26 March 2027 | 9am-3pm AEDT Online workshop | → Register Now!
10 September 2027 | 9am-3pm AEST Online workshop | → Register Now!
Are you a counsellor, educator, youth worker, caseworker, allied health professional or service provider supporting children, young people and families? Do you sometimes find it difficult to understand what sits behind challenging behaviour, withdrawal, emotional distress, shutdown or a young person who appears remarkably capable and self-sufficient?
The Complex Trauma in Context: Supporting Children, Young People and Families workshop is an interactive, evidence-informed training that gives you practical ways to understand complex trauma across development, relationships, family life, culture and everyday circumstances.
Drawing on STARTTS’ extensive experience supporting children and families affected by refugee trauma, displacement, loss, deprivation and major life transitions, this workshop moves beyond simply asking “Is this a trauma response?” Instead, you’ll learn to widen the lens, understand what may be interacting beneath the surface, and identify practical responses appropriate to your role.
WHY THIS WORKSHOP MATTERS
A trauma lens isn’t always enough.
Children and young people rarely experience one challenge at a time. Trauma can interact with their stage of development, nervous-system regulation, relationships, family circumstances, culture and identity, social conditions and major life transitions.
This means complex trauma doesn’t always look the way we expect. It may appear as distress or challenging behaviour, but it can also look like withdrawal, shutdown, difficulties with learning or relationships, caring for others, or becoming unusually independent and self-reliant.
Using the STARTTS Complex Interaction model, this workshop helps you look beyond individual behaviours or single explanations and consider the whole child or young person within their relationships, family, culture and current circumstances.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Understand Complex Trauma in Context
Explore how trauma interacts with child and adolescent development, nervous-system regulation, relationships, family life, culture, identity, life circumstances and social conditions, and why understanding these interactions can lead to more effective support.
Recognise Different Responses to Trauma and Overwhelm
Learn to recognise the many ways children and young people may respond to trauma, stress and loss, including dysregulation, shutdown, withdrawal, behavioural changes, difficulties with learning and relationships, and apparent self-sufficiency.
Respond to Dysregulation and Shutdown
Develop practical ways to recognise overwhelm and respond in ways that promote safety and regulation, including understanding the importance of regulating ourselves before responding to a distressed child or young person.
Understand Children Within Families and Relationships
Move beyond viewing the child in isolation. Explore how relationships, family experiences, parenting, changing roles and expectations can shape a young person’s wellbeing, and learn practical ways to build bridges with parents and caregivers.
Support Children and Families Living Across Cultures
Explore how children, young people and caregivers may adapt to cultural change at different rates while navigating identity, belonging, changing family roles, unfamiliar systems and different cultural expectations.
Strengthen Cultural Safety and Humility
Consider the impact of racism, exclusion and institutional barriers on safety, trust, participation and wellbeing, and explore how cultural humility can strengthen trauma-informed practice with children, young people and families.
Identify Strengths, Protective Factors and Practical Responses
Learn to recognise strengths and protective factors alongside difficulties. Use realistic case examples to practise widening the lens, understanding what may be happening and identifying practical responses that are appropriate within your professional role.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
- Youth workers and case managers
- Teachers, school wellbeing staff and educators
- Counsellors, social workers and psychologists
- Allied health and healthcare professionals
- Child, youth and family support workers
- Refugee, settlement and multicultural service workers
- Community workers and support coordinators
- Anyone working with children, young people and families affected by trauma, adversity or major life transitions
No clinical qualification is required. Some previous knowledge of trauma or experience working with children and young people will be helpful.
Our Trainer – Holly Cutcher
Senior Child and Adolescent Counsellor, STARTTS
Holly is a Senior Child and Adolescent Counsellor who has been at STARTTS since 2022. Holly has worked therapeutically with children and families in the trauma field for many years. She trained as an Integrative Child Psychotherapist at the Institute for Arts in Psychotherapy and Education in London and has worked with children with complex presentations across mental health, social care, schools and private practice settings in Australia and the United Kingdom. Holly brings passion and reflectiveness to her training and clinical consultancy, supporting participants to digest often complex stories and ideas and apply them in practical and supportive ways in their own work with trauma survivors. Holly is registered with PACFA.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this workshop. It has reinforced my commitment and energy. I was particularly interested in the effects on the brain and interventions to assist.
FORMAT AND INCLUSIONS
- Online and in-person delivery
- Facilitated by an experienced trauma-informed practitioner
- Includes interactive activities, real-life scenarios, and skill practice
- Claim 6 CPD points
- Receive a certificate of completion
- Receive a PDF of the workshop slides
COST
Early Bird – $355 | $300 concession (5 tickets available, ends 2 months before event)
Standard – $395 | $330 concession
DON’T MISS OUT – LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE
Reserve you place today via secure online payment and empower yourself to provide safe, respectful and effective support to people from refugee backgrounds who need it most.
- 26 March 2027 | 9am-3pm AEDT | Online workshop | → Register Now!
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