure payment gateway to finalise your enrolment. Once payment is received, a new account will be created for you in our Learning Management System (Moodle), where course details and resources will be available.

Please note:

• Registrations close 48 hours before the event
• Workshops must be paid for at least 2 business days before the training date
• If paying by invoice, proof of payment must be provided at least 24 hours before the workshop.

See our Training Workshops Cancellation Statement (PDF, 1MB) for full policy details.

Technical requirements

To participate in the online workshop, you’ll need access to:

• A desktop or laptop computer
• Reliable internet connection
• Headphones (recommended)
• Microphone and speakers
• A built-in or external webcam.

Contact us

For further details or questions, please contact our Centre for Learning and Innovation:

Phone: (03) 8573 2222

Email: [email protected]