FDS 2023 Annual Report

34 FDS Volunteer Training – Telephone… The FDS 24/7 Telephone Support Line training is run by Tony and the Volunteer Team over two full days. Drawing on 26yrs of experience FDS provides an evidence-based model of anti-oppressive and non- judgemental support and education model of care for families and friends assisting them with developing resilience, coping strategies and care for their own wellbeing to make decisions they are comfortable with. FDS facilitates this invaluable Volunteer Telephone Support Line Training for volunteers and staff to ensure FDS volunteers develop the appropriate professional skills required for dealing with difficult and at times distressing calls. After a rigorous interview process, volunteers are trained in alcohol and drug information, listening skills, empathic responses and motivational interviewing techniques. De-briefing and supervision is an important element of our commitment to our volunteers as well as ongoing training, and annual workshops. When training our volunteers, we are clear what we are NOT: Counsellors – although we do utilise some basic counselling skills – we generally refer to professional services for counselling Alcohol and other drug experts – we refer to ADIS and offer written resources and our website, www.fds.org.au Advice givers – we encourage people to explore options and consequences by the use of open-ended questions. We challenge volunteers’ triggers, assumptions and biases through training exercises. In 2022/23 FDS facilitated Eight volunteer telephone training sessions attended by 84 volunteers (averaging over 10 participants per course). Course locations include, Brisbane QLD; Melbourne VIC; Adelaide SA and Sydney NSW. This represents a notable increase in course delivery compared to the previous two financial years. While FDS has returned to pre-COVID levels of scheduling for face-to-face delivery of Volunteer training, some courses have been postponed due to insufficient registration numbers to make courses viable. This impact has primarily related to a higher than usual dropout rate at courses due to cold/flu symptoms or confirmed COVID diagnosis of attendees, or general resistance to social gathering during recent infection waves increasing case numbers.