One day program on the impacts of primary trauma for all Domestic and Family Violence, Sexual Violence and Women's Health practitioners
Trauma and Recovery: The Journey for Service Users and Workers
The last 20 years has seen an explosion of research and understanding about the origins and impacts of both primary trauma and seconday trauma experiences.
This one day program will firstly explore the impacts of primary trauma experiences across cognitive, psychological, physiological, emotional and spiritual domains, in other words, the impact on mind, body and soul. Strategies and approaches to support people impacted by trauma will also be discussed from situations of brief interventions to longer term support arrangements.
Particular attention will be paid to the near universal experiences of trauma associated with domestic and family violence dynamics. The second part of the training will focus on the potential effects of secondary trauma on workers exposed to other people’s trauma as a part of their every day work experience. This will include an exploration of contributing factors, potential impacts, and strategies to stay resilient when doing this important work.
Financial support to assist with travel and accommodation costs may be available for specialist domestic and family violence, sexual assault and women’s health and wellbeing staff who are registered for programmed events. Contact us at workforce@healingfoundation.org.au
Morning tea and lunch will be provided.
Learning outcomes
About the facilitators
Penny Gordon
Penny Gordon has a 37 year career as a psychologist during which time she has worked extensively across clinical and organisational fields of psychology. Penny is a highly regarded trainer and facilitator and as well as regularly presenting professional development programs has also taught across a range of graduate and post graduate university courses. Penny has specialised in supporting adults who have experienced significant trauma as either an adult or a child. This area of work includes working with members of the community to resolve their experiences of primary trauma and also assisting a broad range of professionals across legal and justice services, mental health, oncology and palliative care, domestic and family violence, homelessness and housing, child protection, family intervention and support and other first responder groups who are vulnerable to secondary traumatic stress due to their continuous exposure to other people’s trauma. Additionally, Penny has championed these organisations to be trauma informed in the delivery and design of their services. For the past 22 years Penny has worked in her own consulting business supporting organisations, teams and individuals to work effectively as possible in their fields of endeavour.