Professional services: vicarious trauma management

Vicarious trauma management

Full Stop Australia operates from evidence-based practice. In seeking to manage the risk and impacts of vicarious traumatisation on its own workforce, the organisation researched and developed its own Vicarious Trauma Management Program.

In 2007, this Program received the WorkCover NSW’s Safe Work Award for ‘The Best Solution to an Identified Occupational Health and Safety Issue’.

We can assist organisations to respond to vicarious trauma and design and implement effective vicarious trauma management frameworks.

At Full Stop Australia, we believe that a collaborative process is the foundation for effectively managing vicarious trauma.

We work closely with all clients to ensure that the framework and services provided are tailored to the needs of the organisation.

What is vicarious trauma?

Vicarious trauma refers to the detrimental impacts suffered by people who are indirectly exposed to traumatic material. Workers are exposed to traumatic material when they are deployed in disaster or combat zones, assist others in emergencies, or witness or hear about incidents of abuse, violence, torture, or neglect.

The only predictor of whether or not a person will experience vicarious trauma is their exposure to traumatic material. This means that if people are exposed to traumatic material as a product of their work, vicarious trauma is a work, health and safety hazard.

While vicarious trauma is a considerable WH&S risk, it can be managed effectively. Managing vicarious trauma not only promotes the wellbeing of staff, it is cost effective and assists organisations in proactively complying with work, health and safety requirements.