It creeps up on you...

Almost 30 years ago, as a young, fresh-out-of-uni social worker, I met and worked with my first client.

Based in Glebe, Butler Lodge was a women’s transitional housing service for women escaping domestic violence and their children. Those were different times for a health and social care sector that always was (and continues to) change.

About 15 years ago, I woke up in the middle of the night and said to my partner, “…you are going to have to die first..” I was sweating, hyperventilating and my heart was palpating. I felt so out of control.

Having spent the last 5 years leading teams of people and working directly with older people experiencing significant grief, it seems, it all crept up on me.

What I later learned is that I was experiencing vicarious trauma. Impacted by the significant grief and loss of people I was supporting. I was faced with traumatic stories day in and day out. What happened to me was inevitable.

It is the professional and lived experiences of our facilitators that help shape Full Stop Australia’s Vicarious Trauma Management Solutions.

Full Stop Australia works with first responders, legal professionals, health and community care providers, human resource officers, educators, defence, and financial sector personnel to understand vicarious trauma, mitigate the risks and better respond when it does occur. There is no doubt that healthy individuals and healthy organisations result in high-performing and outcome-focussed organisations.

You can find out more on our training page.

Marika Kontellis

Marika is the National Lead, Training and Professional Services at Full Stop Australia. She has worked with hundreds of teams and works with leaders to integrate evidence based, result driven Vicarious Trauma Management Solutions