In November 2007, HIVSA acquired full training accreditation status from the Health and Welfare Seta - accreditation number HW 591PA0706073. This accreditation gives HIVSA the opportunity to provide a professional training programme, recognised by the South African Qualifications Association (SAQA) and the Health and Welfare Seta (HWSETA).

HIVSA has had vast community experience in the training and mentoring of lay healthcare workers. Taking this experience into account, it has developed a Further Education and Training Certificate Counselling ( FETC Counselling ),a comprehensive course for community caregivers including lay counsellors. It is now in a position to provide this training support to the Department of Health and USAID and PEPFAR partners working with the roll out of ART in Soweto and Johannesburg.

The Training centre based in Braamfontein, Johannesburg focuses on imparting accurate and up-to-date knowledge and skills to community caregivers, counsellors, support workers and professionals working in the field of HIV and AIDS.

The main Activities provided by the Training Centre are

Certificate in Counselling:

The aim of this FETC course, based on the Seta counselling qualification, is to develop the capacity of as well as career paths of lay counsellors, based in public health clinics working in HIV – services including VCT, PMTCT, CCMT and ART. Topics covered in the course include facilitating support groups, adherence counselling, risk reduction counselling and promotion of health and wellness.

Professional development:

This is also a new area and targets supervisors of community caregivers and counsellors. This training seeks to build on the existing capacity of supervisors who are likely to already have some kind of professional training. Focus areas include mentorship, stress management and basic HIV and AIDS information.

Community outreach:

This section is not accredited training and therefore is aimed at increasing the knowledge of NGOs and CBOs. Jointly funded by USAID / PEPFAR and VSO South Africa, HIVSA has provided training on basic HIV, treatment literacy, adherence and how to run a support group to a number of organisations providing home-based care in the provinces of Gauteng, North West and Limpopo.

Because of their increased knowledge, caregivers and counsellors are more willing to counsel and support people who they know are HIV-positive. Many of the participants in these educational workshops are volunteers and therefore this type of support is vital in ensuring that they provide an adequate service.