Training

Student Information Sessions

Held twice a year, QPASTT’s student information sessions give students a snapshot of our work.

See our Training Calendar for upcoming dates.

Introduction to the Refugee and Settlement Experience – the impact of Trauma*

Online, Self-paced

This online, self-paced workshop gives you an understanding of the refugee experience, the impact of torture and trauma on individuals and the impact of the resettlement process on individuals and families.

This training explores key terms including trauma, torture, refugee, asylum seeker and migrant. Participants will acquire a deeper understanding of the psychosocial impacts of refugee related torture and trauma, including key presenting behaviours.

This workshop is relevant to anyone interested in having an understanding of the issues faced by people from refugee backgrounds.

Trauma-Informed Incidental Counselling with Survivors of Refugee Related Torture and Trauma

Online, Self-paced

This workshop has been developed for volunteers and workers who are not trained as counsellors. It provides some basic tips and strategies to deal with disclosures of refugee related torture and trauma, and how to manage difficult behaviours in this client group.

Participants will gain an understanding of the different reactions that clients may exhibit due to trauma and the resettlement experience.

This workshop is relevant for people working in a range of non-clinical settings such as casework, community development, bicultural support, youth work, advocacy and teaching.

Supporting Trauma Recovery in Children from Refugee Backgrounds

This one-day workshop explores concepts and theories that help understand the impact of trauma on children, including the impact of intergenerational trauma. It introduces key concepts of child development, attachment, and emotional self-regulation.

These will be discussed within a trauma recovery and attachment framework to aid children in the healing process. Participants will be able to identify behaviours in children which may indicate a trauma history, as well as understand how to foster a safe and supportive environment for the child and the family to aid recovery. This workshop will be experiential and full of practical approaches, with an opportunity to work through case studies, where skills learnt can be applied.

This workshop is relevant to people working with children from refugee backgrounds including case workers, counsellors, mental health professionals and EALD and other teachers. 

Working with Families from Refugee Backgrounds

This one-day workshop gives participants an understanding of the impact of trauma and resettlement on family roles and relationships. The frameworks that guide family counselling and support will be explored in particular trauma recovery models, family therapy and culturally appropriate practice.

The workshop explores the key skills and competencies of family work including establishing a therapeutic alliance; family psychosocial assessments; trauma recovery goals; safe points of intervention; reframing; and bringing new information into the family system. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about the QPASTT Parenting Groups.

This is an interactive workshop based on practice experience. There will be discussion of case examples, opportunities to find out how different organisations support families and share ideas about “best practice” in working with families from a refugee background.

Working Cross-Culturally in the Trauma and Settlement Context

This one-day workshop gives participants an understanding of the key theoretical frameworks necessary for cross cultural work.

Application of the frameworks will be considered within the refugee context, particularly how they can be applied to individuals who have experienced trauma and communities in the process of resettlement.

This is an interactive workshop that may include role plays, peer reflection, discussions and sharing work experiences. The workshop is relevant 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 teaching.

Please note: This is not a workshop describing specific cultures and their customs, beliefs, values and mores. Rather it is aimed at providing the tools with which you can understand and bridge cultural differences.

Understanding the Asylum Seeker Experience in the Current Context

This introductory workshop gives participants an understanding of the asylum seeker experience and the impact of detention and ongoing uncertainty on individuals. The workshop includes discussion around the impact of current application processes and strategies to support people seeking asylum during this period.

The training will provide tips and strategies to deal with disclosures of asylum seeker related torture and trauma, and how to support in the difficult and uncertain context for this client group. This workshop will also provide an understanding of the concepts of Vicarious Trauma (VT), Compassion Fatigue and Burnout. Participants will learn to identify the warning signs and how work in the area of trauma can cause these responses; and ways to prevent and address Vicarious Trauma and Burnout. This is an interactive workshop that may include case scenarios, peer reflection and discussions.

This workshop is suitable for volunteers and support workers who have not been professionally trained in counselling or advocates working full time in the asylum seeker space.

Working with Communities from a Refugee Background

Recovery is best achieved when trauma affected communities are able to exercise a high degree of self-determination. This training builds participants’ knowledge, skills and confidence in working with communities from refugee backgrounds.

Participants will explore core competencies of working with communities including Community Development and Capacity Building models, stages of community development and how this integrates with our trauma informed recovery framework.

The workshop will be experiential and include case study reviews and examples for discussion. Some pre-workshop reading may be required.

Vicarious Trauma, Burnout & Self-Care

This one-day workshop will provide an understanding of the concepts of Vicarious Trauma (VT), Compassion Fatigue and Burnout, as a result of supporting traumatised people from refugee backgrounds.

Participants will learn to identify risk factors and the warning signs in themselves and colleagues; why and how work in the area of trauma can cause these responses; and ways to prevent and address Vicarious Trauma and Burnout.

This workshop is interactive and will include individual and small group reflection.

Supporting Trauma Recovery in Young People

QPASTT offers a variety of workshops that address the needs of young people from a refugee background and how they can be supported to heal, belong and thrive.

Workshops explore the impact of trauma and intergenerational trauma on young people and how to support young people who are displaying complex behaviours

Workshops cover relevant techniques and frameworks including suicide prevention, modified DBT, mindfulness and relaxation specifically with young people from refugee backgrounds, as well as safety planning, risk management and harm minimisation approaches when working with young people.

These workshops are appropriate for anyone who is involved in supporting young people from refugee backgrounds, particularly clinicians, child safety workers, youth workers, Religious leaders and school staff – in particular support and EALD staff.