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Training in Professional Boundaries and
Duty of Confidentiality

1-Day Course

This interactive workshop has been developed to allow staff, volunteers, and carers to explore their professional boundaries within the workplace and to discuss with their peers the importance of establishing boundaries whilst providing a service and meeting clients' needs. Group activities will be conducted to give participants the opportunity to explore their professional boundaries through examples, self-assessments, questionnaires and case studies. Problem solving techniques will be demonstrated as effective means of resolving problems without crossing professional boundaries. We will also discuss duty of confidentiality and the breach of confidentiality that occurs if professional boundaries are crossed.

On successful completion of this program, participants will:

• develop an understanding of the importance of professional boundaries and the consequences of a breach of these boundaries;
• develop an understanding of the professional relationship between a service provider or carer and a client;
• recognise the distinction between compassionate behaviour (which is a professional, responsible action) and affectionate behaviour (which is an unprofessional action);
• develop an understanding of the importance of confidentiality, including awareness of what information needs to be confidential and when it is permissible to breach the duty of confidentiality;
• learn when the disclosure of certain information constitutes a breach of confidence on the part of a service provider or carer; and
• learn about a strong trend towards the diversification of government agencies delivering local services.