Implementing trauma-informed practice in a disability NGO: Supporting the wellbeing and recovery of clients in the disability sector

$25,000 DFACS Grant

Associate Professor Tonia Gray and Dr Danielle Tracey from the Centre for Educational Research have received funding from the Department of Family and Community Services to investigate the impact of a new framework for supporting Australians with an intellectual disability. The framework addresses the high risk of trauma and distress experienced by people with an intellectual disability, and will be trialled in conjunction with existing community services.

This investigation will examine the effects of adopting a Trauma Informed Framework within the existing Australian industry guidelines for interacting with  people with intellectual disability, both while they are receiving care and in the workforce. The study will run for 12 months and gather information from key stakeholders, using interviews and other qualitative methods, on the framework’s efficacy. Its impact will be measured at the systemic, workplace, and client levels. This information will comprise a report to inform any future extensions of the framework.