The Fórsa Skills Academy is the home for all of Fórsa’s training and development initiatives, offering you the practical training you need. We have training at all levels running in the months ahead. Take a look and sign up for the one that suits you best.

Fórsa 101 - New Members Information Session

Fórsa 101 is a short information session which takes place completely online. It’s a great way for new members to better understand the structure of the Union, how it works and how to get more involved.

The next sessions will be held on Wednesday, 11th October - one in the morning at 9:30am and one that evening at 6pm. The sessions will be between 2 to 2 1/2 hours long.

*Special Note to SNAs - due to issues in relation to release from the Department of Education for some courses, SNAs should only apply for the evening course.

Those interested in attending must complete the online application form here. The closing date for registration is: Friday 29th September 2023 at 13:00.

Foundational Workplace Representative Training programme

The Foundational Workplace Representative Training programme is a three-day course for newly elected workplace representatives, or those with less than 2 years representative experience and who have never received Fórsa training previously (except for the Fórsa101 information session). It covers all the basic skills and information that new representatives require to have confidence in the role and get through the first year.

Topics include:

• Branch structure and roles of the Executive Committee
• The role and responsibilities of the Workplace Representative
• Organising and recruiting members
• An introduction to Health and Safety
• An overview of Equality in the Trade Union agenda
• Industrial Relations, handling members' problems and local representation

This is an essential first course for any members undertaking a representative role and is offered in 7 locations throughout the country. Applications will close when the courses have been filled in each location.

Upcoming Foundational training dates:

Tuesday 26th - Thursday 28th September Galway

Tuesday 24th - Thursday 26th October Cork

Tuesday 28th - Thursday 30th November Limerick

Tuesday 27th - Thursday 29th February Sligo

Tuesday 26th - Thursday 28th March Wexford town (Local Trade Union Centre)

Tuesday 23rd - Thursday 25th April Woodford, Santry, Dublin.

You can register for the Foundational Workplace Representative Training programme HERE.

Expanded Workplace Representative Training programme

The Expanded Workplace Representative Training programme is open to those who have more than 2-3 years’ experience in the role of Workplace Representative and have NOT RECEIVED ANY training previously.

The first module focuses on Organising, on day 1 and Industrial Relations on day 2, and takes place on consecutive days on the first week of the month from September through April (except December), across all locations. The specific dates and locations are listed on application form and we would ask applicants to choose the nearest location to them to ensure as many representatives as possible gain access to these courses.

There are also two specialised modules, on Health and Safety, and on Equality. Workplace Representatives and Branch Executive Officers with these specific responsibilities are eligible to apply (provided they have not undertaken this training previously). The dates of these courses are also listed on the application form.

You can register to attend the expanded training programme here.

Upcoming Expanded training dates:

Wednesday 4th - Thursday 5th October 2023 Local Trade Union Centre, Wexford Town

Wednesday 1st - Thursday 2nd November 2023 Sligo

Wednesday 10th - Thursday 11th January 2024 Nerney's Court, Dublin

Wednesday 7th - Thursday 8th February 2024 Limerick

Wednesday 6th - Thursday 7th March 2024 Cork

Wednesday 3rd - Thursday 4th April 2024 Galway