Thursday, 24 February 2022
Members statements
Trauma-informed teacher training
Trauma-informed teacher training
Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (10:18): Last year during the debate of legislation to establish the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership I spoke about the importance of trauma-informed training within the teaching profession. This is something I think should be foundational training for all teachers. Dr Anne Southall is a university lecturer with La Trobe and a child trauma expert who has spearheaded the development of a special six-week program to provide teachers with tools to better support the mental health of students. The first time I met Dr Southall I felt she was something of a kindred spirit, and we had a fantastic discussion about the importance of a trauma-informed lens on education.
Dr Southall’s trauma-informed education program is homegrown in Bendigo and combines both theory and best practice to give teachers a helping hand in supporting students, including understanding how trauma impacts brain development and establishing a sense of safety and the practical interventions and responses that work. This is unashamedly an advertisement, because the first course launches next month—a fantastic opportunity for all teachers and something that I hope will be ongoing. By providing trauma-informed responses we can better support young people from the very early years. I wish La Trobe and Dr Southall the very best.