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.

In the event of audit, it is the member's responsibility to clearly demonstrate how this FPS training is relevant to the delivery of FPS in their specific work context.



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