Community Trauma Toolkit

The Community Trauma Toolkit is an award-winning suite of resources designed to help support adults and children before, during, and after a disaster or traumatic event.  The toolkit is grouped by these key audiences:

• Parents and caregivers
• General practitioners (GPs)
• Educators
• First responders
• Health and social service practitioners (HSSPs)
• Community leaders

The resources and training materials have been developed by the following timeframes:

• Preparedness
• Immediate
• Short-term recovery
• Long-term recovery
• Ongoing.

What is the toolkit about?

The toolkit is based on the understanding that natural disasters and other traumatic events can significantly impact infants and children. It will help you to understand some of the impacts of disasters and how to help reduce them. It also recognises the central role children can play in preparedness and recovery. Children and infants depend on the adults around them for safety and security. During a disaster they will need reassurance, care, and opportunities to share their feelings. These resources provide a starting point for adults to help children and families navigate the different stages of a disaster.

How was this toolkit developed?

This toolkit was co-developed by the Australian National University (ANU) and Emerging Minds. It was developed via extensive consultation with the audiences, disaster recovery and resilience organisations and experts, and children and families with a lived experience of community trauma events. In it you will find a range of useful resources including podcasts, videos, fact sheets, written content and workshops that you can host for your team and external teams you might work with. Click on the link above to check out the Community Trauma Toolkit today!