On Friday 9th September, the Research Centre for Child and Family Studies hosted a very successful and engaging Trauma-Aware Education Research Forum at QUT, which was attended by approximately 130 researchers, education system leaders, and government and non-government organisations from across the country. Led by A/Prof Judith Howard, A/Prof Kate Williams, Dr Lyra L’Estrange and Dr Meegan Brown, the Forum showcased important research and HDR studies being led by QUT and beyond and invited discussion regarding “where to from here” for research examining Trauma-Aware Education in Australia.
On the weekend that followed (Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th), the 3rd Biennial Trauma-Aware Schooling Conference was again led by the team at QUT. QUT Elder in Residence (Uncle Cheg) first welcomed over 660 delegates from Australia and New Zealand. Delegates then engaged in keynote addresses from inspiring experts and global leaders in trauma-aware education. Guest speakers travelled from the United States (A/Prof Dr Lori Desautels from Butler University in Indianapolis and Matthew Portell, Director of PACES Connection in Nashville) to join local experts Professor Helen Milroy (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Australia’s first Indigenous doctor, and W. A. Australian of the year) to discuss trauma and recovery in children and young people, particularly First Nations learners. Other local experts Dr Tom Brunzell (Berry Street Education) and Dr Emily Berger (Monash University) shared important learnings for practice and findings from research. Delegates also heard from two inspirational survivors of childhood trauma who explain how teachers made a difference in their lives: Beck Thomson (teacher) and Kelly Humphries (Police Officer).
Delegates chose from 62 breakout sessions sharing research and practice from across Australia, and three roundtable discussions with national education system leaders, leaders in remote and First Nations education, and leaders in Higher Education. They also enjoyed a cocktail reception where they networked and were entertained by talented student musicians from the Samford Valley Steiner School, they engaged in a trauma-informed yoga session and breakfast, and they participated in a fun and engaging prize draw across the two days where many professional development packages and beautiful stuffed “therapy” animals were given away. A V.I.P. dinner was held on Saturday Evening, where the conference committee, keynote speakers and invited leaders enjoyed each other’s company and strengthened professional bonds.
On Monday (13th), the Metropolitan Region of the Department of Education in QLD engaged in a “Trauma-Aware Education Master Class” – a day where school leaders heard from Dr Desautels and Mathew Portell from the U.S. and A/Prof Judith Howard (QUT SECIE), prior to launching their new Trauma-Aware Education framework developed in collaboration between the Region and QUT.
An exciting, busy, and productive four days that will inform the growth and support of Trauma-Aware Education across the country, whilst developing and strengthening national and international ties.
The School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education (SECIE) has offered (Trauma-Aware Education) option units to B.Ed and M.Teach initial teacher education students since 2017 – and are pleased to announce that from 2023/4 – core (mandatory) units will be included within these courses. An exciting development to prepare all our future graduates who will be teaching in schools and early childhood education!
If you are interested in this line of study you might like to enrol in our online learning module Teaching Students who have Suffered Complex Trauma or our micro credential Trauma-Aware Education, or consider enrolling in our Graduate Certificate or our Master of Education Study Area .
