What is the Resource Pack?
People with intellectual disability are more likely to experience an unhealthy relationship but less likely to report it. We have developed the Healthy Relationships Resources to help frontline workers educate people with intellectual disability about healthy relationships.
The pack aims to educate, generate conversation and build the understanding of people with intellectual disability. helping to identify different types of relationships, including what’s healthy and what’s not.
Download the pack in our resources section below!
FAQs
Why is the resource called Healthy Relationships?
The resource pack aims to show people with intellectual disability the virtues of a healthy relationship. Content focuses on healthy relationships, contrasts them with unhealthy relationships and offers positive steps in the right direction.
What questions is it designed to answer?
- What is an unhealthy relationship?
- What is physical abuse?
- What is emotional abuse?
- What is disability-related abuse?
- Who is a victim?
- Who is a survivor?
- Who is a perpetrator?
- Where can I ask questions or seek support?
- What if I am too scared to say anything?
- How can I stay safe?
What are the learnings for people with intellectual disabilities?
- Recognising and describing values and actions that demonstrate a healthy relationship – for example, trust, respect, equality, honesty, safety, conflict resolution and boundary setting.
- Recognising values and actions that demonstrate unhealthy relationships.
- Identifying forms of open communication.
- Identifying appropriate responses to conflict.
- Determining suitable relationship supports if required – family, friends, websites, phone numbers/hotlines.
How will it help?
Increasing someone’s understanding of acceptable behaviour in the home, workplace and in relationships will educate them about the different types of hurt that can be experienced. This will help people we support to identify whether it is unhealthy.
By building confidence to identify any type of unhealthy relationship we build a foundation to address why it is essential to report it, how that’s done and what support is available. The workbook will prompt further discussion and explore a person’s understanding of its key messages.
How was it made?
The content of Healthy Relationships is a collaboration between DFV experts and our Complex Support, Service Delivery and Service Design teams. People with intellectual disability have participated through testing that content and presenting large amounts of the video. The video includes staff and people we support doing pieces to camera and Complex Support workers explaining their values and processes relating to healthy and unhealthy relationships.
What steps have you taken to ensure inclusivity?
Endeavour Foundation has developed content that is easily accessible to people with intellectual disability through various methods including captions and Auslan translation, audio descriptors and voice-over for the deaf and low-vision communities.
Will it be shared within the disability sector?
Internally, a version of the video featuring an interview with Complex Support staff will be made available to frontline staff and managers for use as required. It also will be available on our intranet page.
Externally, Endeavour Foundation will share Healthy Relationships with other disability service providers and advocacy organisations and encourage its use. We will also share the tools with DFV response and prevention organisations. We are engaging with people with disability and other service providers establish the most way of promoting Healthy Relationships for broader use.
Can I just play the video to people I think it would help?
Healthy Relationships is not intended to be delivered in a group setting and must be used in consultation with the Complex Support team. The content has been developed under the banner of Thrive but must not be delivered in a group setting given the potentially upsetting nature of the subject matter and the confidentially that protects survivors of unhealthy relationships.
The content has been designed to support staff with conversations they have with people we support. Key resources (phone numbers, websites) are provided at the end of both the video and delivery guide
Will it be these sensitivities be shared within the sector?
Absolutely. Although they are in the best position to determine what works best for their cohort, Endeavour Foundation will share our concerns in the explanatory email that will contain the link to Healthy Relationships.
Making a referral to the Complex Support Team
To ask for assistance from the Complex Support Team, complete the Complex Support Referral form (QF 8700.03) and email to [email protected] with any additional information and supporting documentation. Be sure to obtain approval from your Operations Manager before submitting the referral and provide as much information to ensure the best quality of support.
On receipt of the Referral Form, a member of the Complex Support Team will contact you