Provider: MARAM

Health in the Context of Gendered Violence: A Practical Session for the Harm Reduction Workforce

Health in the context of Gendered Violence

A practical session for the Harm Reduction Workforce – Supporting Harm Reduction workers to recognise and respond to the health impacts of gendered violence

Date: Wednesday 7 October 10am – 12pm

Delivery: Online – A link will be sent to your registered email address prior

To Register: please email mbagnall@vaada.org.au

Description: Gendered violence can have significant and complex impacts on health. For people who use alcohol and other drugs, experiences of violence may intersect with substance use, health needs and barriers to accessing care. This session will support Harm Reduction workers to strengthen their understanding of the health implications of gendered violence and consider how they can support the people and communities they work alongside.

Designed as an informal session, come along and pick Dr. Jo’s brain about how we can best support our community, in their experience of gendered violence.

The session will explore

  • The health impacts of gendered violence
  • Recognising health concerns and indicators of risk
  • The intersection of gendered violence, substance use and health
  • Responding to disclosures and supporting safety
  • Practical considerations for Harm Reduction practice
  • Supporting people to access appropriate health and specialist services

Presenters:

Dr JoAnn Parkin,
Fidelis Forensics

Acting Director, Department of Forensic Medicine, Gold Coast University Hospital
Jo is a forensic physician and Fellow of the Faculty of Clinical Forensic Medicine at the RCPA, with 17 years’ frontline experience. As Acting Director at Gold Coast University Hospital, she has led integrated health and forensic care. Previously the medical lead for training and research at VIFM, she advanced awareness of NFS and continues to promote education, research and multidisciplinary practice.

Sheldon Fauth,

Uniting VT
Specialist Family Violence Advisor, Alcohol and Other Drugs | 

Sheldon Fauth is a Specialist Family Violence Advisor in AOD at Uniting. She is an intersectional feminist with expertise in the interrelationship between substance use and family violence. Her work strengthens recognition, assessment and management of family violence risk, including non-fatal strangulation, and supports coordinated, person-led responses across AOD, health and family violence systems.

Presented by VAADA, Fidelis Forensics and Uniting

Non-Fatal Strangulation in the context of alcohol and drug use

Non-Fatal Strangulation in the context of alcohol and drug use – Webinar

Supporting the AOD workforce to recognise, respond to and support people experiencing non-fatal strangulation

Dates:
Wednesday 7 October 1pm – 2.30pm

Delivery: Online – Al ink will be sent to your registered email address prior

Description: Non-fatal strangulation (NFS) is a serious form of family violence that can result in significant, sometimes invisible or delayed, health impacts. For people who use alcohol and other drugs, substance toxicity, withdrawal, altered perception, memory and cognitive impacts can make NFS more difficult to recognise and respond to. This online session will explore how AOD workers can recognise indicators of NFS, respond in a trauma- and violence-informed way, and support safe, person-led pathways to health and specialist services.

You will learn:

  • Recognising signs, symptoms, invisible injuries and delayed effects of NFS
  • How substance toxicity, withdrawal and cognitive impacts may obscure NFS
  • Trauma- and violence-informed enquiry and assessment
  • Risk assessment, documentation, referral and continuity of care
  • Supporting people experiencing family violence within AOD settings
  • Working across AOD, health and family violence systems

Presenters:

Dr JoAnn Parkin,
Fidelis Forensics

Acting Director, Department of Forensic Medicine, Gold Coast University Hospital
Jo is a forensic physician and Fellow of the Faculty of Clinical Forensic Medicine at the RCPA, with 17 years’ frontline experience. As Acting Director at Gold Coast University Hospital, she has led integrated health and forensic care. Previously the medical lead for training and research at VIFM, she advanced awareness of NFS and continues to promote education, research and multidisciplinary practice.

Sheldon Fauth,

Uniting VT
Specialist Family Violence Advisor, Alcohol and Other Drugs | 

Sheldon Fauth is a Specialist Family Violence Advisor in AOD at Uniting. She is an intersectional feminist with expertise in the interrelationship between substance use and family violence. Her work strengthens recognition, assessment and management of family violence risk, including non-fatal strangulation, and supports coordinated, person-led responses across AOD, health and family violence systems.

Presented by VAADA, Fidelis Forensics and Uniting

Non-Fatal Strangulation in the context of alcohol and drug use

Non-Fatal Strangulation in the context of alcohol and drug use – Webinar

Supporting the AOD workforce to recognise, respond to and support people experiencing non-fatal strangulation

Dates:
Wednesday 23 September: 10.00AM – 11:30AM

Delivery: Online – Al ink will be sent to your registered email address prior

Description: Non-fatal strangulation (NFS) is a serious form of family violence that can result in significant, sometimes invisible or delayed, health impacts. For people who use alcohol and other drugs, substance toxicity, withdrawal, altered perception, memory and cognitive impacts can make NFS more difficult to recognise and respond to. This online session will explore how AOD workers can recognise indicators of NFS, respond in a trauma- and violence-informed way, and support safe, person-led pathways to health and specialist services.

You will learn:

  • Recognising signs, symptoms, invisible injuries and delayed effects of NFS
  • How substance toxicity, withdrawal and cognitive impacts may obscure NFS
  • Trauma- and violence-informed enquiry and assessment
  • Risk assessment, documentation, referral and continuity of care
  • Supporting people experiencing family violence within AOD settings
  • Working across AOD, health and family violence systems

Presenters:

Dr JoAnn Parkin,
Fidelis Forensics

Acting Director, Department of Forensic Medicine, Gold Coast University Hospital
Jo is a forensic physician and Fellow of the Faculty of Clinical Forensic Medicine at the RCPA, with 17 years’ frontline experience. As Acting Director at Gold Coast University Hospital, she has led integrated health and forensic care. Previously the medical lead for training and research at VIFM, she advanced awareness of NFS and continues to promote education, research and multidisciplinary practice.

Sheldon Fauth,

Uniting VT
Specialist Family Violence Advisor, Alcohol and Other Drugs | 

Sheldon Fauth is a Specialist Family Violence Advisor in AOD at Uniting. She is an intersectional feminist with expertise in the interrelationship between substance use and family violence. Her work strengthens recognition, assessment and management of family violence risk, including non-fatal strangulation, and supports coordinated, person-led responses across AOD, health and family violence systems.

Presented by VAADA, Fidelis Forensics and Uniting

MARAM In Practice: Family Violence in AOD Work

This workshop is now full – you can join the waitlist here 

MARAM In Practice: Family Violence in AOD Work, presented by Bella Tambakau & Sheridon Byrne 

Date: Thursday 26th November 2026
Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm
Venue: Online
Cost: Free
Enquiries: tp@turningpoint.org.au
IMPORTANT NOTE: this training is only available to staff who are working in a Victorian Department of Health (DH) funded AOD organisation in an AOD role.

This workshop is designed for Victorian AOD workers, ideally who have completed foundational MARAM training although not necessary. The workshop aims to enhance practical understanding and application of the MARAM framework and applying it to day-to-day work with clients. 

Participants will explore how to integrate MARAM principles into real-world scenarios through the use of case studies and facilitated breakout room discussions. These sessions will provide opportunities to apply knowledge, share insights, and learn from peers across the sector. 

The workshop will focus on strategies to keep victim-survivors safe, reduce the risk of collusion with people using family violence, and strengthen confidence in responding to complex situations. 

Bella Tambakau is a Specialist Family Violence Advisor in Alcohol and Other Drugs, auspice to Turning Point. Bella brings forth her extensive experience in the family violence sector in crisis and direct response to her current role, where she supports AOD services to build family violence capacity and support the alignment to the MARAM framework.

Sheridon Byrneis a Trainer within the workforce development team, with over two decades of experience in the family violence sector. Her career spans a wide range of roles, including work in women’s refuges, family violence crisis counselling, program coordination, and project leadership. Sheridon has delivered significant training and capacity-building initiatives across multiple sectors, particularly at the intersection of family violence, alcohol and other drugs, and mental health. Her work includes private consultation and the design of tailored training programs that support sustainable, effective practice. Sheridon is deeply committed to fostering systemic change and empowering practitioners to engage in family violence work with confidence and resilience.

Who should attend? This workshop is designed for Victorian AOD workers, ideally who have completed foundational MARAM training although not necessary. The workshop aims to enhance practical understanding and application of the MARAM framework and applying it to day-to-day work with clients. 

NOTE: This online training is only available to staff who are working in a Victorian Department of Health (DH) funded AOD organisation in an AOD role, please register with your WORK email, your ticket will be cancelled if you do not use your work email, thank you.

Register Here!

Cancellation policy: This training is free, however if your circumstances change please log into your Eventbrite account and cancel your registration or alternatively email tp@turningpoint.org.au to advise of your inability to complete.

MARAM In Practice: Family Violence in AOD Work

Click here to register

MARAM In Practice: Family Violence in AOD Work, presented by Bella Tambakau & Sheridon Byrne 

Date: Thursday 16th April 2026
Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm
Venue: Online
Cost: Free
Enquiries: tp@turningpoint.org.au
IMPORTANT NOTE: this training is only available to staff who are working in a Victorian Department of Health (DH) funded AOD organisation in an AOD role.

This workshop is designed for Victorian AOD workers, ideally who have completed foundational MARAM training although not necessary. The workshop aims to enhance practical understanding and application of the MARAM framework and applying it to day-to-day work with clients. 

Participants will explore how to integrate MARAM principles into real-world scenarios through the use of case studies and facilitated breakout room discussions. These sessions will provide opportunities to apply knowledge, share insights, and learn from peers across the sector. 

The workshop will focus on strategies to keep victim-survivors safe, reduce the risk of collusion with people using family violence, and strengthen confidence in responding to complex situations. 

Bella Tambakau is a Specialist Family Violence Advisor in Alcohol and Other Drugs, auspice to Turning Point. Bella brings forth her extensive experience in the family violence sector in crisis and direct response to her current role, where she supports AOD services to build family violence capacity and support the alignment to the MARAM framework. 

Sheridon Byrne is a Trainer within the workforce development team, with over two decades of experience in the family violence sector. Her career spans a wide range of roles, including work in women’s refuges, family violence crisis counselling, program coordination, and project leadership. Sheridon has delivered significant training and capacity-building initiatives across multiple sectors, particularly at the intersection of family violence, alcohol and other drugs, and mental health. Her work includes private consultation and the design of tailored training programs that support sustainable, effective practice. Sheridon is deeply committed to fostering systemic change and empowering practitioners to engage in family violence work with confidence and resilience. 

Who should attend? This workshop is designed for Victorian AOD workers, ideally who have completed foundational MARAM training although not necessary. The workshop aims to enhance practical understanding and application of the MARAM framework and applying it to day-to-day work with clients. 

NOTE: This online training is only available to staff who are working in a Victorian Department of Health (DH) funded AOD organisation in an AOD role, please register with your WORK email, your ticket will be cancelled if you do not use your work email, thank you.

Cancellation policy: This training is free, however if your circumstances change please log into your Eventbrite account and cancel your registration or alternatively email tp@turningpoint.org.au to advise of your inability to complete.

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