BUILD SAFER, MORE RESPONSIVE PRACTICE WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY COMPLEX TRAUMA
How can we recognise the impact of trauma on children and families while ensuring our practice is culturally safe, respectful and responsive?
Children and families from diverse cultural backgrounds may experience complex trauma arising from violence, abuse, loss, displacement, family disruption or other overwhelming experiences. Trauma can affect children’s development, attachment, emotional regulation and behaviour, while also influencing parenting, family relationships and engagement with services.
Culture, family structures, beliefs about parenting and help-seeking, experiences of migration and settlement, and interactions with Australian systems can further shape how trauma is understood, expressed and responded to.
This practical workshop, led by experienced STARTTS practitioners and trainers, will help you recognise the impacts of complex trauma and strengthen your ability to work with children and families in ways that promote safety, trust, cultural respect, connection and recovery.
WHY THIS WORKSHOP MATTERS
Trauma does not occur in isolation. Children develop within families, relationships, communities and cultural contexts, and these can be important sources of identity, belonging, strength and recovery.
At the same time, professionals may encounter behaviours or family dynamics that are difficult to understand without considering the combined influence of trauma, attachment, culture, parenting practices, family relationships and experiences of adapting to life in Australia.
Services can also unintentionally create barriers through unfamiliar systems, communication difficulties, cultural assumptions or approaches that reduce people’s sense of choice and control.
Professionals do not need to be trauma specialists to make a difference. Understanding how trauma and culture can interact helps you recognise distress, build stronger relationships, respond more effectively and create services that feel safer and more accessible for children and families.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Understand Complex Trauma in Children and Families
Explore different types of traumatic experiences and how complex trauma can affect children’s emotional, behavioural, relational and developmental functioning.
Recognise the Impact of Trauma on Development and Attachment
Understand how trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can influence brain development, attachment, emotional regulation, behaviour and relationships.
Understand Trauma Within Family and Cultural Contexts
Explore how culture, family structures, collectivist perspectives, intergenerational experiences and different understandings of trauma can influence children and families.
Strengthen Trauma-Informed and Culturally Safe Practice
Apply practical principles that promote safety, trust, choice, collaboration, empowerment and cultural respect when supporting children and families.
Work Respectfully Across Different Parenting and Family Practices
Explore diverse approaches to parenting and child-rearing and consider how families may navigate differences between cultural expectations, family practices and Australian systems.
Navigate Child Protection and Family Violence Considerations
Consider child protection and domestic and family violence within a trauma-informed and culturally safe framework, while maintaining a focus on safety and wellbeing.
Engage Children and Families More Effectively
Develop practical strategies for building trust, establishing appropriate boundaries, supporting participation and responding to potential barriers to accessing and engaging with services.
Communicate Effectively Across Language and Culture
Strengthen cross-cultural communication and learn practical approaches to working effectively with professional interpreters.
Promote Strengths, Choice and Recovery
Use a strengths-based trauma recovery framework that recognises family and cultural resources, promotes choice and supports children and families to regain a sense of safety, agency and connection.
Protect Your Own Wellbeing
Recognise the potential impact of trauma-related work on practitioners and consider practical approaches to professional boundaries, vicarious trauma and self-care.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Essential professional development for anyone working with children and families who may have experienced complex trauma, particularly in culturally diverse settings, including:
- Social workers and counsellors
- Psychologists and mental health professionals
- Child and family workers
- Case managers and support workers
- Teachers, school counsellors and education professionals
- Child protection and family support practitioners
- Health and allied health professionals
- Domestic and family violence practitioners
- Community workers
- Settlement and migrant support workers
- Youth workers
- Early childhood professionals
- Other professionals supporting children and families
FORMAT AND INCLUSIONS
- Online and in-person delivery
- Facilitated by an experienced trauma-informed practitioner
- Includes interactive activities, real-life scenarios, and skill practice
- Receive a certificate of completion
- Receive a PDF of the workshop slides
BRING THIS WORKSHOP TO YOUR TEAM
Would your team benefit from tailored, trauma-informed training? This workshop is available as an online and in-person in-house session (in-person available in Sydney only), customised to meet the specific needs of your staff, clients, or community. Visit our Request Training page for details on pricing, availability, and how to book.
Plan ahead: Due to high demand, we recommend submitting your request at least 6–8 weeks in advance to secure your preferred date. Empower your team with the confidence, skills, and cultural sensitivity to support refugee and asylum seeker communities effectively.
CONTACT US
stts-training@health.nsw.gov.au
(02) 9646 6700 Ask for the Training Administration Officer