The hidden epidemic of toxic stress in schools is having a negative impact on the classroom environment with unresolved childhood trauma leading to greater social and psychological problems in adulthood.
To address this growing issue, KidsXpress, in partnership with Greater Charitable Foundation, delivered the first of six trauma-informed workshops for the year on Thursday 23 January at Avondale School.
More than 75 Avondale School staff members, including the school executive team, teaching and support staff will attend the workshop that offers tools to cope with extreme situations while creating a safe environment where children can thrive.
The workshop was the first to be delivered on the Central Coast this year after KidsXpress secured more than $30,000 in funding from Greater Charitable Foundation.
KidsXpress Head of Programs, Michelle Montgomery, said workshop participants would leave with an increased understanding of trauma and its impact on children.
“With one in five children experiencing some kind of traumatic stress, evidence shows this can have a detrimental effect on their ‘learning brain’ if left untreated. So it’s essential that educators have the skills and confidence to support children to overcome their challenges,” Michelle said.
“The recent bushfires are an example of how a natural disaster can have a negative impact on children so we will be teaching participants practical skills they can use in the classroom and across the school to help these children to prosper.”
Greater Charitable Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Anne Long, said the Foundation was proud to support KidsXpress’s trauma-informed workshops.
“We have a strong tradition of partnering with organisations that provide practical, life-changing initiatives and the KidsXpress workshops are a wonderful example of how we are helping make a difference to the emotional wellbeing of local children,” Ms Long said.
“The Foundation’s support of these workshops will enable 240 regionally-based educators and child-related professionals to develop the skills and confidence to feel empowered to help children affected by traumatic stress.”
Greater Charitable Foundation’s allocation last year of more than $1 million takes its total funding since establishment in 2011 to more than $9 million, which has been allocated to 31 charity partners, impacting more than 32,000 beneficiaries.
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