Trauma responsive education can help students facing natural disasters: podcast

With more than 140 flood warnings in place across New South Wales and Victoria, an expert has urged teachers and schools to turn to trauma responsive education to better help students respond to the stresses associated with natural disasters. 

Deakin University senior education lecturer Tebeje Molla says each individual students’ response to traumatic events differs, and their behaviour can often be misunderstood and labelled ‘problematic’ in the classroom. 

“Trauma impacted students can be hyperactive and struggle to concentrate, others can be inactive and withdraw from learning activities which undermine their academic performance,” Molla told Education Review. 

He believes schools and teachers should engage in trauma informed practices to help them identify trauma signs and better support the different needs of their students.

“Schools and teachers may struggle to identify the learning needs and manage the behaviours of trauma impacted students which increases stress among staff," he said. 

“It will also help schools with teacher attrition, because when teachers are stressed they are more likely to leave the school system altogether."

Molla joined Education Review to unpack trauma responsive education and how teachers can prep for the future.