Psychological First Aid is a part of the Critical Incident Stress Foundations’ accredited methods of supporting affected people and communities experiencing trauma.

Just as first aid addresses physical wounds, psychological first aid can address emotional and spiritual wounds. Psychological first aid includes making contact, ensuring safety, communicating, comforting, reassuring and offering support.

The training will be delivered by Maree van der Weert, Education Manager at VCC Emergencies and is directed at people who may attend at emergency scenes, relief and recovery centers, and in outreach campaigns after disasters.

The workshop is limited to 15 participants.

The program will include

Understanding stress reactions – Physiological and Psychological reactions
Various forms of stress
Community reaction to trauma and recovery
Skills to support recovery – attentive listening
Skills to support recovery – Psychological First Aid
Self care

The program is trauma informed and evidence based and is strongly underpinned by the principles of self-care. It acknowledges multicultural and multifaith settings.

A Certificate of Attendance will be presented at the conclusion of the training session.