Program Delivery

The program content is delivered through seven two-day workshop (face-to-face) modules and an eighth project-based application module:

ToP Facilitative Leadership Program

The Technology of Participation (ToP) is a people-centred, results-driven leadership approach with widely tested and proven process tools and methods, supported by a body of knowledge and values.

The ToP Facilitative Leadership Program enhances the understanding, capability and performance of participants, in a highly participatory, experiential and learning-centred atmosphere.

Going beyond tools and techniques, it enables practical application of essential theoretical foundations and ethical principles to underpin the effectiveness of a facilitative leader.
Applying fundamental methods to a range of contexts and participants, examining underlying dynamics for deeper understanding and confidence
Integrating complementary tools for adapting to a wide variety
of situations, with design tools to create high impact facilitation events
Facilitation Expansion & Integration
Facilitating movement from initial uncertainty to clear purpose and commitment, generating practical steps, momentum and ownership
Facilitating movement from initial uncertainty to clear purpose and commitment, generating practical steps, momentum and ownership

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Interactive delivery is by highly experienced facilitators who are active in corporate, government and not-for-profit settings, and who have demonstrated skills in adult education and learning support.

At the end of each module participants have a statement of completion, a comprehensive set of course notes and concrete proposals to apply and practice what they have learned in real-life roles and work environments.  They will also have access to coaching and mentoring from experienced facilitators.

This format builds competence and confidence in continuing use and development, and deepens understanding of the vital role of facilitative approaches in leading change.

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4

Working with Diverse Value Systems
Strategic Thinking & Planning
Group Facilitation Methods
Bridging differences, escaping drama, transforming conflict,  building cooperative relationships, and developing agreement
and commitment

5

Principled Influencing & Negotiating
Catalysing, initiating or responding to change, examining styles
of change leadership and methods and designing a change intervention

6

Understanding
& Leading Change
Facilitating transformation of cultures, structures and practices, finding purpose and meaning as a leader of transformation and change

7

Being a Facilitative Leader
Action research on application of all program content to real-
life roles

8

Facilitative Leadership: Role-Based Application







Breadth Depth & Focus



Comprehensive
It encompasses a range of levels of learning,
competence and application, from facilitation skills to integrated facilitative leadership development.
It offers ways of doing, ways of knowing and ways
of being.
It is suitable for ‘novice’ level up to ‘veteran’ level.

Supportive

It builds confidence in participants to be leaders
through learning which is practical, participatory and experiential.
Participants practice in a safe supportive environment and give/receive feedback.
It provides templates and resources with on-going value.

Accredited

It meets industry and professional training needs to a nationally accredited standard.
Our leaders are skilled and experienced adult educators, and are active in facilitation across their field.





Flexibility and adaptability to
participant needs


Choice of level and pathway

It offers pathways from single Module attendance to postgraduate qualifications.
Participants can find their own level.
There is no requirement to choose or commit to a pathway up-front.


Choice of timing & place

It offers flexibility in start and finish times and rates of progression.
There is no fixed schedule or prescription.
Participants can adjust their engagement as
development needs or life situations change.

Choice of location & setting

It is offered around Australia, New Zealand, and beyond, from public subscription events to tailored ‘in-house’ development programs.
Transportability across locations enables access to
diverse facilitation styles to deepen learning.





Real-life application
at every
level

Practical application

Each level of engagement in the program emphasises
and supports real-life application of learning.
This develops and strengthens performance and confidence in a wide range of roles and settings.

Proven track record

The content, theoretical foundations and ethical
principles of the program are all backed by decades of international field experience and proven achievement across different cultures and sectors.

So, why this program?


Global learning community

It continues to engage and benefit thousands of practitioners who work in many locations around the Australasia-Pacific region and beyond, in a wide range
of roles and applications. 
Local and regional networks of practitioners remain connected with global networks to share learning and enable continuous improvement in practice.
The Technology of Participation (ToP) is the property of the Institute of Cultural Affairs. The ICA is an international organisation concerned with the human factor in personal, community and organisational development. www.ICA-Australia.org

Four levels of learning




Levels of learning:

Practical METHODS:
Skills and abilities for facilitating collaborative planning and solution finding

Grounded in MODELS:
Conceptual frameworks for understanding & leading change in behaviours, structures and cultures

Intensified by MINDSETS:
Stances and convictions for anchoring methods & models in personal action and authentic facilitation

Sustained by MASTERY:
Integrating facilitative leadership into everyday roles in groups or organisations



Exploring dimensions of:

DOING
+
Knowing
+
Being

(Hands)

Doing
+
KNOWING
+
Being

(Head)

Doing
+
Knowing
+
BEING

(Heart)



BECOMING


(Whole)




Applied to:

Working at the
PRACTICAL
level:
managing process and delivering products matched to objectives

Working at the
RATIONAL
level:
developing knowledge and conceptual understanding through interpretation

Working at the
PERSONAL
level:
feelings, associations, values, ethics, beliefs, spirit & motivation

Working at the
APPLICATION
level:
integrating methods, models & mindsets in
real life

ToP Facilitative Leadership Program

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    One program - a choice of pathways

    The program offers participants a range of pathways and levels of engagement, from attendance at one or more modules to receive a certificate of attendance; through completion of seven modules and an assessment process to become an internationally recognised Certified ToP Facilitator; to completion of all eight modules and assessment to receive the postgraduate award of Vocational Graduate Diploma of Facilitative Leadership.

    Certificate of Attendance at Module(s)

    Group Facilitation Methods
    Facilitation Expansion & Integration
    Strategic Thinking
    & Planning
    Working with Diverse Value Systems
    Principled Influencing & Negotiation
    Understanding & Leading Change
    Being a Facilitative Leader

    Certified ToP Facilitator
    (CToPF)

    Vocational Graduate Diploma of Facilitative Leadership

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    Assessment Process

    Assessment Process

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    8. Facilitative Leadership: Role-Based Application

    A university may accept individual modules as contributing to a higher postgraduate award.

    A Vocational Graduate Diploma may be articulated to achieve up to 50% of the requirements of
    a coursework Masters Degree.