Teenagers in high school will experience both acute and complex trauma. No two teenagers will react the same to events that they have experienced. What is traumatic for one, may have no effect on another.
The journey to improved outcomes will be different for each teenager as they move through repair at their own pace and in their own time.
Teenage trauma in a high school setting, aims to assist leaders and teachers to identify teenagers who may be suffering trauma and create a deep awareness of their connection and interactions with traumatised teenagers.
Workshop details
This professional development will cover the following:
- The neurobiology of trauma.
- Understanding and improving attachment.
- At their own pace.
- The use of self, the wisdom of the body, the wisdom of the senses as a means of communication with traumatised teenagers.
- Effective trauma informed documentation.
Individual teenagers with trauma require individual responses from teachers. This professional learning will allow teaching professionals to:
- Gain an understanding of how trauma alters the developing brain and how that may present in your school setting.
- Examine the effects of trauma on teenagers mental health, cognitive function, inability to form meaningful relationships and self-worth.
- Examine attachment models.
- Gain strategies to enhance and provide physical/emotional security, safety, support and discretion.
- Begin the journey of ‘a whole school approach’.
- Learn the importance of consistency, boundaries, communication, triggers, resilience and peer interactions.
- Adopt an ‘in the moment response’ to support traumatised teenagers.
- Prepare and share with colleagues and other professionals’ trauma informed documentation.
Details
Date: Wednesday, 3 September 2025.
Time: 9am to 2:30pm AEST.
Location: Online webinar, attendees will receive their access details the week of the webinar.
Speakers: Dr Mary Jo McVeigh OAM, director and founder of Cara House; Heather Irvine-Rundle, clinical psychologist and director of The READ Clinic.
Ticket price: $230 per person (including GST).
Booking form: Download the booking form
Tickets: Purchase tickets online
If you would like to purchase via bank transfer, please contact the team by email info@committedtochildcareconferences.com
Who is this professional learning on teenage trauma suitable for?
This online workshop is suitable for all high school teachers, high school leaders, SLSOs and other professionals who work with teenagers.
During this online workshop, you will have the opportunity to ask the speakers questions related to teenage trauma.
What’s included?
All participants will receive a copy of the slides and a certificate of completion.
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
Standard 1: Know students and how they learn
About the speakers
Dr Mary Jo McVeigh OAM
Mary Jo is the founding CEO of Cara House, which is one of Sydney’s leading trauma consulting and training agencies. She has worked in the field of trauma and child protection for nearly 40 years in Belfast, London, Auckland and Sydney.
Mary-Jo has a Masters in Social Work and is a trained trauma therapist. She is recognised as an expert in the field of child protection, trauma therapy and leadership coaching.
Mary-Jo is a lecturer at the University of Sydney and most recently completed a research PhD in Social Work at the university, focusing on children’s rights and participatory values.
Find out more about Dr Mary Jo McVeigh
Heather Irvine-Rundle
Heather is a senior clinical psychologist and the director of The READ Clinic, which is one of the largest psychology practises in Australia. As well as practising in Australia, Heather has also spent three years in the UK working with some of the most deprived families in Liverpool and London. She also led a service providing advice and consultations on mental health to all the schools in the South London area.As well as practicing for 19 years Heather has also found time to become a published author with her latest book Hello Baby. Heather speaks regularly on local ABC radio, has appeared on a number of television shows including 60 Minutes, and writes regular articles for print and digital media.
Registration policy
Read our registration policy.