Unit 1 – What is trauma?
Introduction
You will begin this unit by reading an overview of the International Rescue Committee to become more familiar with the work they do globally which has informed this course.
After that you will read a poem which explores losing your teen years to the outbreak of war, the traumas that come with war and the impact on a person, their family and their life even after the war has ended. This poem also highlights the themes of war, displacement, loss and grief, and the bittersweet joy of being able to return home without those you lost.
Then you will read about the Healing Classrooms Approach which is a trauma-informed approach to educating refugee students which seeks to combat the negative impacts of toxic stress on children and young people and the focus of this course. The concepts you read about in this unit will underpin the whole of this course and be relevant to each future unit you work through.
You will review various tools and resources and complete tasks to strengthen your understanding of trauma and complete a short end of unit test to further solidify your learning. You will finish with an overview of individual and collective trauma and guidance on how to look after your own mental wellbeing while working with people impacted by trauma.
Unit 1 Objectives
- Explain the impacts of trauma and toxic stress on displaced students’ wellbeing and learning.
- Understand the impacts adverse childhood experiences can have on physical and mental wellbeing.
- Examine the different types of trauma including individual and collective trauma.
