Providing services to survivors of domestic violence often involves advocating for legal, financial and physical safety. A trauma informed approach requires that workers also attend to advocating for and supporting emotional and psychological safety. In addition, this requires that individual workers and organisations strive for building the resources and capabilities of domestic violence survivors so that they may navigate their own safety and the systems that will support them to access safety.

In this one day workshop the focus will be on implementing a Trauma Informed approach when working with adults who have experienced domestic violence. This interactive workshop will aim to implement the key themes of trauma informed service delivery including working in ways that avoid retraumatisation and implementing strategies that are based on inclusiveness, empowerment and destigmatisation.

Participants will be given the opportunity to;

• Reflect on current service provision and apply new practices within a trauma informed framework
• Explore the link between traumatic stress and current survivor feelings and reactions.
• Examine tools to assist clients to manage traumatic stress.
• Discuss approaches to supporting domestic violence survivors to talk about the impact of traumatic stress in a trauma informed manner.
• Explore survivor reactions to experiencing domestic violence and consider appropriate interventions within the boundary of the worker’s role.

Who should attend?

Case workers, support workers, advocacy services and anyone else who assists adults who have experienced or are currently experiencing domestic violence.