Empowerment in Practice: Strength-Based Approaches to Avoid Learned Helplessness (FPS)

Live Online Webinar

Capability levels: Emerging, Evolving, Established

Are we helping clients—or holding them back? Even well-intentioned support can unintentionally reduce independence. This webinar helps social workers recognise learned helplessness, shift from “doing for” to “building with,” and use strengths-based, trauma-informed strategies to empower clients. Using a practical case study, you’ll gain actionable tools to boost client confidence, self-advocacy, and meaningful independence in everyday practice.

Participants will explore how well-intentioned practices can unintentionally contribute to learned helplessness and reduced independence, particularly in environments shaped by risk management, funding constraints, and deficit-based frameworks. Whether you are developing foundational skills or refining advanced practice, this session offers practical, evidence-informed strategies to strengthen client autonomy while maintaining safety, accountability, and ethical practice.

This webinar is particularly relevant for social workers supporting clients who receive long-term services, live with psychosocial, intellectual, or disability-related needs, or navigate multi-service systems. Through a trauma-informed and strengths-based lens, participants will gain tools to shift practice from “doing for” clients toward “building with” them — fostering confidence, self-advocacy, and meaningful participation in everyday life.

Who should attend?

This webinar is designed for social workers across all levels of experience — from emerging practitioners to seasoned professionals — who work within complex systems such as the NDIS, healthcare, or long-term disability support. Whether you are building foundational skills or looking to deepen your practice, this session will provide practical, evidence-informed strategies to promote client independence, reduce learned helplessness, and apply trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches. Participants working with clients who receive long-term services or have psychosocial, intellectual, or disability-related needs will find the content particularly relevant.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the signs of learned helplessness in clients across systems, families, and long-term support settings.
2. Analyze how systemic pressures, deficit-based funding, and professional language can unintentionally reduce client independence.
3. Apply strengths-based and trauma-informed strategies to shift from “doing for” to “building with” clients.
4. Demonstrate techniques for fostering client confidence, self-advocacy, and meaningful participation in everyday tasks.
5. Evaluate opportunities within their own practice to promote independence while navigating complex service systems.

AASW Credentials: Disability, Mental Health (FPS)

FPS: Behavioural Interventions and modification and Skills Training will be incorporated into a section of this workshop under b. (I, ii and iv) and e. (i,v. & vi) of the Medicare schedule https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=MN.7.4&qt=noteID&criteria=MN%2E7%2E4)

Please consider the AASW CPD Policy regarding FPS when logging your FPS hours manually.



Can't attend live? Your registration includes a copy of the presentation slides and 2 weeks' free access to the event recording.