Course Title: Work effectively in trauma informed care

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2025

Course Code: HWSS6091C

Course Title: Work effectively in trauma informed care

Important Information:

Please note that this course has compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching and assessment activities. 

 

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4432 - Certificate IV in Community Services

Course Contact: Bella Kelly

Course Contact Phone: 9925 4109

Course Contact Email: bella.kelly@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 40

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to practice and contribute to the continuous improvement of trauma informed care within a service.

This unit applies to individuals working in the community services and health sectors where services are informed by the knowledge and understanding of central trauma, particularly the impact of interpersonal violence.

This course is delivered and assessed in a cluster with:-

CHCSET003 - Work with forced migrants

  

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	CHCMHS007 Work effectively in trauma informed care
Element:	1. Work from a trauma informed care perspective
Performance Criteria:	1.1 Apply the key principles and practices of trauma informed care 1.2 Promote safe environments and relationships with those affected by trauma, including preventing traumatisation and re-traumatisationin the context of service use 1.3 Respond to disclosures of past and current trauma or abuse using principles of trauma informed care 1.4 Respond to behaviours and distress related to trauma using principles of trauma informed care 1.5 Assist individuals affected by trauma to identify personal resources and strengths 1.6 Recognise the coping strategies and adaptations of individuals who have experienced trauma 1.7 Identify resources and strengths within individuals who have experienced trauma
Element:	2. Utilise self-care strategies
Performance Criteria:	2.1. Apply self-care strategies in managing re-traumatisation 2.2 Apply self-care strategies in managing vicarious trauma
Element:	3. Contribute to the continuous improvement of trauma informed care in services
Performance Criteria:	3.1 Reflect upon own practice and work environment and identify opportunities to embed trauma informed care and practice in service delivery 3.2 Identify barriers to implementing trauma informed care and practice and refer to appropriate/senior personnel 3.3 Participate in organisation policy development on trauma informed care according to job role 3.4 Identify and participate in strategies to enhance service delivery of trauma informed care 3.5 Invite and respond to consumer feedback on trauma informed practices and service delivery

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements. 

Details of Learning Activities

This course has scheduled face-to-face classes where information is shared through explicit teaching, discussion and various activities. Plus, class time will also be provided for the application of learning.

 

Teaching Schedule

Here is a link (Links to an external site.) to the unit of competency as outlined in the national training package.

Course Schedule: Working with Forced Migrant and Trauma Informed Care Practice Cluster                        Semester 1 : 2025
Week	Topic	Assessment Due Dates
Week 1 beginning 10th Feb	Trauma Informed Care Work from a trauma-informed care perspective   Utilise self-care strategies Applying self-care strategies in managing vicarious trauma Safe environments and relationships and preventing traumatisation and re-traumatisation   Developing your individual self-care plan Trauma within Aboriginal and Torres strait islander communities/ LBGTQIA+ and Refugee or Asylum seeker cohorts Key principles and practices of trauma-informed care	Non-assessed quiz at end of Module 1A (see week 1)
Week 2 beginning 17th Feb	Informed consent and disclosure Interpersonal violence and abuse The impact of trauma Respond to behaviours and distress The stress response Brain development and attachment The impact of trauma on relationships	Non-assessed quiz at the end of Module 2A (see week 2)
Week 3 beginning 24th Feb	Resilience Identify resources and strengths within individuals Assisting to identify personal resources and strengths Shame Heightened distress Self-injury/suicidal distress Ongoing responses in the supportive relationship Supporting learning about trauma and its impacts Building readiness and safety for specialist trauma work Increasing emotion and body awareness Setting trauma-related recovery goals Recognise coping strategies and adaptations
Week 4 beginning 3rd March	Reflect upon own practice Principles of self-reflection Barriers to implementing trauma-informed care and practice Power dynamics – worker, consumer or carer Policy development Enhance service delivery of trauma-informed care Invite and respond to consumer feedback Assessment 6 KQ workshop Excursion t­­­o Immigration Museum in the Afternoon class	Assessment Task 6 Knowledge Questions:
Week 5 beginning 10th March	WWFM Intro Working with forced migrants in Australia The international protection regime and Australian policies Background, historical, political, economic and social context Settlement in Australia
Week 6 beginning 17th March	Assessment task 1: Interacting with a Refugee community member Guest Speaker and reflection questions. Understanding experiences of people with refugee backgrounds Recognising effects of grief, loss, stress, torture and trauma and the impact of migration The importance of identity Perspectives on gender, class, culture and religion	Assessment Task 1: Written Reflection on discussion with refugee member
Week 7	Constance documentary Planning settlement services Developing relationships with stakeholders and representatives Building rapport and addressing communication needs of clients Identifying specific needs of individuals and determine learning program requirements
Week 8 beginning 31st March	Organising services Demonstrate skills for working with clients to select appropriate and relevant services Demonstrate knowledge for recognising current experiences of trauma and referring clients to appropriate personnel or services Acquire skills for facilitating access to services
Week 9 beginning 7th April	Monitoring and reviewing support Collecting ongoing feedback from clients Evaluating progress against service provision plan Identifying opportunities for improved service provision and modifying approach Assessment Three Planning Workshop: Background research Partnered Role Play practice Settlement Plan prep
Week 10 beginning 14th April	Assessment  Ang Myat Part A, Part B and Part C  Settlement plan and monitoring notes Answer 5 Reflective questions	In class assessment Group Role Plays
Mid-semester break 19 - 27th April	Mid-semester break 19 - 27th April	Mid-semester break 19 - 27th April
Week 11 beginning 28th April	Assessment  Ang Myat Part B and Part C  Settlement plan and monitoring notes Answer 5 Reflective questions	In class assessment Group Role Plays Assessment Task 3 Part B&C
Week 12 Beginning 5th May	Debrief Ang Myat - reflective practice Some Week 14/15 content? If needed for assessment 2 Morning Assessment 2 workshop Assessment Four Planning Workshop afternoon: Background research Partnered Role Play practice Settlement plan prep	Assessment Task 2: WWFM Knowledge questions
Week 13 Beginning 12th May	Assessment roleplay day Barati Family Part A Assessment Barati Family Part B Settlement plan and monitoring notes	In class assessment Group Role Plays
Week 14 Beginning 19th May	Assessment roleplay day Barati Family Part A Assessment Barati Family Part B Settlement plan and monitoring notes     Utilise self-care strategies Applying self-care strategies in managing re-traumatisation and vicarious trauma Developing your individual self-care plan Empathy Monitoring and dealing with stress and emotions of self and colleagues. Assessment 5 Wellbeing meeting practice	In class assessment Group Role Plays Assessment Task 4: Barati Family (Settlement plan)
Week 15 Beginning 26th May	Debrief Barati - reflective practice Revisit Utilise self-care/plan strategies from week 1 Monitoring and dealing with stress and emotions of self and colleagues. Assessment 5 Well-Being Meeting Role Plays and  Part B: questions	Assessment Task 5:  Wellbeing meeting and verbal questions same day
Week 16 Beginning 2nd June
Course Schedule may change at teachers discretion*

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

Overview of Assessment

There are six individual assessment tasks consisting of written reflection, role plays, and short answer questions. 

Assessment Tasks

You will be given two (2) attempts for each assessment to demonstrate the required knowledge and skills. A third (3rd) attempt can only be offered after discussions between teacher and the Program Coordinator and is not automatic. Resubmissions beyond two (2) attempts are at the discretion of the teacher and/or coordinator.

Assessment Task 1: Written Reflection - In this Written Reflection Assessment, you will write about your own thoughts, feelings, and ideas on the experiences of forced migration as a result of interacting with a person with forced migration lived experience and encourage deeper insights into the impact of meeting community members with refugee experiences. 

Assessment Task 2 - Quiz/Knowledge questions - For this task, you will be required to answer  22 questions satisfactorily in canvas in the Quiz section to demonstrate knowledge of the topics covered in class. 

Assessment Task 3: Role Play Ang Myat - This practical assessment task requires you to demonstrate your skills working with clients.

Assessment Task 4: Role Play Barati Family - This practical assessment task requires you to demonstrate your skills working with clients.

Assessment Task 5: Role Play Wellbeing Meeting - This task allows you to demonstrate your ability to monitor the stress and emotions of the staff, and to confirm a range of strategies to assist them in maintaining their wellbeing.

Assessment Task 6 - Quiz/Knowledge questions - For this task, you will be required to answer 25 questions in Canvas satisfactorily in the Quiz section to demonstrate knowledge of the topics covered in class. 

Assessment Matrix

A marking rubric for each assessment task is located on Canvas

Other Information

Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: rmit.edu.au/students 

 

You are required to attend a minimum of 80% of all classes to successfully complete each unit and all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview