Trauma can have a profound impact on children and adolescents learning, behaviour, relationships and wellbeing. Join leading trauma specialists for a practical and thought-provoking online live webinar exploring how teachers and educators can better understand and support children, adolescents and families affected by trauma.
About the conference
This presentation will assist teachers, educators and support staff to:
- gain practical strategies that can be applied immediately in educational settings.
- deepen their understanding of trauma and its impact on children, adolescents and families
- recognise how trauma can affect learning, behaviour and emotional regulation
- build confidence in supporting parents and carers affected by trauma
- explore trauma-informed approaches grounded in human rights and social justice.
Speakers and sessions
Heather Irvine-Rundle
Senior clinical psychologist, Conjoint Professor of Practice, School of Psychology at the University of Newcastle and director of The READ Clinic
Topic: Some days parents struggle too: Recognising and supporting trauma-affected parents
Educators understand that parenting can be challenging. For some parents, raising children can activate unresolved experiences from their own childhood, including experiences of abuse, neglect or family violence.
In this session, Heather will explore how parental trauma can influence a child’s learning, behaviour and emotional responses, as well as the ways it may affect a parent’s engagement with schools and educational services.
Participants will gain practical strategies for recognising when trauma may be affecting a parent and learn approaches for responding with empathy, understanding and support.
The presentation will also examine how trauma affects the brain and nervous system, how traumatic experiences are stored in memory, and what this means for educators working with children and families.
Dr Mary Jo McVeigh OAM
Social worker, director, lecturer at Sydney University and founder of Cara House
Topic: Are we there yet? Exploring a Human Rights Framework in trauma-informed practice
Advances in neuroscience have transformed our understanding of how trauma affects children and young people. While these insights are valuable, they represent only part of the picture.
Drawing on social sciences, including post-colonial studies, anti-oppressive social work and liberation psychology, Mary Jo will explore how a human rights framework can strengthen trauma-informed practice.
This session will examine the importance of recognising adolescent’s and children’s rights, agency and evolving autonomy. Participants will be encouraged to consider how children and young people can be active partners in decision-making and viewed as contributors to their own healing and recovery.
Through this lens, you will gain a deeper understanding of how to create environments that empower children and young people while supporting their wellbeing and growth.
Learn more about the speakers further down the page.
Details
Date: Friday 13 November 2026.
Time: 9am to 2pm (AEDT).
Location: Online webinar.
Ticket price: $220 per person (including GST).
Booking form: Download the booking form.
If you would like to purchase your ticket via bank transfer, please email (info@committedtochildcareconferences.com) the team and we will send you our banking details.
What else is included?
Certificate and presentation slides
All attendees will receive a certificate of attendance and a copy of the presentation slides following the conference.
Who should attend?
This professional development is designed for education professionals who work with children and young people. This includes teachers, educators, school leaders, SLSOs and other wellbeing professionals.
Professional accreditation
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
This professional learning contributes 4.5 hours of Professional Development, addressing:
- Standard 1 – Know students and how they learn.
- Standard 4 – Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments.
- Standard 6 – Engage in professional learning.
About the speakers
Find out more about our speakers by selecting their name.
Heather Irvine-Rundle
Senior clinical psychologist and director of The READ Clinic.
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 over two decades 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.
In 2019, Heather was appointed as Adjunct Professor of Practice in the School of Psychology at the University of Newcastle, NSW and Adjunct Fellow at Macquarie University.
Heathers’ presentation will guide you through the foundations of childhood trauma/mental health and how it impacts the developing child.
Dr Mary Jo McVeigh OAM
Social worker, director and founder of Cara House.
Mary Jo is the founding CEO of Cara House, which was 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.
Her session will focus on practical strategies teachers can use to create safe, supportive classroom environments that promote healing, resilience and learning.
Registration policy
Read our registration policy.