Psychosocial training for aid workers

The Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford, has released a revised second edition of their psychosocial training module, The Refugee Experience. The 30-hour module, with associated resources, is designed to facilitate the training of humanitarian assistance workers in response to the psychosocial needs of refugees. The module targets the development of critical competencies in the planning, implementation and evaluation of psychosocial programmes. Materials also deal with community participation, and communication and helping skills for humanitarian workers.

A range of topics are covered, including:

• the effects of modern day conflict on civilians
• a cross-cultural understanding of the experiences of refugees
• an insight into gender issues for refugees
• the particular plight of refugee children.

The module is available on the web, free of charge:
http://www.forcedmigration.org/rfgexp. A printed version (two manuals) and CDROM may also be available where web access is limited.

The Psychosocial Group at the Refugee Studies Centre has also produced an online inventory of unpublished literature that allows ready access to project-related documentation, exemplifying key methods and principles of psychosocial interventions. In addition, a research guide on psychosocial assistance in aid and conflict has been developed which looks at key issues, interventions and research, and includes a review of literature not otherwise available electronically. See the guide online at www.forcedmigration.org.

For further information on any of these resources, contact Maryannne Loughry, Refugee Studies Centre, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford, 21 St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LA, UK email: maryanne.loughry@qeh.ox.ac.uk tel: +44 (0)1865 270268