Supporting your employees with trauma-informed practices
In an era where workplace mental health has become increasingly paramount, organisations are recognising the critical need to adopt trauma-informed approaches to support their workforce. With research indicating that 75% of Australian adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, and up to 68% of young people experiencing trauma by age 17, the implementation of trauma-informed practices has become not just beneficial, but essential for modern workplace wellbeing.
In response to these escalating demands, and recognising the potential impact on employee wellbeing, the Qantas Group partnered with Transitioning Well to enhance their staff and managers' capabilities in supporting teams.
This proactive approach aimed to address the immediate challenges, sustainability, and protect the mental health and wellbeing of their employees.
Individual trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functional and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual wellbeing.
Understanding trauma in a workplace context
Many organisations are unaware that workplace experiences can constitute trauma, particularly when considering that trauma results from "an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful... and has lasting adverse effects on the individual's functioning" (SAMHSA, 2014). This understanding becomes especially critical in developing trauma-informed workplaces that promote safety and support.
This definition takes on particular significance when considering that the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2022) reports 75% of Australian adults have experienced a traumatic event in their life, while 62-68% of young people will have been exposed to at least one traumatic event by age 17. Workers may therefore already have a history of trauma, making it essential for organisations to recognise that trauma affects people differently and that each person is doing the best they can with the resources they have. This awareness reinforces the importance of creating workplaces where people are valued for who they are.
“Recognise that trauma is unique to the individual who experiences it. Two people can experience the same traumatic event – one might experience what we could call ‘appropriate distress’ while the other might develop a traumatic response. There are factors that influence different responses. One important consideration to be aware of is that social support is protective when people have these experiences.”
A New Approach To Protecting Employees in the Workplace
Transitioning Well takes a holistic approach to supporting employees in the workplace. This includes offering evidence-based programs and interventions tailored to the unique needs of each participant.
LEADERS
- Recognise signs of trauma exposure in their teams
- Understand that trauma affects people differently
- Create psychologically safe environments where employees feel supported
- Implement proper reporting and response protocols for aggressive incidents
ORGANISATIONS
- Set clear boundaries with customers about acceptable behaviour
- Empower employees to disengage from threatening situations
- Provide de-escalation training
- Create physical environments that prioritise employee safety
INDIVIDUALS
- Recognise their own stress reactions
- Understand that stress responses (fight, flight, freeze, or fawn) are normal reactions to abnormal situations
- Access appropriate mental health resources
- Develop personal resilience strategies
What We Did
In July 2024, Qantas partnered with Transitioning Well to deliver a specialised masterclass and training workshop.
The Foundation workshop was designed to help Qantas employees understand why trauma-informed practice is a business imperative, and how to support others who have been victims of critical incidents and crisis situations.
To achieve this, the workshop delivered interactive education and strategies on:
• Common responses and recovery trajectories of individuals
• Principles of trauma-informed care
• How to avoid re-traumatisation
• Support points for distressed individuals
• Self-care and connection
The Masterclass workshop built upon these learnings by further providing insights into:
• How traumatic incidents are encoded and stored in the brain
• Methods of safely conducting trauma-related conversations
• The risk of vicarious trauma, how to notice the signs and how to manage wellbeing
The Transitioning Well difference
Transitioning Well's workshops equip organisations with essential knowledge and practical strategies for creating psychologically safe workplaces.
At its core, our training establishes that while trauma exposure is common—affecting 75% of Australian adults—responses vary significantly between individuals, and not all traumatic events lead to lasting mental health impacts. The workshop helps participants recognise the distinction between normal stress reactions and trauma responses across emotional, physical, and cognitive domains, while emphasising the importance of stepping up support when distress persists beyond one month.
The workshop emphasises that certain groups face higher exposure to trauma and may carry previous trauma impacts. These include people experiencing homelessness, refugees, LGBTIQA+ individuals, and emergency services workers. To address these varied needs, the training establishes six core principles of trauma-informed practice: safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and respect for diversity. These principles guide the creation of supportive environments where people can access various support pathways, including the Qantas Group Medical Team, Converge International (Employee Assistance Provider), managers, HR Business Partners, and Mental Health First Aid-trained employees.
Results
98% of participants have a good understanding about what it means to be trauma-informed at work
Results
96% of participants intend on applying a strategy or tool that was covered in the session
Results
96% of participants found the workshop practical and the ideas easy to apply
Workshop Feedback
As shown below, the overall level of satisfaction with the training was extremely high, with an average score of 4.6 out of 5 (Foundation) and 4.7 out of 5 (Masterclass). These high satisfaction ratings are also reflected in the comments provided by workshop attendees.
Bri was engaging, enthusiastic and a great facilitator. The workshop provided really practical examples of what trauma-informed practice could look like at work.
Support In Your Workplace
Our national team of psychologists bring evidence-based approaches and tailored tactics to the table, which allows us to support your people at this import
ant the intersection where work meets life.
By understanding that trauma affects people differently and implementing comprehensive support systems, organisations can better protect their employees’ mental health and wellbeing.
The investment in trauma-informed practices isn’t just about meeting duty of care obligations or, in other words, ticking a box. Mentally healthy workplaces allow people to bring their whole selves and be valued for who they are, even in the face of increasingly complex interactions.
To find out more about how Transitioning Well can help your organisation, contact us to learn more.