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NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors

Core Concepts in Trauma Informed and Cross-Cultural Approaches with Refugees

Request In-House Training

23 October 2025 | 9am-3pm AEDT Online workshop | → Register Now!

27 February 2026 | 9am-3pm AEDT Online workshop | → Register Now!

18 June 2026 | 9am-3pm AEST Online workshop | → Register Now!

15 October 2026 | 9am-3pm AEDT Online workshop | → Register Now!

MASTER CORE CONCEPTS IN WORKING WITH REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS

Are you ready to transform your approach and build genuine connections with people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds?

This intensive workshop, led by experts from STARTTS (NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors), offers you a unique opportunity to gain the essential knowledge and practical skills needed to provide effective, compassionate support.

WHY THIS WORKSHOP MATTERS

Working with refugees and asylum seekers requires a deep understanding of their unique experiences and needs. This training goes beyond theory, providing practical tools to navigate complex situations and build trust. Studies highlight the critical need for trauma-informed and culturally sensitive support.

🧠 Understand the Refugee Experience and Trauma Impacts
Gain insight into the causes and consequences of persecution, torture, and displacement — and how these experiences impact the brain, body, behaviour, and relationships across the refugee journey.

🌍 Apply a Trauma-Informed and Culturally Safe Framework
Learn how to work in ways that recognise cultural identity, promote safety, respect, dignity, and empower refugee clients through trust-building and strengths-based practice.

🏠 Recognise Resettlement and Systemic Challenges
Understand the barriers faced by refugees and asylum seekers in Australia, including visa status, access to services, and systemic inequities that influence wellbeing and service engagement.

🧩 Respond to Complex Presentations
Identify common trauma symptoms and associated issues such as grief, loss, anxiety, depression, somatic complaints, and interpersonal difficulties in refugee clients.

👂 Build Trust Through Safe and Respectful Engagement
Develop culturally appropriate communication and engagement strategies, including the sensitive use of interpreters and awareness of trauma triggers.

🧭 Maintain Clear Boundaries and Role Clarity
Learn to set respectful and professional boundaries that support both your effectiveness and the safety of the client, especially in high-need or high-risk situations.

⚖️ Manage Vicarious Trauma and Prevent Burnout
Recognise the signs of vicarious trauma and burnout, and develop sustainable personal and professional self-care practices to maintain wellbeing in this work.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This workshop is vital for anyone who interacts with refugees and asylum seekers, including:

  • Social workers and counsellors
  • Healthcare professionals
  • Educators and community workers
  • Volunteers and advocates
  • Students pursuing related professions

Invest in your professional development and make a lasting impact. Secure your spot today and become a catalyst for positive change.

Our Trainer – Rafik Tanious
Counsellor/Trainer, STARTTS

Rafik Tanious has worked across the social ecologies of education, mental health and social services with children and young people for the past 30 years both locally and internationally. He has extensive field work experience working with children and adolescents with refugee backgrounds in case work, education and counselling. Rafik has a continuing interest in trauma recovery, anti-racism, and youth identity formation and has developed racial literacy, and racial resilience programs for young people with refugee experiences and produced anti-racism films on Cabramatta for the NSW Premiers department. Rafik has also been employed as a consultant and trainer with universities in supporting the mental health of international students, developing orientation programs and inter-cultural learning frameworks and facilitating cross cultural parenting programs. Read more….

Fantastic presenters and content… pitched at a perfect level to accommodate all attendees

FORMAT AND INCLUSIONS

✅ Online and in-person delivery
✅ Facilitated by an experienced trauma-informed practitioner
✅ Includes interactive activitiesreal-life scenarios, and skill practice
✅ Claim 6 CPD points

✅ Receive a certificate of completion
✅ Receive a PDF of the workshop slides

COST

Early Bird – $315 | $288 concession (5 tickets available, ends 2 months before event)
Standard – $350 | $320 concession
Note – there is a 5% late fee for registering after 8.30am the day before the event. Costs are in Australian dollars.

DON’T MISS OUT – LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE

Reserve you place today via secure online payment and empower yourself to provide safe, respectful and effective support to people from refugee backgrounds who need it most.

  • 23 October 2025 | 9am-3pm AEDT | Online workshop | → Register Now!

BRING THIS WORKSHOP TO YOUR TEAM

Would your team benefit from tailored, trauma-informed training? This workshop is available as an online and in-person in-house session (in-person available in Sydney only), customised to meet the specific needs of your staff, clients, or community. Visit our Request Training page for details on pricing, availability, and how to book.

Plan ahead: Due to high demand, we recommend submitting your request at least 6–8 weeks in advance to secure your preferred date. Empower your team with the confidence, skills, and cultural sensitivity to support refugee and asylum seeker communities effectively.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Payment of the registration fee is online by credit card and a receipt/confirmation will be automatically emailed to you. An administration fee of $30 applies to all cancellations made more than 14 days the day before the start of the event. Registration once paid cannot be cancelled 14 days or less the day before the start of the event, regardless of personal circumstances. Registration can be transferred to another delegate only if STARTTS is informed of the name change. Registration cannot be transferred to another workshop. The concession price is for full-time students, seniors and the unemployed. A photocopy or pdf of a valid concession card must be forwarded to the STARTTS training team upon registration. Registrations will not be confirmed until full payment is received. The deadlines for the early bird and standard prices cannot be extended. Sometimes STARTTS will need to change the trainer of a particular workshop. The STARTTS Training Team can be contacted at stts-training@health.nsw.gov.au or (02) 9646 6700.

CONTACT US

Contact us
stts-training@health.nsw.gov.au
(02) 9646 6700  Ask for the Training Administration Officer

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