Trauma Responsive Pedagogy in Early Childhood

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Cross-examine trauma through the perspectives of neuroscience, social constructivism, and relational pedagogy, and analyse its implications for learning and development through engagement with different cultures including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives;
2. Analyse how environments and systemic factors shape children’s experiences and learning by creating culturally safe conditions and to work toward eliminating institutionalised barriers, which contribute to trauma and adverse childhood experiences;
3. Critique historical and contemporary trauma literature, probe common practices in education, and interrogate traditional, emerging, and evidence-informed trauma-responsive approaches in ways that privilege Self Determining and enact Truth Telling;
4. Devise trauma-responsive pedagogical approaches that promote collaborative partnerships with families, educators, and allied health professionals by practising Partnering and Deep Listening; and
5. Formulate strategies that promote educator and stakeholder wellbeing while preventing and managing vicarious trauma and align these with “Growing”.