Preservice teachers (PSTs) involved in teaching in schools and early childhood centres/kindergarten have consistently reported the need for a training component that will prepare them to work with young people and children who have experienced and/or are experiencing trauma. In response to these calls for greater trauma awareness, academic staff at Victoria University who teach into the Masters of Secondary Teaching, created a specific unit, Professional Practice and Student Wellbeing. The unit addresses trauma informed teaching and learning approaches in secondary school settings.

The purpose of this research project was to evaluate the experiences of PSTs in this unit of study to better understand what skills and knowledge Masters of Secondary Teaching PSTs required to develop a trauma aware teaching and learning mindset. Using focus groups and semi-structured interviews two cohorts of Masters of Secondary Teaching PSTs were interviewed and were differentiated by those who have completed the unit, and those who had not.

Data from the interviews shows the benefits to PSTs of completing a unit of study specifically tailored to develop their awareness and understanding of trauma in educational settings. PSTs who had completed the unit expressed several benefits to their professional identity and skill set. Respondents particularly noted how learning from the unit assisted with trauma awareness and support during their placements. Conversely, those PSTs who completed the course prior to the introduction of the trauma informed praxis unit, reported low trauma awareness. They also expressed personal and professional concerns about working in trauma contexts without having received specific training in working with children and young people who have been impacted by trauma.

This research project is part of a larger scale research project that is investigating trauma education in initial teacher education programs and youth work programs at Victoria University. This project has been approved by the Chair of Ethics at Victoria University.