Facilitation Development Program
Case study
Person centred facilitation for shared outcomes
Person-centred processes can establish a shared understanding of any purpose, and facilitation helps to enable this. Maria Crilley, Senior Improvement Lead at the Clinical Excellence Commission, was a participant of Health and Education and Training Institute’s (HETI) Facilitator Development Program. She shares her experiences below.
The Facilitation Development Programme (FDP) reminded me about the value of person-centred education, with an emphasis on shared responsibility. The program reminded us that facilitation is about losing your ego and being vulnerable. As facilitators, we don’t need to be ‘the expert’ in the room; our role is to enable shared learning through shared responsibility.
Going into this program, we didn’t want to simply change our facilitation materials of slides and pre-prepared speeches, but instead revolutionise our teams’ entire approach to facilitation.
See the individual
Having led various training sessions myself, I knew I valued the freedom to go off-script; to focus on the needs of the people in the room. The program brought me back to this passion. It placed the emphasis on true engagement as a conduit for genuine dialogue in a safe setting.
Active listening
The program promotes a mindful facilitation process, with practical tips included. For example, FDP reminded me that deliberately slowing down the way I speak helps to create more space, and it gives others permission to slow down. Now, I give myself time – not to think, ‘What's coming next?’ – but instead, to actively listen. I try to make sure that I reflect on something that the person said, just to close the loop, so they know I've heard what they said and that the responsibility is shared.
This shift toward shared responsibility isn’t just conceptual or a ‘buzz term’. It is about learning to ‘hold the space’ to build trust, test assumptions, hear alternative perspectives, and appreciate others’ realities.
Others at the centre
Completing the Green Band Core Skills within FDP reminded me that I don't have to be the expert. It gave me permission to not have all the answers in my role as a facilitator, and that's okay. Previously it was a case of, "These are our aims and objectives. This is what I'm going to teach you and we’re going to get through the agenda.”
By putting others at the centre, it completely changes the balance to encourage participants to take responsibility and become more accountable. They're what matter. Learning is a journey for everyone in any room, and this responsibility can be truly shared.
Continuous feedback
The journey through the FDP’s various bands is not a linear progression; it's a continuous loop of reflection and application. Participants not only progress through the FDP’s bands to enhance their skills, but to also contribute to the Community of Practice (CoP), which they are invited to join after completing the Green band.
The CoP is represented by clinicians and staff who support the delivery of clinical care across diverse health settings, and at all levels of the NSW Health system. They attend future Green band facilitation sessions as visitors and provide feedback to Green band participants. This not only improves the function of facilitation but it helps to build an internal talent pool of capable facilitators for different contexts.
The CoP isn’t just a network; it offers a collaborative space where facilitators share insights and challenges to create a repository of wisdom that benefits everyone.
Long term impact
If I had to sum up FDP, I would say that – whether you are an experienced facilitator or new to this journey – this inclusive leadership program harnesses excellence in a very human way.
Person-centred processes promote shared understanding, which ultimately supports various efficiencies and health outcomes; far beyond the scope of the gathering.