Strengthening trauma responsive support in Northern NSW

Summary

Better Chances Forum projects strengthening trauma informed care and practice

Strengthening trauma responsive support 

In 2019 Social Futures Early Intervention Connect (EIC) program began exploring opportunities to enhance and strengthen trauma responsive support in Northern NSW.    

Despite commitment to trauma-informed service delivery across the sector and opportunities for trauma-informed practice training, professionals who work in the sector continue to tell us that they often struggle to deliver genuinely trauma-informed care and support in their day-to-day work.  

So, we asked 90 workers and managers from 33 organisations, who were members of the Better Chances Forum (BCF), what they need to be more responsive to trauma.    

Evidence told us that organisations that implement a trauma informed system see lower staff turn-over, better outcomes for clients and a stronger bottom line.   

So, what’s holding organisation back? If you could do one thing to strengthen trauma responsive support, what would it be?    

Findings were presented to executives, boards and decision makers in the human services sector.  

Download the Brief – Strengthening trauma responsive support – May 2021 here 

Cultural Trauma Informed Care and Practice Training – 2021, 2022, 2023    

In response to what workers and managers told us they needed to be more trauma responsive Social Futures Early Intervention Connect (EIC) program began delivering workshops on Cultural Trauma Informed Care and Practice throughout the Northern Rivers. 

2021

In 2021 fifty-five workers and managers participated in three one-day workshops delivered by Dr Derek Chong. The workshop content included:   

• intergenerational and transgenerational trauma   
• neurobiology of trauma  
• principles of trauma informed care: safety, trust, choice, collaboration, empowerment, respect for diversity  
• types of trauma  
• cultural engagement as a healing tool  

2022

In 2022 thirty-nine workers and managers participated in three one-day workshops delivered by Dr Derek Chong. The workshop content included:  

• understand trauma and the phases of trauma   
• understand trauma informed care principles   
• understand impacts of disaster-related trauma for communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people   
• practical strategies for working alongside community through recovery  

2023

In 2023 sixty-six workers and managers from eighteen EIC client organisations participated in four one-day workshops delivered by Professor Derek Chong. The workshop content included. 

• Trauma informed care principles; and recognising and responding to phases of trauma.  
• Trauma and the nervous system; impacts of invasion and colonisation – transgenerational trauma and healing; and practice recognising and responding to phases of trauma.  
• The science behind Indigenous cultural resilience; epigenetics and transgenerational trauma; and practice mindfulness.  
• Confirming our learning – strategies for your own practice in trauma informed care.    

Assessing participants’ learning  

Participants completed a pre workshop questionnaire designed to establish their baseline knowledge of trauma informed care and practice, and a post workshop survey at the end of the day.   

Questions included: How well do you understand the following and how it can apply in your work?  

• trauma and the phases of trauma   
• trauma informed care principles   
• transgenerational trauma for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities   
• practical strategies to support my work alongside community through the recovery. 

Combined 2023 workshop results found self-rated understanding of Trauma Informed Care improved by 75 per cent (from an average of 4.8/10 at the start of the session to 8.4/10 at the end). Thirty-seven participants (58 per cent) improved by 3 points out of 10 or more.  

Evaluation  

Workshop attendees noted an increased knowledge of trauma and how to apply trauma responsive care after attending the sessions. Most respondents agreed the session supported them to strengthen connections and they had new learning that will enhance their practice.  Some attendees have continued to be involved in further Early Intervention Connect activities.  

Download the Report – Trauma informed care and practice training with Dr Derek Chong June 2022 here 

Download the Report – Trauma informed care and practice training with Dr Derek Chong June 2023 here 

Next steps

Social Futures Early Intervention Connect (EIC) program continues to provide opportunities for the early intervention sector to connect, reflect and share their stories. For more information see our website.