Supporting vulnerable children and families in their service has always been a focus and priority for the team at Goodstart Narre-Warren Pound Road South, but it wasn’t until recently that they realised that more specialised expertise was needed.
Centre Director Kylie Bartlett said recent conversations with a family in the service highlighted some of the additional challenges many were facing.
“We realised this particular family was struggling with day to day life with three young children placed in their care who have experienced previous trauma’, Ms Bartlett said.
“We identified that despite our best intentions we needed to build our knowledge and expertise in supporting families and children affected by trauma.”
The centre already had a collaborative partnership in place with the Wesley Mission, and through this were able to access a number of training days run by the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare (CFECFW).
“The sessions were based around strategies to support learning for young people who have experienced trauma.
“What was great is that we were able to invite the parents and carers to the session as well.”
Ms Bartlett said through the training both the family and educators now have a broader understanding about the impacts of trauma on a child’s brain development.
“The sessions were so useful in providing us with some expertise to be able support children and families who have gone through trauma.
"We feel more comfortable in being able to identify triggers, and support them to better understand and process their emotions by providing everyone with some key coping mechanisms."
The team came back inspired and feeling more positive and capable about the role they could play.
“At one time or another many children are faced with some type trauma - knowing we have the tools now to successfully support them during these tough times makes our job that little bit more special.”
Centre Director Kylie Bartlett said recent conversations with a family in the service highlighted some of the additional challenges many were facing.
“We realised this particular family was struggling with day to day life with three young children placed in their care who have experienced previous trauma’, Ms Bartlett said.
“We identified that despite our best intentions we needed to build our knowledge and expertise in supporting families and children affected by trauma.”
The centre already had a collaborative partnership in place with the Wesley Mission, and through this were able to access a number of training days run by the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare (CFECFW).
“The sessions were based around strategies to support learning for young people who have experienced trauma.
“What was great is that we were able to invite the parents and carers to the session as well.”
Ms Bartlett said through the training both the family and educators now have a broader understanding about the impacts of trauma on a child’s brain development.
“The sessions were so useful in providing us with some expertise to be able support children and families who have gone through trauma.
"We feel more comfortable in being able to identify triggers, and support them to better understand and process their emotions by providing everyone with some key coping mechanisms."
The team came back inspired and feeling more positive and capable about the role they could play.
“At one time or another many children are faced with some type trauma - knowing we have the tools now to successfully support them during these tough times makes our job that little bit more special.”