Contact Officer Workshop

The purpose of the 1 day contact officer training program is to provide participants with the knowledge and practical skills to assist a colleague, through their support, information, referral and communication to enable the colleague to know what they can do in relation to their workplace issue and what options are available to assist them throughout the process.

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Overview

Why Have Contact Officers? Contact Officers are people within a work place who in addition to their normal job also provide employees with confidential information, options and other resources in relation to a workplace issue. Contact Officers are a useful additional resource to employee assistance programs and provide employees with an internal information source to help them talk through what their options are.

Who is this course for?

As the role of a Contact Officer involves having well developed communication and interpersonal skills it is often appropriate to select people who are well liked and respected in the workplace. The Contact Officer must be good at managing his/her own emotions and other people’s emotions in difficult situations. However the Contact Officer is not a mediator and it is not their job to investigate the complaint or in any way resolve the issue. For this reason it is not recommended that any one in a position of authority or HR is a Contact Officer as their duty of care requirements could conflict with the confidential non-resolution role of a contact officer.

Course Description

The purpose of this 1 day course is to provide participants with the knowledge and practical skills to support, inform, refer and communicate effectively with a person who has a workplace issue. It also contains information for employees in relation to current legislation regarding discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace and how to manage complaints.

What you will learn

  • Practical understanding of what workplace discrimination, harassment and bullying could look like and how it impacts behaviours at work.
  • What your complaint handling process is and how to explain it clearly to other employees
  • Your responsibilities and liabilities as a Contact Officer
  • Understand EEO related risk and liability for both your employer and the individual
  • Be able to support and refer a person when they come to you with an issue
  • Be able to identify when a matter needs to be referred to Human Resources, your Employee Assistance Program or another person/body
  • Develop better communication skills

You will also get

  • Useful checklists for having a conversation
  • A resource book
  • The experience of doing a role-play as a Contact Officer
  • The ability to know how to listen, provide relevant information, generate possible options and refer to others when necessary.

What people say about this course

Geoff ClaytonProgram Coordinators – Department of Education

Extremely engaging, entertaining and educational. It provided practical support for me to support others.

Debra ReynoldsTeacher – Department of Education

Engaging & informative. Kept the interest levels up with variety & humour. Manual very organised & user friendly.

Karen EvansSite Administrator – Regis Resources

To the point, clear concise material. Entertaining & energetic facilitator.

Paul WalsheStore Person – Quadrant Energy

Great life tool & new way to challenge a conversation.

James WickensCoordinator Environmental Health – Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale

Found it very useful and recommend all contact officers to refresh now and then.

Matthew OggMarketing and Functions Coordinator – City of Bayswater

Got a lot out of it that can be used at work and in life, not just as a contact officer.

Paul Di GirolamiDevelopment Compliance Officer – City of Bayswater

Enjoyed the course, refreshing delivery to the subject and presenter is very knowledgeable.

Vesna OdakCompliance & Liaison Officer – GESB

Easy paced, interactive day that gives me the tools I can use in my role as a contact officer and day to day life.

Catherine McFarlaneHR Manager, Aquinas College

Franca is very knowledgeable and presented this PD in a very friendly inclusive manner. It was very informative.

Pam NormanStudent Services, MLC

Wonderfully interactive facilitator who delivered course that was easy to understand and kept me engaged.

Linda LiddiardEA to Head of Teaching and Learning, Guildford Grammar School

Moved along at a perfect pace, gave good examples and scenarios. Questions answered fully and comprehensibly.

Debbie ScottKindergarten Teacher, Penrhos College

A fabulous session. Very informative. Took me out of my comfort zone. Contact Officer booklet – a great resource. Thanks Franca. You are an amazing presenter.

Marilyn OrchardHR Coordinator

Informative session with practical tips for use in my role and just for in general support for the Contact Officers at the College. Boundaries and expectations of staff behaviour in the workplace to improve policies and procedures.

David YatesTeacher, PLC

Enjoyable presentation and information given. Made the whole process more understandable and indicated how effective it could be with good policies in place.

Sean EbertPenrhos College

Franca did a fantastic job – her enthusiasm, knowledge and overall demeanour turned what could have been a dry, boring topic and made a very interesting day.

Anna WalterMLC

Franca presented in a relaxed, entertaining and informative manner. Her legal background was useful and I feel comfortable and knowledgeable returning to my workplace as an EEO Contact Officer.

Public Courses

Our next public courses in Perth are as follows:

Contact Officer Workshop

Wednesday 4th March 2020

Course Information »

Grievance Officer Workshop

Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th February 2020.

Course Information »

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  • Franca Sala Tenna
    ABN: 59 151 606 094
  • Shop 12/378 Wellington Street Perth WA 6000
  • +61 (08) 6102 4411
  • franca@equalopportunitytraining.com.au
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