Ideal for Social Workers and Social Work Educators, these stories explore the sometimes heart-wrenching struggles and dilemmas of everyday lives. How do social workers and other professionals respond? The insightful questions that accompany the stories will prompt conversations about values, choices and the way society cares.

Author: Jennifer Lehmann. Published by Innovative Resources 2003.Softcover, 140 x 210mm, 126pp.

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Grief and Loss Counsellors, Social Work Educators, Teachers and anyone in need of a reality check: here is a brave, insightful and–believe it or not–lively opportunity to enter the experiences of seven people who know they are dying. This inspiring collection is based on interviews with seven Australians who are facing death and who have had the courage to talk about what death means to them personally–and what it could mean to us.

Edited by Professors Allan Kellehear and David Ritchie. Published by Innovative Resources. Softcover, 140 x 215mm, 136pp.

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Primary and Pre-School Teachers, Early Childhood Workers, Psychologists and Parents: here are solution-focused approaches adapted especially for children. This radical book is based on the notion that practically all problems can be seen as skills that need to be developed. The book is buzzing with ideas, stories and suggestions to inspire adults and invite children to become active participants in skill-building and solution-finding.

Author: Ben Furman. First published by Innovative Resources in Australia 2004. Softcover, 165 x 245mm, 144pp.

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Social Workers, Community Leaders, Mental Health Professionals: here is a step-by-step blue-print for a ’strengths-based’ approach to community capacity building as developed by St Luke’s Anglicare (Bendigo, Australia). Contains a three-day workshop and 39 handouts to guide people as they create resilient, flexible, well-connected communities. Author: Wayne McCashen

Published by Innovative Resources 2004. Softcover, 214 x 278mm, 208pp.

Includes three-day workshop template and 39 handout masters to photocopy.

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Carers, Social Workers and Social Work Educators, Counsellors and Chaplains; There are hundreds of thousands of people across Australia who care for someone with a mental illness. Caring is a delicate balancing act like no other. But how many of us really know the carers’ stories and understand their particular challenges?

Compiled and edited by John Holton, Innovative Resources, 2007, softcover, 100pp.

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‘Strengths in Teams’ is a set of 30 lavishly illustrated, full-colour cards depicting a zany and delightfully whacky circus. Except this circus looks very familiar. In fact, it shares all the idiosyncrasies and foibles of just about any team. But like any effective team, these characters also demonstrate that they have strengths, and they depend upon the strengths of all members.

This card set has two simple messages: we all contribute strengths to our teams and we all gain strengths from our teams. ‘Strengths in Teams’ is all about noticing, identifying, mobilising and celebrating these strengths. We hope you will chuckle with this new edition of an Innovative Resources classic!

30 full colour cards, each 210 x 148mm, polypropylene box, 24 page booklet. Booklet author: Russell Deal Illustrator and designer: Andrew Bowler.

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Published by Innovative Resources 2001. 32 laminated, full-colour cards, 210 x 100mm, polypropylene box, 24-page booklet.

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This resource acknowledges that pain and suffering (such as grief, loneliness, depression, loss and violence) often need to be ’storied’ before resolution is possible.

Published by Innovative Resources 2002, new ed: 2005. Booklet authors: Russell Deal, Fiona Gardner & John Holton. Artist: Carolyn Marrone. Designer: Tim Lane,evocative water-colour images on cards 210 x 150mm. Full-colour cardboard box, 36-page booklet.

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From evaluating the effectiveness of a program to mapping sensitive personal responses to noticing change, The Scaling Kit is a versatile measurement tool that is simple to use and suitable for myriad applications. The simple illustrations in The Scaling Kit make the scaling concept more concrete and accessible, particularly for people who have a preference for visual styles of learning. It is true that a picture, however simple, can have more power than words alone.

Published by Innovative Resources 2007, 10 different pads each with 25 A5 tear-off sheets in full-colour polypropylene box.

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Topics and questions address personal and corporate responsibility in the face of constraint, discrimination and disadvantage. They also challenge us to create conditions that build hope, respect and fairness.

Published by Innovative Resources 2008. 30 laminated, full-colour cards, 105 x 65mm, transparent polypropylene box folds back to make a stand, 30-page booklet. Booklet author: Russell Deal, Designer: Jacqui Lynch

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