COURSE CATEGORY
Professional Skills
Trauma informed practice in family law – what practitioners should do and know
Western Australia Customers
Please note this course has not been updated in the last twelve months and does not satisfy the requirements for CPD in WA.
Reviewed November 23, 2021
Trauma affects us all, directly or indirectly. Despite the large numbers of people affected, many of us often don’t think of the possibility that someone we meet, speak or support may have experienced trauma. This makes us less likely to recognise it. Trauma informed practice in a family law context strengthens the ability for practitioners to screen, understand and respond to trauma and its impact on a client’s emotional, psychological and social wellbeing.
In this course, Dr. Susan Armstrong will guide you through the importance of:
- Trauma and family law?
- Understanding what is trauma
- What is trauma informed practice?
- How family law practitioners can be trauma informed?
- How can family law practitioners avoid vicarious trauma?
TARGET AUDIENCE
All practising lawyers
CPD POINTS
1
TYPE
Video-based interactive module
Course Author: Susan Armstrong
Susan was a researcher, legal educator, curriculum innovator and held a wide range of governance roles at Western Sydney Law School for over 20 years. She is currently appointed an Adjunct Professor in the Law School. Her teaching accomplishments were acknowledged by international, national and university excellence awards. She partnered with western Sydney community legal centres to develop an award-winning program to help law students better understand domestic violence. Collaborating with family law service providers in western Sydney, she led a research team to develop culturally responsive service delivery in family dispute resolution (FDR). Susan is an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and Mediator, and is currently the principal in an independent family dispute resolution practice that supports people to separate compassionately through mediation and collaborative practice. She also works for Relationships Australia Mediation Service. Susan is a founding member of the Australian Dispute Resolution Research Network, and has had extensive governance experience. She was twice elected Law School representative on Academic Senate, chaired the Management Committee of South West Sydney Legal Centre, was Secretary to the Management Committee of Manly Yoga and Meditation Centre and Chair of St John’s Narraweena School Board. Sue is currently a committee member of the Family Dispute Resolution Special Interest Group of the Resolution Institute NSW, on a sub-committee of Collaborative Professionals (NSW) Inc, and a member of the Northern Beaches Collaborative Practice Group.
