Accidental Counsellors: Responding to Refugee Trauma Related Distress and Crises, 25 July 2025

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

🧠 Recognise Refugee Trauma Responses

Understand the emotional, behavioural, and cognitive responses common in people impacted by torture, trauma and resettlement stressors, including black-and-white thinking, dissociation, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm.

🗣️ Effective and Empathic Communication

Develop the foundational skills of active listening, empathic responses, and safe verbal and non-verbal communication — crucial for building trust and creating safety.

❓ Ask Safe and Appropriate Questions

Learn how to ask present-focused questions that support the person in clarifying their needs without triggering distress or retraumatisation.

🛑 Containment and Grounding Strategies

Support people who are overwhelmed or dissociating by learning simple yet powerful grounding techniques and emotional containment methods.

💡 Support Recovery and Build Resilience

Help individuals reconnect with their strengths and resources, shift focus to what is manageable in the present, and take empowering steps forward.

🤝 Identify Referrals and Supports

Know when and how to refer individuals to appropriate services and ensure their basic safety and wellbeing are addressed.

📘 End Supportive Conversations Safely

Leave each interaction with the person feeling safe, seen, and informed — with clear follow-up steps and crisis support options if needed.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This workshop is ideal for:

• Community and youth workers
• Settlement or housing support staff
• Caseworkers, social workers and educators
• Medical, allied health, and admin staff
• Faith and community leaders
• Volunteers or peer mentors
• Anyone likely to be “confided in” by people in distress

FORMAT AND INCLUSIONS

• ✅ Online and in-person delivery
• ✅ Facilitated by an experienced trauma-informed practitioner
• ✅ Includes interactive activities, real-life scenarios, and skill practice
• ✅ Claim 6 CPD points
• ✅ Receive a certificate of completion
• ✅ Receive a PDF of the workshop slides

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Payment of the registration fee is online by credit card and a receipt/confirmation will be automatically emailed to you. An administration fee of $30 applies to all cancellations made more than 14 days the day before the start of the event. Registration once paid cannot be cancelled 14 days or less the day before the start of the event, regardless of personal circumstances. Registration can be transferred to another delegate only if STARTTS is informed of the name change. Registration cannot be transferred to another workshop. The concession price is for full-time students, seniors and the unemployed. A photocopy or pdf of a valid concession card must be forwarded to the STARTTS training team upon registration. Registrations will not be confirmed until full payment is received. The deadlines for the early bird and standard prices cannot be extended. Sometimes STARTTS will need to change the trainer of a particular workshop. The STARTTS Training Team can be contacted at stts-training@health.nsw.gov.au or (02) 9646 6700.