RECORDING ACCESS - Mental Health Institute Spotlight Session: Trauma

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, it is estimated that 75% of Australian adults have experienced a traumatic event at some point in their lives.

How do we care wisely for people affected by trauma? 

Many people carry painful experiences that others may never see. Trauma can shape how someone responds to safety, trust, community, relationships, and faith. 

That’s why ADM’s Mental Health Institute is hosting this Spotlight event: to help Christians, ministry leaders and church communities understand trauma more clearly and respond with greater compassion and care.

At this Spotlight event, Belinda Burn will help us understand what trauma is, how it affects the whole person, and what trauma-informed care can look like in Christian community.  

Belinda will also be sharing her own lived experience of trauma.  

What we will explore 

• what trauma is and how it can affect the whole person; 

• how trauma may shape someone’s experience of safety, trust, community and faith; 

• what compassionate, trauma-informed care can look like in Christian community; 

• how churches can begin to respond with greater wisdom and humility; 

• how lived experience can deepen our understanding and care. 

 Many people in our churches are carrying painful experiences we may never know about.  

Some have been hurt in and by the world. Some, very sadly, have been hurt within the church itself. If we want to love one another well, we need to keep learning what helps, what harms, and how to respond with care. 

Who this conversation is for 

This event may be especially helpful if you are a Bible study leader, Youth Group volunteer, ministry worker, women’s ministry leader, pastor, chaplain, pastoral carer, Christian counsellor, or someone who wants to better understand and care for people affected by trauma. 

An important note about the topic 

This event will discuss trauma and its effects. We will approach the topic carefully and respectfully, with an emphasis on understanding, pastoral wisdom, and care. It is not intended to replace professional counselling, medical care, or crisis support. 

What past attendees have said 

“Seeing mental health issues spoken of with such compassion, respect and in a well-considered professional way gives me great hope for the future of Christian communities dealing with these issues.”
Spotlight Attendee 

“I came away more reflective about how we honour and love all members of the body of Christ.”
Spotlight Attendee
 

Speaker: Rev. Belinda Burn

Belinda is an ordained Anglican minister, whose training is in theology, ministry, professional supervision and counselling. Following three decades of experience in parish ministry, Belinda served as the Chaplain for the Safe Ministry Team in the Sydney Anglican Diocese for over five years and in this work she was privileged to support, and learn from, many survivors of abuse.

In 2026, Belinda has a research fellowship with Mary Andrews College and is writing a book about interpersonal apology for all Christians, and particularly for church leaders. Through engagement with the scriptures, psychological research, and church tradition, it will explore what apology is, how to do it, what stops it from happening, and why it is an essential practice to maintain and build flourishing Christian communities that bear authentic witness to Jesus’ love in a world that needs him.

Belinda currently works at The Bridge Church as an assistant pastor, and also has a pastoral supervision practice in which she loves to journey with other ministry practitioners. Belinda is married to John and together they have five adult children, two daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, and three beautiful granddaughters.