It’s been a tough few years, and disadvantage, vulnerability and family stress are rising in Australia. Increasingly, teachers are being called on to do more: they’re not only responsible for learning, but also student wellbeing.
With so much strain in the community, more children and young people are experiencing trauma, which through their behaviour, can have a ripple effect on other students in the classroom and their teachers.
Often trauma can look like a naughty or disruptive child, or a young person who is not achieving academically. But at the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, we hope to change this perspective, by helping schools shape more understanding, trauma-informed spaces for children to recover and heal.
We’re excited that with the expansion of our successful early years Trauma Consultancy program into primary and high schools, teachers will now also be able to learn skills to support their students who are experiencing trauma. Known as ATLAS (A Trauma Lens Across Schools), the mental health program has the potential to give primary and high school students in Victoria the best chance to learn, whatever their circumstances.
What causes trauma?
ATLAS Program Manager, Adrian Larkin says it’s important to understand that trauma isn’t always a single event but that it can overwhelm a child’s ability to cope and manage day-to-day activities.
Causes can be varied – and in some schools the collective burden is huge.
In one school there may be many parents and caregivers in crisis themselves, which makes it harder for them to give their children the care and support they need to feel safe and flourish.
Many people have experienced loss in their lives. Over the past few years there have been many community traumas including bushfires and floods.
More recently, in some low socio-economic areas, there are families who were already struggling financially and then further affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, putting intense strain on parents and caregivers, which children feel too.
In all these circumstances, a teacher’s role as a safe and caring adult in that child’s life can be transformative, especially if they can take a trauma-informed approach
Every student deserves to be happy, safe and strong
“Trauma can have a significant impact on a child's emotional and physical well-being, as well as their ability to learn and succeed in school,” Adrian says.
“Teachers work hard to build relationships with students and their families and trauma informed practice can increase learning, belonging and positive connections."
“That’s why ATLAS is so important: it demystifies trauma and gives teachers vital skills to help children and young people in their classroom who are experiencing significant distress."
“Educators can help their students to better understand their emotions, feel safe and secure at school, and ultimately experience stronger wellbeing and academic achievement.”
How does ATLAS work?
When a school signs up for ATLAS, a Foundation consultant will help them identify the unique needs of their school and plan the right supports for their students.
Through regular onsite sessions, ATLAS consultants help schools bring into focus the social and emotional needs of their children and young people and build on the existing skills of teachers and other school staff. It’s a long-term process, ensuring teachers can get the most out of this professional learning, both for their students and themselves.
Strong record of success
The program’s progenitor TraCS (Trauma Consultancy Service), has been running successfully in kinders across Victoria since 2019. In the past year alone, 1,484 early years educators received regular coaching and reflective practice from a TraCS child and family consultant, working alongside them in the classroom and in one-on-one sessions.
Collectively, most of the 9,780 children in their care won’t be at risk. But these educators can now hold up a “trauma lens” to understand what might cause one child to be angry and unpredictable and hurt other children, and another child to withdraw and struggle to build relationships with their peers and educators.
Every child wins
Because of the secure and positive trauma-informed relationships teachers can build with their students after completing ATLAS, they can play a pivotal role in supporting children on their journey to recover from trauma.
“Students spend a lot of their time at school and for those who are at serious risk, their teacher may be the only person in their life who understands their behaviour, has identified their trauma and can help them feel less anxious, so they can learn,” says Adrian.
And, ultimately, every child and teacher in a school can benefit.
“Trauma can impact not only those going through adverse events, but also those children and teachers around them in the classroom who can experience it vicariously,” says Adrian.
“When a child feels more connected to their teacher who can help them recognise their emotions and reactions, all students in that class will feel safer to learn and reach their potential.”
Signing up for ATLAS
ATLAS is available for schools to select and purchase from the Victorian Government’s Schools Mental Health Menu of evidence-based intervention programs.
For more information on ATLAS, visit Trauma Consultancy Program for Schools.
