Restorative Responses: Health and Disability
Factors critical to the success of restorative practice in a health sector context
Course overview
Te tiro whakamuri kia haere whakamua
We will look back to what has occurred in the past to gain the wisdom to move forward into our future.
In this micro-credential course you will develop knowledge about the factors critical to the success of restorative responses (i.e. restorative practice and hohou te rongo – peacemaking from a Māori worldview). You will understand and practice foundational skills, gain an appreciation of cultural safety, learn how to navigate cross cultural responses and design a restorative response that is relevant to your own context.
Developed by Te Ngāpara Centre for Restorative Practice, Victoria University of Wellington in partnership with the Health Quality & Safety Commission and the National Collaborative for Restorative Initiatives in Health.
In partnership with
What you'll learn
On completion of the course, you will be able to:
- Evaluate the factors critical for success of restorative responses.
- Identify critical aspects of cultural safety and diversity as an authentic Tiriti partner within a restorative response.
- Design and apply a restorative response within your own professional context.
Course modules
You will gain an appreciation of:
- The relational principles, values and goals that underpin restorative responses and the differences/overlaps with other conflict resolution methods (i.e. mediation, facilitation, negotiation).
- How to determine the most appropriate response based on situational assessment (including stakeholder mapping, partnership with Māori, and harms/needs assessment).
- Facilitator skills e.g. preparation and emotional support, creating a safe environment for storytelling, follow up, maintaining the mana and tapu/dignity of all the people involved.
- How to support people (workers, consumers, and investigators) experiencing trauma or emotional distress when involved in an adverse event, conflict, or complaint.
- What it means to be responsible and accountable within a complex adaptive system.
- The characteristics of a meaningful apology from a Pākehā and Māori worldview.
Further Information
Format
The course is comprised of 50 hours online personal learning over six weeks and a two-hour online webinar. Students will then attend a one-day face to face workshop to practice foundation skills. If pandemic restrictions prevent students from coming together in person, the workshop will be offered in two half days online. Content includes lectures, films, interactive tools, and small peer group learning. The instructors employ a restorative pedagogy aligned with restorative values and principles in their approach to teaching.
Course session details:
Online course opens: Mon 15/09/25 10am
Webinar: Thu 09/10/25 2pm – 4pm
Face-to-face workshop in Wellington: Thu 23/10/25 9am – 5pm
Scholarship information
Te Ngāpara Centre for Restorative Practice and Kāpuhipuhi Wellington Uni-Professional fund a small number of scholarship places in each cohort. Available scholarships include a 50% discount or fully funding your course fee. Scholarships are available to people working in and with the health sector who have no or limited access to professional development funding. If you would like to be considered for a scholarship, you will need to provide a letter that outlines your role in the health sector and why you want to attend. You will be asked to provide a letter of support from your employer which includes a statement that you have no access to funding or states that they will contribute 50% of the course fee.
Information about how to apply is available by emailing us at profdev@vuw.ac.nz
Please use “Scholarship Request” in the subject line.
What is a micro-credential?
A micro-credential is a small, stand-alone credential that recognises the achievement of specific skills, experience or knowledge. Typically micro-credentials:
- Top up existing knowledge or skills so that people who are already qualified in an area can increase the range of their practice (e.g. work with electric vehicles), or
- Provide stand-alone new knowledge or skills so that people who are not already qualified in an area can do a specific aspect of it (e.g. kitchen installation)
Micro-credentials were initially developed in 2015 in response to demand from industry for learners to be formally recognised for short bursts of formal learning that did not fit the model for a full qualification (either at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority threshold of 40 credits for a qualification or a university-defined qualification such as a diploma or degree).
By 2018 the New Zealand Qualifications Authority had begun to approve and register micro-credentials, and NZQA’s website now lists around 170 of them.
University micro-credentials are not the same as NZQA-registered micro-credentials. When you pass this course, instead of getting credits against your NZQA record of achievement, you will be awarded a pass against this course and 5 credits on your university academic transcript. You will be awarded a digital badge and a digital certificate.
Upcoming Courses & Delivery Options
15 Sep 2025 | Wellington
Duration: 6 weeks
$NZD 995
excl. GST
Can’t make these dates or want a private course?
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