Event Description

Capability level: Evolving, Established, Expert

Event description:

In social work and community-based workplaces, performance conversations aren’t just about meeting targets - they’re usually (or should be) more values based and about protecting wellbeing, maintaining trust, and ensuring safe, respectful environments for all. Yet these discussions can quickly become stressful for both managers and staff, especially when they involve conduct concerns, relational strain, or complex ethical dynamics.   

A well-structured, relational, and process-driven approach to performance conversations can help avert a range of psychosocial risks, including the escalation of unresolved conflict into workplace bullying claims, ethical strain and burnout caused by unmanaged interpersonal tension, declines in team cohesion and trust due to unclear or inconsistent communication, stress-related absenteeism, as well as grievances or formal complaints arising from perceived unfairness or lack of procedural fairness.  

The session is designed specifically for social work managers and leaders who are navigating performance and conduct issues in complex, trauma-facing environments, while also needing to meet psychosocial safety, WHS and IR obligations. It’s a practical, values-driven workshop that reframes performance conversations as a core leadership and wellbeing practice - focused on clarity, support and accountability, rather than something that only arises when things have already gone wrong.

The focus is on:

• having earlier, clearer performance conversations that support improvement and prevent escalation
• strengthening confidence in managing performance in ways that are fair, relational and ethically grounded
• balancing accountability with dignity, care and procedural fairness
• aligning everyday leadership practice with the AASW Code of Ethics, principles of collective care, inclusive and feminist practices and current regulatory expectations

The workshop is highly interactive (with breakout practice) and pitched at leaders who want practical tools to manage performance well, support their teams, and reduce psychosocial risk, while maintaining strong professional relationships.

Example scenarios include:  

• Addressing a team member’s pattern of late report submissions that is causing stress for colleagues.  
• Responding to tensions between staff after a disagreement escalates during a high-pressure client case.  

By the end of the session, participants will be able to lead performance conversations with greater confidence, consistency, and connection, while reducing psychosocial risks and supporting a safe, high-functioning workplace. 

Who should attend?

This workshop is designed for social workers and community sector leaders, managers, and practitioners with responsibility for teams, performance outcomes, or workplace wellbeing. It is suitable for professionals with some experience who are seeking practical, ethically aligned tools to meet their compliance obligations while building safer and healthier workplaces through trauma-informed leadership and relational care.   

Learning Outcomes 

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

• Identify common performance and conduct concerns that, if left unaddressed, can escalate into psychosocial hazards.  
• Apply trauma-informed leadership and relational care strategies to performance conversations.  
• Prepare and conduct conversations that are both ethically aligned and compliant with WHS and industrial relations obligations.  
• Use team observation and response agreements to create clear, shared expectations and reduce recurrence of issues.  
• Implement conversation follow-up and documentation processes that strengthen accountability and trust. 

Event structure:

Introduction (15 minutes) 

Learning Session 1: Foundations of Relational Performance Conversations (60 minutes) 

Activity 1: Early Intervention Practice 

Learning Session 2: Accountability with Care (60 minutes) 

Activity 2: Accountability Practice  

Learning Session 3: Embedding Supportive Culture (20 minutes) 

Q&A and Conclusion (15 minutes) 

This Workshop is not recorded, however, you will have access to materials and resources on AASW Online Learning for 4 weeks after the completion of the workshop.

AASW Credentials: Mental Health (General)