Being trauma-informed: Principles and actions

Being trauma-informed: Principles and actions is a resource for kaimahi and organisations to create safe and supportive spaces.

Based on Keeping it Real | Kia Pono te Tika, this essential level resource is for all kaimahi working in health, developed by Te Rau Ora, Le Va, Whāraurau and Te Pou.

The resource helps us understand what a trauma-informed approach in an Aotearoa New Zealand context means, why it’s important, and shows examples of what we can do every day to make a difference.

This resource includes information on:

• what trauma is and what a trauma-informed approach is within an Aotearoa New Zealand context
• why a trauma-informed approach is important
• the potential impacts of trauma and the protective factors that can help build resilience
• what actions support a trauma-informed approach, from both a service and individual perspective.

Trauma is the impact of an event, a cumulation of events, or circumstances causing adverse long-term consequences on the mental, physical, social, emotional, cultural, or spiritual wellbeing of people, whānau or communities. Recognising, understanding and responding to trauma in an informed way leads to positive outcomes for tāngata whai ora.

A trauma-informed approach:

• is a whole-system organisational response
• recognises and acknowledges the impact trauma can have on people, whānau, and communities, and that behaviour or reactions may be the result of trauma
• focuses on safety to avoid retraumatising tāngata whai ora.

Both individual workers (kaimahi) and organisations need to commit to a trauma-informed approach for it to be successful.