Overview
Over time, exposure to the trauma and suffering of others can take a toll. Mental health professionals, lawyers, corrections services staff, prison officers, magistrates, judges, police, first responders and teachers come into daily contact with individuals who may be highly traumatised, victims, perpetrators and potentially both.
Secondary trauma, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, burnout and moral injury are different but interconnect. Impacts are cumulative and if unaddressed affect the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing of professionals working in frontline services. Some professions have a double risk, exposed to the trauma of others and direct trauma in their line of duty.
Bearing witness to the suffering of others can shift and change our world view, leading to a reassessment of assumptions about personal safety and the safety of loved ones. At times, it may precipitate an existential crisis. Work environments may compound or be the primary stressor. Support to address the impact of your work on your health and wellbeing is a vital aspect of professional rights and personal responsibilities.
It is also true that our work may create a profound sense of meaning and purpose. Walking alongside clients inspires hope, awe and faith in the strength and depth of the human spirit. Vicarious resilience describes the parallel process of personal growth and self-discovery.
This four-part interactive webinar series combines presentation, discussion and experiential exercises in a safe, confidential forum to explore the interaction between you and your work. You will develop a personalised ‘tool kit’ for self-care and strategies to safeguard and enhance resilience. Details of cases will not be discussed.
The four part webinar will be held on:
Saturday 8 November 2025 | 9.30 am - 11.30am AEDT
Sunday 9 November 2025 | 9.30 am - 11.30am AEDT
Saturday 22 November 2025 | 9.30 am - 11.30am AEDT
Sunday 23 November 2025 | 9.30 am - 11.30am AEDT
Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:
- Distinguish between vicarious trauma, secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, burnout and moral injury.
- Identify organisational and personal responsibility related to emotional and psychological safety and wellbeing.
- Describe risk and resilience factors.
- Recognise activation of post traumatic countertransference
- Develop a realistic and adaptable selfcare plan.
Presenter(s)
Naomi Halpern, CQSW, Grad Cert Human Rights, QPR accredited trainer
About the presenter(s)
Naomi trained as a social worker in the UK. Early in her career she worked with children in short stay emergency care, homeless youth, and convicted offenders in government and non-government organisations, providing advocacy, psychosocial education, recreational opportunities, skills training, supervision and counselling. She holds a Grad. Cert. Human Rights and is a certified QPR trainer (suicide prevention).
Naomi provides clinical consultation for complex post-traumatic stress, dissociative disorders and related impacts of childhood developmental trauma and abuse including self-harming behaviour, suicidality and substance abuse, for mental health professionals working with adult victim-survivors of intergenerational trauma, gender-based violence, and other trauma. She has a wealth of experience working with people across socioeconomic groups, faiths, and sexual orientation.
She is a consultant and trainer for law firms, providing trauma informed training and supporting lawyers’ mental health and wellbeing. Since 2009, Naomi has been a consultant to the United Nations developing and delivering a broad range of trauma informed programs to personnel in missions and duty stations around the world. Most recently she developed a Gatekeeper suicide prevention training for Safety and Security Services and trauma informed awareness training for the Office of the Special Coordinator on improving the UN’s response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, the Ombudsman and Ethics Units and Human Resources and Services Department.
Notes
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