PRETORIA: Getting to the HART of the matter: South African Hackett Awareness & Response Tool for Professionals

Getting to the HART of the Matter – HSB Tool Training

A practical, South African–adapted training for professionals working with children and sexual behaviours.

Join us for a full-day professional training on the Hackett Awareness and Response Tool (HART) — a practical tool designed to support professionals in understanding and responding to sexual behaviours in children.

Specifically adapted for the South African context

A key feature of this training is that the tool has been adapted for use within the South African context, supporting professionals to consider the realities, professional responsibilities and practice considerations relevant to working with children and families in South Africa.

The training explores:

• Understanding sexual behaviours in children and distinguishing developmentally expected behaviours from concerning or problematic behaviours.
• Applying the HART tool and understanding its purpose, principles and domains.
• Reflecting on our own values and beliefs and how these may influence professional responses.
• Ethical and professional decision-making when working with sensitive cases.
• Risk assessment and mandatory reporting / duty to report within professional practice.
• Practical case studies that allow participants to apply the tool to real-world professional scenarios.
• Consultation, referral and professional boundaries, including managing uncertainty when working with complex situations.

The emphasis is on moving beyond theoretical knowledge to practical application, giving professionals an opportunity to work through the tool, discuss complex scenarios and develop greater confidence in responding appropriately to children and caregivers.