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MASTER CORE CONCEPTS IN WORKING WITH REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS
Build the knowledge and practical skills to work safely and effectively with people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds.
Refugees and people seeking asylum may be living with the impacts of war, persecution, torture, forced displacement, loss and resettlement. These experiences can affect trust, communication, behaviour, relationships, wellbeing and engagement with services.
Drawing on STARTTS’ specialist experience in refugee trauma, this practical workshop gives professionals a trauma-informed and culturally responsive framework for understanding these experiences and responding effectively in their everyday work.
LEARN FROM AUSTRALIA’S SPECIALIST REFUGEE TRAUMA SERVICE
STARTTS has decades of specialist experience supporting people and communities affected by torture, war, persecution, forced displacement and refugee trauma. This workshop translates that clinical and community expertise into practical approaches you can apply in your own role.
WHY THIS WORKSHOP MATTERS
Working with refugee trauma requires more than general trauma-informed practice.
Trauma does not occur in isolation. For people from refugee backgrounds, experiences of war, persecution, torture and displacement can intersect with grief and loss, cultural transition, family separation, migration status, settlement pressures and unfamiliar service systems.
Understanding this broader context can help practitioners make sense of complex presentations, build trust, avoid retraumatisation and respond in ways that promote safety, dignity and recovery.
Understand the Refugee Experience and Trauma Impacts
Gain insight into the causes and consequences of persecution, torture, and displacement, and how these experiences impact the brain, body, behaviour, and relationships across the refugee journey.
Apply a Trauma-Informed and Culturally Safe Framework
Learn how to work in ways that recognise cultural identity, promote safety, respect, dignity, and empower refugee clients through trust-building and strengths-based practice.
Recognise Resettlement and Systemic Challenges
Understand the barriers faced by refugees and asylum seekers in Australia, including visa status, access to services, and systemic inequities that influence wellbeing and service engagement.
Respond to Complex Presentations
Identify common trauma symptoms and associated issues such as grief, loss, anxiety, depression, somatic complaints, and interpersonal difficulties in refugee clients.
Build Trust Through Safe and Respectful Engagement
Develop culturally appropriate communication and engagement strategies, including the sensitive use of interpreters and awareness of trauma triggers.
Maintain Clear Boundaries and Role Clarity
Learn to set respectful and professional boundaries that support both your effectiveness and the safety of the client, especially in high-need or high-risk situations.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This workshop is designed for professionals who work with refugees, people seeking asylum and culturally diverse communities, including:
- Settlement and refugee support workers
- caseworkers and case managers
- Social workers
- Counsellors
- Psychologists
- Health and allied health professionals
- Nurses
- Educators and student support staff
- Youth and family workers
- Community and multicultural workers
- Housing and homelessness workers
- Legal and advocacy workers
- Volunteers and students
Our Trainer – Haseeba Shamal
Senior Counsellor/Training Project Officer, STARTTS
Haseeba Shamal is a Senior Counsellor, Clinical Consultant, and Training Project Officer at STARTTS. She is an AASW-registered Mental Health Social Worker and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the University of New South Wales. Since 2013, she has worked extensively with people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds across areas including refugee resettlement, out-of-home care, child protection, community development, family therapy, counselling, and team leadership. Drawing on both her professional expertise and lived experience as a refugee, she brings deep empathy, insight, and connection to her work. Haseeba is committed to applying social justice frameworks, advocacy and practical skills to support healing, resilience, and collective well-being within diverse communities. Read more….
Fantastic presenters and content… pitched at a perfect level to accommodate all attendees
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
BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE IN WORKING WITH PEOPLE AFFECTED BY REFUGEE TRAUMA
Register for an upcoming Core Concepts workshop and gain practical approaches you can apply in your work immediately.
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.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Payment of the registration fee is online by credit card and a receipt/confirmation will be automatically emailed to you. An administration fee of $30 applies to all cancellations made more than 14 days the day before the start of the event. Registration once paid cannot be cancelled 14 days or less the day before the start of the event, regardless of personal circumstances. Registration can be transferred to another delegate only if STARTTS is informed of the name change. Registration cannot be transferred to another workshop. The concession price is for full-time students, seniors and the unemployed. A photocopy or pdf of a valid concession card must be forwarded to the STARTTS training team upon registration. Registrations will not be confirmed until full payment is received. The deadlines for the early bird and standard prices cannot be extended. Sometimes STARTTS will need to change the trainer of a particular workshop. The STARTTS Training Team can be contacted at stts-training@health.nsw.gov.au or (02) 9646 6700.
CONTACT US
Contact us
stts-training@health.nsw.gov.au
(02) 9646 6700 Ask for the Training Administration Officer