PHN Workshop: Understanding and Responding to Trauma Presentations in Children and Young People from Refugee Backgrounds

This professional development opportunity is broken into 2 sections and is covered in 2 videos. The first video, “How Trauma Affects Children and Young People”, looks at key concepts such as:  the impact of trauma on attachment and development; how trauma affects children of different age groups; and the impacts of trans-generational and inter-generational trauma which explains why children who were born to parents with refugee backgrounds may still display symptoms of trauma, even if they were born in Australia. These concepts will be discussed within a trauma recovery and attachment framework. This video will take about 1.5 hrs to watch.

The second video, “How Teachers and Workers can Respond to Presentations of Trauma in Children and Young People”, will explore trauma related behaviours and how these can be managed by teachers and other professionals to assist children and young people in the recovery from trauma, as well as the importance of systemic thinking. These will be discussed within a trauma recovery and attachment framework to aid children and young people in the healing process. Participants will be able to identify behaviours in children and young people which may indicate a trauma history, as well as understand how to confidently foster a safe and supportive environment for the child or young person and the family. This video will also take 1.5 hrs to watch.

Both of these videos are relevant to people working with children and young people from refugee backgrounds or for those interested in working with them in different settings including case workers, counsellors, mental health professionals and EALD and other teachers.

Workshop facilitators:

Video 1:

Natalie Yousef – Counsellor / Advocate, Children & Youth Team

Natalie Youssef holds a Bachelor of Psychology, Masters in Counselling, Certificate in Initiatic Art Therapy and is registered through the Australia Counselling Association.  Natalie’s work has spanned across school counselling, community mental health programs, child protective services as well as research, with a strong focus on children and young people. Natalie’s experience ranges from one on one counselling, group therapy, running youth leadership programs, training and development, evaluating programs as well as focusing on safety/protection of children and young people. Natalie joined the QPASTT Team in 2019 as a Child & Adolescent Counsellor in the Child and Youth Counselling Team and works closely with schools and various organisations to provide the most comprehensive care to children/young people.

Taryn McBurney — Child & Adolescent Counsellor / Training Coordinator

Taryn McBurney holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Social Work and is a Registered Play Therapist through the Australian Play Therapists Association. Her work in the field has predominantly been with children and young people in the disability and child protection sectors. She joined the QPASTT team as a Child & Adolescent Counsellor in the Asylum Seeker Support Team in 2015 and now has a dual role working part time as a counsellor on the Children and Youth Team and part time as a Training Coordinator for the organisation.

Video 2: 

Sarah Kristensen – 

Katie Brooker –