Specialist Certificate in Criminology (Sexual Offender Management) (GC-CRIMSOM)

The course has been developed in response to a request by Corrections Victoria for a professional development program for correctional staff with responsibility for the case management of sexual offenders. The proposed course is modelled on the Specialist Certificate in Criminology (Forensic Disability) that has been provided by the University of Melbourne since 2009, and comprises two subjects (Introduction to Sexual Offender Management and Advanced Practice in Sexual Offender Management). The subject will be delivered by Dr. Mayumi Purvis, who holds a PhD in Criminology from the University of Melbourne, and Ms. Simone Shaw, who holds a Masters in Forensic Psychology. Both Dr. Purvis and Ms. Shaw are experienced practitioners in this field. No accredited training of this type is currently available in Victoria or elsewhere in Australia.

• This is an intensive post-graduate program taught over ten days, which provides professional training in the case management of sexual offenders.

• The course is designed for professionals who work with sexual offenders, but who may lack clinical qualifications to support their practices.

The course gives participants the requisite knowledge about sexual offenders and case management practice approaches, together with practical skills in the assessment and effective management of this complex and difficult offender population. This knowledge will assist practitioners to meet their professional responsibilities successfully and with the utmost confidence in their intervention practices.