COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Trauma-Informed Care for Survivors of Domestic & Family Violence course. This program has been designed to equip you with the knowledge, frameworks, and applied skills required to deliver safe, respectful, and empowering care to survivors of abuse. It explores the intersection of trauma, violence, and support, ensuring that professionals are able to provide services that prioritise survivor safety, dignity, and long-term recovery.
Trauma-informed care is more than a service delivery model—it is a mindset and practice that acknowledges the profound and lasting effects of trauma on individuals and families. This course begins by introducing the key principles of trauma-informed care, explaining how they apply specifically in the context of domestic and family violence. Emphasis is placed on creating safety, building trust, and fostering empowerment, while outlining the goals of trauma-informed practice as a pathway to recovery and resilience.
Understanding domestic and family violence in the Australian context is critical to supporting survivors effectively. This section defines the forms of abuse that constitute domestic and family violence, including physical, emotional, financial, and coercive control. It explores prevalence rates, the deep impacts on survivors and children, and the complex dynamics of power and control. The role of gender, cultural background, and community context are examined to ensure practitioners are equipped with culturally responsive approaches.
The nature of trauma is central to how domestic and family violence affects survivors. This section explains the distinctions between acute, chronic, and complex trauma, and outlines the psychological, physical, and emotional consequences. It explores the common trauma responses of fight, flight, freeze, and fawn, while linking trauma to broader mental health and wellbeing outcomes. Practitioners are encouraged to recognise these patterns and adjust their care approaches accordingly.
Trauma has profound neurobiological effects on the brain and body. This section examines how trauma alters memory, perception, and stress regulation, and how triggers can lead to re-traumatisation. It explains the science behind dysregulation and its impact on behaviour and communication. Practical implications are discussed, ensuring practitioners can provide support that minimises harm and avoids reinforcing traumatic experiences.
Recognising the signs of trauma in survivors is essential to providing effective support. This section highlights the behavioural, emotional, and relational indicators of trauma, as well as the impacts on daily functioning. It considers co-occurring issues such as substance misuse, chronic illness, and mental health conditions, while addressing hidden trauma that may exist in culturally diverse and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Trauma-informed practice is underpinned by core principles that must guide all interactions with survivors. This section examines the values of safety, trustworthiness, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural responsiveness. It explores how these principles can be translated into everyday practice, ensuring survivors experience respectful, inclusive, and strengths-based support.
Creating safe environments for survivors is fundamental to trauma-informed care. This section explains how to establish both physical and emotional safety, protect confidentiality, and maintain professional boundaries. It also outlines practical steps for reducing the risk of re-traumatisation within service settings, ensuring survivors feel supported and respected.
Communication is central to trauma-informed practice. This section introduces trauma-informed communication strategies, including active listening, validation, and the use of non-judgemental language. It explains how to manage disclosures safely while balancing empathy with professional boundaries, ensuring survivors are heard and validated without compromising safety or care standards.
Empowerment is at the heart of recovery. This section explores strategies to support survivors in regaining autonomy, building confidence, and making informed choices. It also considers how access to education, employment, and community connections can support survivors in building independence and resilience. The importance of recognising and reinforcing survivor strengths is highlighted as a vital aspect of healing.
Children and young people are often secondary victims of domestic and family violence. This section examines the effects of trauma on child development, including attachment and learning. It introduces trauma-informed approaches in schools, child services, and family supports, while highlighting strategies to build resilience and establish safe, nurturing relationships.
Cultural safety is critical in delivering trauma-informed care across diverse populations. This section explores Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives on family, kinship, and Country, alongside approaches to supporting culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and refugee survivors. It stresses the need to adapt care to cultural values and lived experiences in order to provide meaningful, inclusive support.
Diverse groups of survivors often face overlapping challenges. This section explores trauma-informed approaches for LGBTQIA+ survivors, people with disability, older Australians, and those experiencing multiple forms of marginalisation. It explains how intersectionality affects vulnerability and informs tailored, sensitive care practices.
Supporting health and wellbeing is an essential aspect of recovery. This section examines the physical and mental health impacts of trauma, the importance of psychosocial supports, and the role of holistic and complementary therapies. It highlights how linking survivors to accessible community health resources can strengthen recovery pathways.
Collaboration across services ensures survivors receive comprehensive care. This section explains how to work effectively with counsellors, psychologists, legal services, housing providers, police, and child protection agencies. It reinforces the importance of integrated service delivery and cross-sector partnerships in meeting survivors’ complex needs.
Risk assessment and safety planning are vital in protecting survivors and families. This section explores trauma-informed approaches to assessing risks, developing personalised safety plans, and managing crises. It highlights the need for ongoing monitoring and adaptation as circumstances change, ensuring survivor safety remains central to practice.
Workers supporting survivors of violence may be at risk of vicarious trauma. This section examines the signs of secondary traumatic stress, strategies for self-care, and the importance of regular supervision and debriefing. It also addresses the need to build organisational cultures that value staff wellbeing and resilience.
Evaluating trauma-informed practice allows services to continually improve. This section outlines methods for measuring survivor outcomes, collecting feedback, identifying service gaps, and embedding continuous learning into practice. It highlights how survivor voices can inform better service delivery and ensure practices remain relevant and responsive.
By the end of this course, you will have the knowledge, tools, and frameworks necessary to provide trauma-informed care to survivors of domestic and family violence. You will be equipped to foster safety, empowerment, and resilience, while working collaboratively across services to support recovery and long-term wellbeing.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care
- Definition and principles of trauma-informed care
- Relevance to domestic and family violence contexts
- Importance of safety, trust, and empowerment
- Goals of trauma-informed practice
2. Understanding Domestic and Family Violence
- Defining domestic and family violence in the Australian context
- Prevalence and impacts on survivors and families
- Power and control dynamics in abusive relationships
- Intersection of DV with gender, culture, and community
3. The Nature of Trauma
- Acute, chronic, and complex trauma explained
- Psychological, physical, and emotional impacts
- Trauma responses: fight, flight, freeze, fawn
- Links between trauma, mental health, and wellbeing
4. Neurobiology of Trauma
- How trauma affects the brain and body
- Memory, triggers, and re-traumatisation
- Stress responses and dysregulation
- Implications for care and communication
5. Recognising Trauma in Survivors
- Behavioural and emotional indicators of trauma
- Impacts on relationships and daily functioning
- Co-occurring issues: substance misuse, mental health, chronic illness
- Hidden trauma in culturally diverse and Indigenous communities
6. Principles of Trauma-Informed Practice
- Safety and trustworthiness
- Choice and collaboration
- Empowerment and strengths-based support
- Cultural responsiveness and inclusivity
7. Creating Safe Environments for Survivors
- Establishing physical and emotional safety
- Confidentiality and privacy protections
- Respectful boundaries and professional conduct
- Minimising re-traumatisation in services
8. Trauma-Informed Communication Skills
- Active listening and validation
- Non-judgemental language and tone
- Managing disclosures safely
- Balancing empathy with professional boundaries
9. Supporting Survivor Empowerment
- Promoting choice and decision-making
- Building self-confidence and autonomy
- Supporting access to education, work, and independence
- Recognising and reinforcing resilience
10. Working with Children and Young People
- Effects of trauma on child development
- Trauma-informed approaches in schools and child services
- Supporting children as secondary victims of DV
- Building resilience and safe attachment relationships
11. Culturally Safe Trauma-Informed Care
- Understanding cultural perspectives on trauma and healing
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander concepts of family, kinship, and Country
- Supporting CALD and refugee survivors
- Adapting care to cultural values and needs
12. Supporting Diverse Survivors
- LGBTQIA+ survivors of DV and trauma
- Survivors with disability and accessibility needs
- Older survivors experiencing family violence
- Intersectionality: overlapping identities and vulnerabilities
13. Health and Wellbeing in Recovery
- Addressing physical health impacts of trauma
- Mental health care and psychosocial support
- Role of holistic and complementary therapies
- Linking survivors to community health resources
14. Collaboration with Other Professionals
- Working with counsellors, psychologists, and social workers
- Partnerships with legal and housing services
- Role of police and child protection agencies
- Importance of integrated service delivery
15. Risk Assessment and Safety Planning
- Conducting trauma-informed risk assessments
- Safety planning for survivors and families
- Crisis response and emergency interventions
- Monitoring and adapting plans over time
16. Vicarious Trauma and Worker Wellbeing
- Recognising signs of secondary traumatic stress
- Strategies for self-care and resilience
- Importance of supervision and debriefing
- Building organisational cultures of staff wellbeing
17. Evaluating Trauma-Informed Practice
- Measuring outcomes for survivors and families
- Survivor feedback and participation in evaluation
- Identifying gaps and areas for improvement
- Embedding continuous learning into practice
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.