Cairns Workshop: Working Cross Culturally in the Trauma & Settlement Context

This one 3 hour interactive workshop has been developed to give participants a greater understanding of the impact of trauma and resettlement on identity. This workshop will include self reflection, peer reflection, discussions and sharing work experiences.

The frameworks that informs culturally competent practice will be explored throughout the workshop.

Cultural competence requires workers to have a heightened awareness and understanding of the many aspects of their own identities, including but not limited to gender, ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, indigenous heritage, immigration/ colonization experiences, disability, and spirituality, and to understand how those aspect/ sectors of their own identity combine to impact on their work.

We will be discussing the key skills and competencies required, including cultural formulation skills. Application of the understanding and insights will be considered within the refugee context, particularly how they can be applied to supporting and working with individuals who have experienced trauma and communities in the process of resettlement.

The workshop will be useful for people working in a range of clinical and non-clinical settings such as counselling, case work, community development, bicultural support, youth work, advocacy and education.

Workshop facilitator:

Natalie Youssef – Counsellor – QPASTT Cairns

Natalie Youssef works as a Counsellor at QPASTT. Natalie holds a Masters in Counselling, Bachelor of Psychology and Certificate in Initiatic Art Therapy. Natalie’s work has spanned across counselling, community mental health programs, child protective services as well as research, with a strong focus on children and young people. She is now working in the Cairns region.

Taryn McBurney—Child and Youth Counsellor/Training Coordinator

Taryn received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Queensland in the year 2000 and a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the Australian Catholic University in 2008. Her work in the field was initially with children and young people in the disability and child protection sectors. In 2013 Taryn studied at the Rocky Mountains Play Therapy Institute in Calgary, Alberta and is a registered Play Therapist through the Australian Play Therapists Association. She joined the QPASTT team as a Child & Adolescent Counsellor in the Asylum Seeker Support Team in 2015 and now has a duel role, working part-time as the Child & Adolescent Counsellor and part-time as the QPASTT Training Coordinator.