The focus of NARSA is the provision of training and support for staff in student boarding facilities.  This training is provided in the workplace, at the regional level and at national conferences.  The support includes the sharing of policies and practice, and working in close liaison with other organisations (e.g. Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations [DEEWR]; Aboriginal Hostels Ltd [AHL]; the Rural Education Forum Australia [REFA]; the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association [ICPA]; the Country Women’s Association [CWA]).

The objective of staff training is to provide a safe, healthy environment for young students living away from their home and families during the school term, and this is reflected in the ongoing programs designed to develop specialised training for residential supervisors, house-parents, staff and committee members for the unique roles they play in the lives of these students.

1. A relatively recent development in the area of staff training has been the introduction of Duty of Care, a Certificate Course in Residential Care written by Dr Tim Hawkes. Containing 12 Units, this basic course highlights practical issues encountered by staff in student boarding facilities.



2. The NARSA Annual Conference is a popular training tool for residential staff and is considered by many facilities to be an excellent medium for staff Professional Development.



3. Occasional Regional Conferences are presented by NARSA staff from time to time, allowing staff from smaller or more remote rural hostels access to some form of Professional Development.



4. The NARSA Mobile Office, which has been in operation since 2000, continues to provide an important service to staff and management in many areas of Australia.