Trauma-Informed Care in Early Childhood and Primary Education

Description

Presented by Sally McPherson from Trauma Education and Behaviour Consultancy, this professional learning webinar empowers educators to understand and respond effectively to the impacts of trauma in early childhood and primary education settings. Sally is an experienced educator and consultant specialising in trauma-informed practice, behaviour support, and child development. Drawing on current Australian research, including findings from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study, this session explores how trauma affects children’s brains, emotions, and behaviour—and provides educators with the tools to create safe, supportive, and responsive learning environments.

What you will learn from this session:

By attendingTrauma-Informed Care in Early Childhood and Primary Education, you will:

• Understand what complex childhood trauma is, including Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their prevalence in Australia.
• Explore findings from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study and what they mean for educators in early and middle childhood contexts.
• Learn about the effects of trauma on brain development, executive functioning, emotional regulation, and learning.
• Identify and respond to flight, fight, freeze, and fawn responses, recognising how these may present as challenging behaviours.
• Recognise the difference between trauma-informed and trauma-responsive practice, and how to embed both within daily routines, curriculum, and relationships.
• Develop practical strategies for co-regulation and environmental support, designing predictable, nurturing, and emotionally safe spaces for children (NQS QA2, QA5).
• Strengthen your capacity for behaviour guidance, using approaches that reflect an understanding of trauma-based behaviour and focus on connection, regulation, and repair.
• Know your role in child protection, including when and how to act on concerns in alignment with mandatory reporting requirements (NQS QA2, QA7).
• Enhance educator wellbeing and resilience, exploring reflective practice and self-care strategies when supporting children with trauma histories.

Why attend?

This webinar equips educators with evidence-based knowledge and practical strategies to support children impacted by trauma while maintaining their own wellbeing. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of trauma-informed education, a renewed confidence in responding to complex behaviours, and clear guidance for embedding trauma-responsive practices aligned with the National Quality Framework and Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.

This professional development experience promotes high-quality practice and supports educators to meet the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Standards 1.1, 1.2, 4.1, 4.3, 7.1) and the National Quality Standard (QA1, QA2, QA5, QA7).