Transform Conflict Training
In partnership with Melbourne City Mission
Pre-work videos
Welcome! I'm so glad you're joining us for the Transform Conflict training.
On this page are a few short videos that are designed to give you a foundational understanding of conflict theories before we meet face-to-face. They're deliberately brief and practical because the real learning happens when we're together in the room, doing the work.
What you'll find here:
Welcome & introduction: A quick overview of what to expect from the training, why this work matters, and how to get the most out of these two days together.
Four conflict theory overviews:
Power theory
Rights theory
Needs and interests theory
Transformative theory
Each video explores a different way of understanding what's happening when conflict shows up. You don't need any prior knowledge – we're starting from scratch and keeping it conversational and real.
Your action steps:
Watch all five videos in order (total viewing time: about 35 minutes)
Complete the self-assessment tool – this is just for you to understand where you're at with conflict right now
Come to the training ready to share what you feel confident about and where you'd like to build more skills
Watching these videos will mean we can hit the ground running on Day 1 and spend our time together on the practical, hands-on stuff – which is where the magic happens.
See you soon!
Welcome + introduction
A warm welcome to the Transform Conflict training! This video sets the scene for what you'll experience over the two days together, why conflict doesn't have to be scary, and how to get the most out of the pre-work videos and self-assessment. Come ready to learn by doing, not by being lectured at.
Power theory
Power theory frames conflict as a struggle for domination – it's a zero-sum game. We explore how power-based approaches create win-lose outcomes, breed resentment, and often escalate situations. Learn to recognise when someone is reaching for power and what it costs.
Rights theory
Rights theory shifts the question from "who's stronger" to "who's right." Conflict becomes about appealing to rules, policies, and fairness. It's more civil than raw power struggles, but it can still be adversarial and rigid. We look at when rights matter and when they might get in the way of actually understanding what people need.
Needs + interests theory
This is where things get collaborative. Needs and interests theory asks: what does each person actually need underneath what they say they want? When you move from positions to needs, you often find creative solutions that work for everyone. Learn how to dig beneath the surface and turn conflicts into problems you can solve together.
Transformative theory
Transformative theory sees conflict as an opportunity for growth, not just a problem to fix. Through empowerment and recognition, conflict can actually strengthen relationships and build people's capacity to handle future challenges. This is the heart of what we'll practice in the training – changing not just outcomes, but how people see and relate to each other.
That's all folks!
If you still haven't done it - hop on over to the self-assessment tool 👇🏽 and complete it before the training days. Otherwise, see you Thursday!