Released 04/04/2025
The ACT Government is delivering on its election commitment to support children and young people needing trauma-informed care and support.
Trauma affects many children and young people in the ACT, and health practitioners across our health sector are often the first in a position to help and offer support.
Almost 50 staff across the ACT Government and the health sector have this week undertaken training as part of the latest cohort for a 16-week program delivered by training provider Emerging Minds.
The training, delivered as part of the Youth At Risk Project, supports staff working with young people to understand how to identify and respond to young people who have experienced trauma, and work collaboratively across services to ensure a coordinated approach to care.
Minister for Mental Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the ACT Government is committed to upskilling health workers to provide mental health support and understand the impact of trauma on people’s lives.
'The ACT Government is continuing to build on our commitments to supporting children and young people who need specialised trauma support and care,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
'The Trauma-Informed Practice Training Program will build a resilient and responsive health sector capable of addressing the complex needs of children and young people who have experienced trauma.
'By investing in this training, we are empowering our health workforce with the knowledge and confidence to provide the compassionate care children and young people deserve.'
The ACT Government has invested $200,000 into the Trauma-Informed Practice Training Program as part of its commitment to supporting children and young people.
An evaluation report into the effectiveness of the training from the program's first cohort, which ran from August to October 2024, showed positive results, with participants reporting improvements in their ability to apply trauma-informed approaches in their work with children, young people, and families.
The Youth at Risk Project is jointly funded by the Australian and ACT Governments to improve the ACT sector response to young people presenting with complex needs and trauma.
- Statement ends -
Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases