New Talking Mats set - Aotearoa Rangatahi set
We were excited to launch a new set for our Aotearoa context in October 2021. This set is called the Aotearoa Rangatahi set and has been created by our team at Talking Trouble alongside artist Carol Green. We have worked with our colleagues at Talking Mats in Scotland to ensure it is consistent with the other sets, and it is available for purchase from Assistive Technology: Talking Mats - Assistive Technology
The Aotearoa Rangatahi set is based on the original Talking Mats Secondary: Young People from age 13 set; however, the option cards reflect the social and cultural context of Aotearoa. The Aotearoa Rangatahi set provides a specially designed visual framework that can be used to enable rangatahi to reflect and express their views on three topics relating to their adolescence:
What I do / My activities – the young person’s experience of activities.
My support – rangatahi experience of the support available to them.
My wellbeing – the young person’s experience of wellbeing.
This Talking Mats set is just one in a series of sets that cover diverse topics and contexts. More information about Talking Mats is available here: talkingmats.com. Talking Mats Foundation Training enables practitioners to effectively implement the steps involved in carrying out a Talking Mat. Talking Mats Foundation Training is available in Aotearoa NZ: See more course information and book online
Talking Mats
We have three Accredited Talking Mats® trainers now so we are offering this training with our colleagues from TalkLink. Talking Mats originated in Scotland and has been used now around the world to enable people to give their views.
We were interviewed by Kelly Howard about Talking Mats in the NZ Psychology Association's publication Psychology Aotearoa: Talking Mats article Psychology Aotearoa.
Please fill in the form on the TalkLink website to register or email courses@talklink.org.nz to enquire about us running a course in your area or for your organisation. Scroll down to see where the next courses are being held in New Zealand.
Could Talking Mats help you?
Talking Mats® has the potential for use with a wide range of people. It is a visual framework which helps people think about issues and provides them with a way of expressing their views more easily, for example how they feel about their activities, their skills, where they live, and the care they receive. It also helps them express what their views are about topics that might be difficult to discuss such as mental well-being, safety, and decisions about their future. Professionals using Talking Mats have included Occupational Therapists, Dieticians, Doctors, Nurses, Advocacy Workers, Service Planners, Social Workers, Speech-Language Therapists, Lawyers, Care Workers, Teachers, Rehabilitation Assistants, Researchers, and Psychologists.
Talking Mats is a reflective listening tool that can help anybody have a conversation on a specific topic. It can be used with people of all ages and abilities: children, young people and adults, and by those with or without speech, language, communication and learning difficulties which may arise from a range of causes including intellectual disability, stroke, dementia, neurological difficulties, and mental health issues.
Course Format
Online and in-person options are now available in Aotearoa . The in-person one-day Foundation Training Course delivered by Talking Mats Accredited Trainers combines hands-on experience of Talking Mats with role-play, discussion and reflection of the use of the tool in a variety of real-life situations. The morning will provide background information, opportunities to use Talking Mats, and useful models to think about communication and the complexity of language. There will also be film footage of a range of people with communication difficulties using Talking Mats. The afternoon will focus on using Talking Mats in real life situations and planning how to develop its use in participants’ own work environment.
Each participant will receive a resource as part of the course and have access to purchasing further sets at a much-reduced price. Participants select a resource most suited for their client group to accompany their training from the sets below.
Advanced and specialist packs (Keeping Safe, Eating and Drinking and Advanced Care) are not provided as one of the choices included in the Foundation Training Course fee.
Comments from a couple of the participants on the Talking Mats Foundation Course
The framework is so simple yet so revealing. I will use the mats to test our campaign designs with young people and ideas of how the community can support them.
Learned: the power of such a conversation in discovering in a short time so much about our client.
Upcoming Talking Mats Courses:
Please make sure you let courses@talklink.org.nz know if you're interested in attending a course. We can set one up if we have at least eight people in an area interested. Let us know if you want one in your area or you want one specifically for your organisation. Talking Trouble and TalkLink Accreditated Trainers collaborate to deliver these courses.
Fee: $375 per person (including GST). Fee includes a Talking Mats symbol set of your choosing.
Morning tea provided. BYO lunch.
Courses need a minimum of eight people to run.
2023 Courses
Face to Face
Auckland - Thursday February 9th, 9:30am - 4:30pm
TalkLink Auckland, 13 Coyle Street, SandringhamPaid parking available onsite, free parking on the street
Waikato - Wed 8th March, 10am - 4:30pm
Venue TBC
Auckland - Friday May 5th, 9:30am - 4:30pm
Venue TBC
Wellington - Date TBC May - please complete expression of interest form
Christchurch - Date TBC May - please complete expression of interest form
Online course dates - must attend all three dates within a course to be certified
Oneline course (all 3 dates)
Wed Feb 1st, 9:30am - 11:30am
Wed Feb 15th 9:30am - 11:30am
Wed March 15th 9:30am - 11:30am
Oneline course (all 3 dates)
Tuesday May 23rd 1pm - 3pm
Tuesday June 6th 1pm - 3pm
Tuesday June 27th 1pm - 3pm
Oneline course (all 3 dates)
Thursday August 31st 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Thursday Sept 14th 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Thursday Oct 12th 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Cancellations need to be made at least 5 days prior to the course. No refunds will be given if cancelled within this time.
Please email courses@talklink.org.nz if you would like to enquire about running a course in your area. See more course information and book online