QuEST - Understanding the impact of trauma
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 124 No 5, 5 July 2019, page no. 21
QuEST has launched a range of programs designed to help educators understand the impact of trauma on the developing brain.
Two full-day programs were offered, called “Reconnecting to learning – understanding the traumatised child”. This course has been developed and refined following the special pilot offered on the Gold Coast earlier in the year.
The workshop focused on assisting teachers and school leaders to understand the fundamental changes that occur in the developing brain when a child of any age experiences trauma, neglect or violence.
Actual case studies are used to improve understanding of the impact of trauma and triggers for the broad range of negative behaviours affected students sometimes demonstrate in our classrooms.
The workshop discussed how a school can develop a range of strategies that can be applied in classrooms and across the school to support and re-engage these students.
The program was hugely successful, attracting overwhelmingly positive feedback.
- “The most informative PD that I have ever been to!”
- “Fantastic presenters with and enormous wealth of knowledge around trauma. A+++”
- “Every teacher needs to see this.”
- “The best PD I’ve been to!”
- “An excellent mix between theory and practice”.
As QuEST officer, I also went on the road to the central west and conducted a three-hour version of this important training in both Winton and Longreach. The modified format was adapted to make it easier for teachers in these remote areas to attend.
Did you know?
In addition to the suite of full-day and live online programs being offered around the state next semester, QuEST can also tailor programs to suit individual clusters and schools. The programs being delivered around the state through this model include:
- “Classroom management for early career teachers”
- “Teacher wellbeing for early career teachers”
- Full-day and part-day “Reconnecting to learning – understanding the traumatised child”
- “Individual support, coaching and modelling for schools and school leaders”.
Coming up
Our live online program of professional development continues right through until October, with a broad selection of sessions scheduled targeting all phases of teacher and school leader development.
Keep an eye on your emails for our semester two program of face-to-face training. We have secured the incredible Mundanara Bayles to deliver the very popular BlackCard cultural capability training to a range of locations around the state. We will also be delivering the full day “Reconnecting to learning” program in an expanded range of locations.
We are working closely with centres for learning and wellbeing in regional and remote areas to ensure we are able to provide quality face-to-face programs in these locations.
We will also be joining the Department of Education for more of the highly accomplished and lead teacher in-depth sessions – keep an eye out for the sessions the QTU will be co-presenting.
As always, any enquiries regarding QuEST programs, including bookings and queries, can be directed to quest@qtu.asn.au.
Visit www.qtu.asn.au/quest for course details.