Being in a caring role can take a toll on educators’ wellbeing. This session covers the main elements of Empathy-Based Stress (Vicarious Trauma, Secondary Traumatic Stress, Compassion Fatigue and Burnout), and how it relates to the work educators do in areas affected by natural disasters and other large-scale events. It also creates a reflective space where educators can discuss practical strategies that they can implement to take care of themselves and each other.
Learning outcomes:
- Understand the strain that working in a caring role has for educators
- Understand secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, burnout and compassion fatigue
- Discuss simple individual and collective strategies that we can do to prevent and address empathy-based stress
- Identify where to access further support
Your Facilitator – Heather Mabry
Heather is a clinical social worker with over 14 years of experience in mental health service delivery across the government, education and health sector. The most recent being as Clinical Lead in headspace Schools and Communities overseeing community suicide prevention and postvention programs.
Heather has a strong background in trauma counselling and trauma informed practices, with extensive experience specialising in areas of grief, bereavement, loss, and recovery. Her current research interests include pathways to increase resilience and reduce suicide risk for both individuals and communities in complex and dynamic environments.
