A Trauma-Aware Port Phillip workforce
Being trauma aware can help the people we support, but it can also help us as workers.
Trauma can affect our work environment through personal traumas we carry with us or the emotional demands of working with people in distressing situations.
Listening to or reading distressing life stories can lead to secondary trauma, vicarious trauma, burnout, or compassion fatigue. This can change how we think, feel, work, and relate to others.
If our work environment feels unsupportive, unsafe, or unpredictable to us our bodies will absorb more of the stress.
When we feel emotionally and physically safe, we’re more likely to be engaged, effective and supportive.
Becoming trauma aware as workers means we begin to recognise our part in creating safe and supportive workplaces for ourselves, our coworkers and the people we support. But we also recognise the part our organisations play.
Impacts of trauma on a workforce
Knowing workplace stressors and signs of trauma can help us change our workplaces to better support us as workers.
What puts us at risk: | Signs of trauma in a workplace: |
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Self-care strategies
Being trauma-aware starts with ourselves. With knowing how we are feeling, how to maintain our mental health and how to regulate (calm) ourselves when we are overwhelmed. When engaging in a trauma-informed approach this is even more important. If we are triggered or dysregulated (not calm), people around us are more likely to also feel triggered or dysregulated (not calm).
Providing trauma-aware services
To provide trauma-aware services, we need to know what trauma is, how common it is, and signs of triggering and re-traumatisation.
When we understand how common trauma is, we know to engage with everyone in a trauma-aware way that centres TAPP values.
Trauma-informed services:
- Engage in safe, respectful, and empowering ways.
Offer private consultation spaces, actively listen, give options, check-in, offer breaks, notice signs of distress. - Make sure communication is respectful, clear and understood.
Use plain language, gently check everyone understands, and allow time for questions. - Focus on strengths and resilience.
See individuals as more than just victims. - Be mindful of triggers.
Be mindful of questions that might expose personal or stigmatised information, of interpersonal dynamics, of asking for consent before touching, of changes to appointments.
Engaging people with lived and living experience
Services that collaborate with people with lived or living experience of trauma are more responsive and inclusive. Being such personal work, it is important that environments of safety and support are created.
On top of the above considerations, be mindful that:
- Everyone feels heard and respected, not dismissed.
- Strengths and expertise of diverse lived experiences are recognised.
- The work of people with lived and living experience is as valued as other members.
Toward a trauma-informed workforce
A trauma-informed approach shifts from understanding trauma to taking steps to reduce harm and promote healing. A trauma-informed approach means being intentional in how we support, communicate, and respond to service users, coworkers and ourselves.
