Free Mental Health And Trauma Training For Not For Profits - Face-to-Face And Online

With the ongoing pressures of the high costs of living on top of recent natural disasters, many staff and volunteers in local not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) and community groups have become “accidental responders”.

Research has shown those in similar positions have experienced trauma and burnout.

Yet most community-led organisations, especially those in regional areas, can’t easily access training to support their people to manage or prevent this “helper trauma”.

With the support from the Australian and NSW Governments, Benefolk Foundation is delivering free mental health and trauma training, so they can learn strategies to prevent and overcome vicarious trauma (workplace PTSD) and burnout, as well as how to facilitate brief conversational interventions to help prevent and resolve trauma in their clients.

A full-day face-to-face training session will be delivered on Friday, June 28 from 9 am to 4:30 pm at Griffith Leagues Club.

Online and self-paced sessions will also be available to ensure everyone in local NFPs can access training in their own time.

Individuals working or volunteering in NFPs, community organisations, charities, committees of management, incorporated associations, etc, are eligible to attend at no cost.

Julia Keady, CEO and Founder of Benefolk Foundation, who experienced the Northern Rivers floods first-hand, said that the training was specifically tailored to support those who have been working so hard to help their communities get back on their feet.

“We ran a similar program last year for 130 organisations across the Northern Rivers, after their tragic flood events,” Ms Keady said.

“Feedback was that the training increased people’s confidence to continue their critical work, while creating a swafe and sustainable working environment.

“In fact, at the start of the day, fewer than 40 per cent felt confident in responding to trauma in others.

“This had shifted to 94 per cent feeling either somewhat or very confident after the training.

“A similar shift occurred in terms of maintaining their own psychological safety, so we encourage all local NFP leaders to make time to send their team, especially given the obligations around psycho-social legislation changed in 2023.

“This means it’s imperative for all NFPs and charities to be on the front foot of staff and volunteer wellbeing in their organisationis.”

Organisations can also access The Community Well, which has more than 100 free resources tailored to not-for-profit organisations, all focused on enhancing wellbeing.

The psychologist delivering the training, Adam Blanch said that any organisation that has staff working with traumatised people should have a psychological safety plan in place covering prevention, mitigation and recovery.

“Vicarious trauma - or what I call “helper trauma” - doesn’t just affect emergency services personnel, but anyone working with traumatised people, such as those who have been supporting flood-affected communities,” Mr Blanch said.

“An important first step is creating a trauma-informed work culture and training staff in preventative measures.

“This course will provide knowledge and skills towards this goal.”

Organisations can reserve a place at https://events.humanitix.com/griffith-nsw-resilient-responders-and-empowering-conversations-one-day-training and learn more about the whole program at www.benefolk.org/central-west-special-project

• Topics:

• Mental Health and Welbeing
• Workshop / Short Courses
• Events