Refugees as Survivors NZ (RASNZ) Cross- Culture Trauma Informed Care Training

on 2 October

RASNZ Refugee health & wellbeing

 

RASNZ – Cross-Cultural Trauma Informed Care Training


Introduction

Trauma informed training is included as part of health, education, social service providers professional development programme. This training includes an experiential understanding of trauma which is culturally informed; best practice when working with clients who have been exposed to traumatic experiences, the impact of trauma on the brain, body and family; an understanding of cultural beliefs, behaviours and presentations; cross-cultural communication; and the importance of understanding vicarious trauma and self-care.

Aims
• To support health and mental health care providers to meet the physical and mental health needs of former refugee clients settling in resettlement locations.
• To build capacity and capability within health care settings to appropriately meet the needs of former refugee patients

Why we provide TIC training
• Health, education, immigration, social services and resettlement service providers need extra training, resources and support to work with former refugees and their families because they often have high and complex needs on arrival.
• Services for former refugees must take a holistic approach to include the physical, psychological, social and family determinants of wellbeing.
• A culturally appropriate and trauma informed service, which combines a clinical and community development approach, is crucial. Services must create an environment where clients feel comfortable and accepted. This approach must be supported by specialist training for healthcare professionals.

The RASNZ Research and Training programme
• The RASNZ Research and Training programme was launched in early 2018 with the dual aim of conducting effective research into issues impacting refugee resettlement in New Zealand, as well as offering training to individuals working with refugee background populations (such as education providers, allied health professionals, legal and social service representatives).
• The training arm of this programme has already conducted over 50 training sessions throughout all refugee resettlement locations in New Zealand, with more than 500 professionals in attendance.

What we provide

Description
We provide a customised, national Trauma Informed Care (TIC) training programme to support health and mental health workforces working with clients/families from refugee backgrounds in refugee resettlement regions in New Zealand.

Objectives
- To support health professionals to gain a greater understanding of the refugee journey, as well as some of the unique challenges that refugee background clients/families face when accessing health and mental health services.
- To provide specialised TIC train-the-trainers programmes and resources to support health and mental health service providers in primary, community, and secondary care sectors in who work with refugee background clients and families.


Programme Outline
- Training 1: Introductory Course (2 hours)
o The refugee context in New Zealand
o Defining terms
o The global context
o The refugee experience
   ▪ The intersect of forced migration and trauma
   ▪ The impact on health, mental health and family and community relationships


- Training 2: Supporting refugee background clients and families in healthcare services (1 day)
o The refugee context in New Zealand
o Defining terms
o The global context
o The refugee experience
   ▪ The intersect of forced migration and trauma
o Understanding trauma
   ▪ A definition of trauma
   ▪ Exploring complex trauma within the context of the refugee journey
   ▪ Impact of trauma on the individual (mind, body, relationships)
o The impact of the refugee experience on healthcare interactions
   ▪ Behaviours
   ▪ Relationships with providers
   ▪ Engagement with service providers
o What professionals bring to the mix
   ▪ Understanding the role of culture when working with this population
   ▪ Exploring stereotypes, prejudices, discrimination
   ▪ Looking at vicarious trauma and self-care
o Supporting refugee background clients/families
   ▪ Exploration of the client’s health/mental health beliefs and practices
   ▪ Introduction and use of a cross-cultural trauma-informed model

Contact: Annette Mortensen, Training & Research Manager
Cell: 021 838 351|email: annette@rasnz.co.nz | RASNZ, PO Box 22315, Otahuhu, Auckland 2024
Website: rasnz.co.nz

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