Asia Pacific Regional Training – Training of trainers in Psychological First Aid
26 to 30 November 2018 at Hong Kong Red Cross Headquaters, Hong Kong
Psychological first aid is a method of helping people in distress so they feel calm and supported in coping with their challenges. It is a way of assisting someone to manage their situation and make informed decisions. The basis of psychological first aid is caring about the person in distress. It involves paying attention to the person’s reactions, active listening and, if needed, practical assistance, such as problem solving or help to access basic needs.
Psychological First Aid for the Red Cross Red Crescent has been developed for staff and volunteers in the Red Cross Red Crescent, but can also be used by other organizations working in situations where psychological first aid (PFA) may be relevant.
Although a vast amount of training and reference material on psychological first aid already exists, a need was identified to develop materials for the Red Cross Red Crescent staff and volunteers working in their own communities in both emergency and non-emergency every day or long-term settings.
The training trainers will focus on learning to facilitate PFA trainings and will focus on two training modules:
Basic training on PFA skills
This training introduces basic psychological first aid skills, and considers complex situations and reactions and how to respond to these. It is suitable for Red Cross Red Crescent staff and volunteers with some prior knowledge and experience working with psychosocial support and supporting others.
PFA for children
This training is on psychological first aid for children, and includes focus on children’s reactions to stress and communicating with children and their parents and caregivers. This training is suitable for Red Cross Red Crescent staff and volunteers whose work involves interaction with children and their caregivers.
The training will be conducted in English and all participants must have sufficient English skills to participate actively in the training.
Date: 26-30 November 2018
Duration: Four day PFA ToT plus one day regional exchange conference
Location: Hong Kong Red Cross Headquarters, Hong Kong
Training objectives:
The training will prepare Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers to facilitate psychological first aid sessions to various target groups. The material used in the training will be new PFA material developed by the PS Centre. The training will cover both basic knowledge on PFA and facilitation skills as well as training methodologies. The participants will be expected to facilitate selected PFA training sessions themselves.
Format of the training
The training is a four (4) day training. On day 5, a conference will be facilitated that focuses on exchange of PSS experiences, challenges and lessons learnt in the Asia Pacific region.
Who should attend
Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers who have already been trained in basic PFA and preferably with facilitation experience. Participants from the Asia Pacific Region have priority. The training is in English and all participants are expected to participate actively. All participants must be able to facilitate a session in English.
Funding
There is no registration cost for the training. Lunch and snacks will be provided on the days of the training and there is no training fee. Partner National Societies, and those National Societies with an Emergency Medical Unit project supported by a Partner National Society will be expected to cover all travel costs associated with the training. There may be a limited amount of funding available to support flights and accommodation only for participants on a case by case basis, however the deploying National Society will be required to cover visa and per diem costs. When applying for funding support you must show evidence of approaching PNS in country for funding in the first instance. For further information please contact jessie.lucien@ifrc.org
Dates, deadlines and other important information:
Participants must be able to participate in the entire training, arriving the night before and departing from the training venue no earlier than 3 pm on 30th November (earliest possible flight from Hong Kong is at 6 pm).
Deadline for application: 15 October 2018 (Monday)
Please note that we only accept applications submitted through the online system: Click here to go to the online registration form
There is a limited number of places on the training. Registrering does not automatically mean acceptance to the training. All selected participants will be contacted directly
Visas
Please identify the specific visa requirements for your country here:
http://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/visit-transit/visit-visa-entry-permit.html
Hong Kong Red Cross is only able to provide limited support for visa application (letter of invitation etc.), and can only do so for applicants who meet the application deadline.
Mandatory Pre-reading and course requirements
The required pre-reading must be completed before the start of the training, so each participant must dedicate up to a full day of preparation before the training.
Introduction to PFA
Training module – basic PFA
Training module – PFA for children
We will send the material to the selected participants one week ahead of the training – please make sure you have time – approximately one day – to prepare for the training.
For further information
If you have questions regarding the registration form, email: psacademy@rodekors.dk
If you have questions regarding this training program and training logistics, email: katy.chan@redcross.org.hk.