Latest Research on Effective Interventions and Models for Torture and Refugee Trauma 2024
The 2024 STARTTS Latest Research Webinar will focus on the important topics of disability and the positive impacts of music as a part of refugee trauma therapy.
Professor Angela Dew from Deakin University will describe four complimentary conceptual frameworks she uses in her research that will give you a deeper understanding of the experience of disability across time and place for those fleeing traumatic conflict situations. She will reference a series of in-depth life history interviews she conducted with two men with physical disability and the mothers of two young men with disability from Syrian and Iraqi refugee backgrounds.
Dr Bonnie McConnell from the Australian National University will demonstrate how research has documented positive effects of music on mood, social connectedness, sense of belonging and identity, and health and wellbeing among refugees. She will identify principles to inform facilitation of music making with refugee communities, including the importance of cultural understanding, cultural humility, participation and accessibility.
You will be able to engage with Professor Angela Dew and Dr Bonnie McConnell via a live Q&A panel discussion facilitated by STARTTS’ CEO and Clinical Psychologist, Jorge Aroche. You will come away with the latest research that you can integrate into your practice to assist people experiencing refugee trauma rebuild their lives.
Professor Angela Dew
Professor Angela Dew is a sociologist and the Discipline Lead of Disability and Inclusion at Deakin University. She has over 40 years’ experience in the Australian disability sector. Over the past six years Angela has developed and led a growing stream of research exploring the experiences of people with disability and their families from Syrian and Iraqi refugee backgrounds. This work is the first of its kind in Australia and internationally. This research involves partnerships with leading refugee support organisations in Victoria and NSW, including STARTTS, and brings together academics from Deakin University, UNSW Sydney, and the Black Dog Institute. Over her career, Angela has published over 80 peer-reviewed publications and 7 book chapters, including 6 articles and 1 book chapter on refugee research.
Dr Bonnie McConnell
Dr Bonnie McConnell is a Senior Lecturer at the Australian National University. Dr McConnell is a leading researcher in the area of music, health, and culture. She has published widely on the role of music in supporting healthy communities in West Africa and Australia. She is currently leading the CHIME-IN project which investigates, in partnership with STARTTS, the way music may be used to support the perinatal mental health of refugee women. Her research has been supported by funding from organisations including the Global Challenges Research Fund (UK), the National Institute for Health and Care Research (UK), the Fulbright Foundation (US), and the American Association of University Women. Bonnie is co-founder of the Musical Care International Network, which facilitates interdisciplinary and intercultural knowledge exchange relating to music, health, and wellbeing.
Jorge Aroche
Jorge Aroche is a clinical psychologist and STARTTS’ Chief Executive Officer. Jorge was born in Uruguay and has worked with migrants and refugee survivors of torture and organized violence since before 1989, when he joined STARTTS. He has led the organization since March 1997, through some of the most challenging times for refugee services in Australia, helping STARTTS grow from a dozen staff to more than 200, assuming a truly state-wide role and becoming a world leader in this field in the process, while continuing to learn from its clients, its culturally diverse staff and the latest scientific advances. Jorge has also held a number of honorary positions in international humanitarian organizations, Australia government advisory bodies and NGO boards. He was the President of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) from 2016 until November 2020.
Who should attend?
This free live webinar is open to anyone interest in being up to date with the latest thinking and best practice in refugee trauma work. PDFs of the slides and a certificate of completion will be emailed to you the day after the event. Register here.
CPD points – 2 CPD hours
This webinar adheres to the continuing professional development standards of most professional bodies. Please check the CPD policy of your professional body.
STARTTS’ annual research symposiums are recorded
This event will be recorded. The recordings and slides of many of STARTTS’ previous Annual Research Symposiums can be viewed for free via the Free Recorded Webinars page. The slides can be downloaded and you can issue yourself with a certificate of completion after viewing the recordings.
Contact us
stts-training@health.nsw.gov.au
(02) 9646 6700 Ask for the Training Administration Officer