A new pilot guide launched by the Alannah & Madeline Foundation will help early childhood education organisations to better support children who have suffered from trauma.
The Trauma Informed Practice: A Guide for Early Childhood Organisations (TIO Practice Guide) was developed in collaboration with Monash University’s Health and Social Care Unit, to educate ECEC staff about the impacts of trauma on children and assist them to embed trauma-informed approaches into their operations.
Trauma public health concern
Childhood trauma is a prevailing concern, with the Australian Child Maltreatment Study 2023 reporting that more than 62 per cent of children and young people are affected by trauma.
The Director of Trauma Informed Programs at the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, Lee Cameron, said the TIO Practice Guide would be an invaluable resource for ECEC staff and children.
“Through our work directly supporting frontline ECEC professionals, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation’s Trauma Consultancy (TraCS) team recognised the need for trauma-informed approaches to be embedded within organisations,” Cameron said.
“There is a clear need for a holistic approach, because we cannot rely on solely adopting an individual, child-orientated practice.
Trauma during childhood can have profound and lasting adverse effects on a child’s cognitive, social and emotional development. It is widely accepted that high-quality early years education plays a crucial role in identifying issues early on and acquiring appropriate assessment and support for trauma-affected children and families.
Despite this, ECEC staff face challenges, including limited training in understanding and responding to trauma and vicarious trauma arising from exposure to children’s traumatic experiences.
Such challenges are exacerbated by problems including workforce shortages, high staff turnover and burnout in the sector.
By promoting trauma-informed practices within ECEC, the resource provides a pathway to better outcomes for children, families and staff.
Improving outcomes for staff and children
There are many benefits of implementing trauma-informed practices in ECEC settings.
Staff will be equipped to better understand and interpret challenging behaviours, foster resilience, promote emotional regulation, empower children and create a safer environment.
Cameron said the TIO Practice Guide offers a comprehensive solution by addressing both individual staff training and structural organisational issues.
“For ECEC professionals to be able to effectively practise in a trauma-informed way, simultaneous organisational-level action and support is required,” she said.
The TIO Practice Guide is the latest in a suite of resources developed by the Foundation’s TraCS team, which was established to support ECEC staff working with children aged three to five years who have been affected by trauma. It aims to:
- increase understanding of trauma and its impact on staff, children, and families in ECEC
- ensure well-supported staff delivering ECEC programs
- foster supportive ECEC environments for staff as well as children and families
- acknowledge and respond to vicarious trauma experienced by educators and staff.
The TIO Practice Guide contains comprehensive advice using authentic case studies to explore how trauma-informed practices can help children thrive. It was rigorously tested by 17 staff members from five ECEC organisations across Victoria before its launch.
The Alannah & Madeline Foundation said positive feedback from participants in the testing phase highlighted the TIO Practice Guide’s usefulness, with many reporting beneficial changes resulting from its implementation.
Although the TIO Practice Guide was developed specifically for use in Victorian settings, ECEC staff in other states can freely access the guide and adapt the contents to suit their needs.
To access the TIO Practice Guide or learn more about the Alannah & Madeline Foundation’s Trauma Consultancy Service, visit https://bit.ly/3QNHYBL