Workplaces across Western Australia are embracing RAWA’s transformative education workshop that equips teams with emotional intelligence (EQ) skills—fostering stronger communication, resilience, and a more empathetic culture.
What started as a conversation with Bunbury company Aqwest about improving their workplace culture and increasing their employee’s capacity for emotional intelligence has become a highly sought after workshop among many WA workplaces.
Community Education Coordinator Rhett Topliss said the team already had a framework to deliver the ‘Emotional Intelligence’ workshop for its community education program, and we were able to tailor the workshop for the workplace.
“We've delivered it now five times for [Aqwest] to 55 staff members.”
“We also travelled to the Pilbara to deliver it four times for eight different organisations in Karratha and Port Hedland.”
“Among these workplaces we were able to reach a lot of Aboriginal corporations and organisations that work with indigenous people — which is a great outcome for all involved,” he said.
What’s covered in the workshop?
What is normally run as a full day Community Education workshop has been condensed to a half day to better suit workplaces and people’s limited time.
The workshop is made accessible for workplaces and their employees with content that is relevant to them. Participants learn Goleman’s five competencies of Emotional Intelligence – self-awareness, self-control, motivation, empathy and social skills.
They then reflect on the questions like — ‘How does this affect you?’, ‘How does it affect workplaces when it's not there and when it is there?’, and ‘What does that look like?’ — with the newly learned Emotional Intelligence competencies in mind.
Rhett said the workshop has received lots of positive feedback.
“A common theme that’s emerged in the feedback is how valuable the training is for their personal and professional relationships.”
Looking to reach further WA workplaces
Community Education have seen an increased interest in regional areas for professional development workshops in the last 6 months.
In response, we have adapted two community-based workshops specifically for facilitation in the workplace; ‘Emotional Intelligence’ and ‘Healthy Conflict in the Workplace’.
Manager Education Services Danae Watkins said the aim is to support staff to develop greater self-awareness, enhance communication, and team dynamics in a practical and engaging format.
“These new workshops have already contributed to strengthening stakeholder engagement in the Pilbara and in the Great Southern region and now sit alongside RAWA’s existing professional development offerings, including the well-established and popular ‘Accidental Counsellor’ workshop,” she said.
RAWA continues to support organisations to build skills and knowledge which promotes healthier, more effective workplace environments and professional relationships across the state.