FREE WELLBEING & TRAUMA TRAINING

Flooding in the NSW Central and West regions last year has left many employees and volunteers in not-for-profits and community groups feeling burnt out and, in some cases, suffering from vicarious trauma after becoming frontline responders and accidental counsellors for those affected.

But help is at hand. With support from the NSW Government and Australian Government, through the NGO Flood Grant Program, Benefolk Foundation is running a series of free face-to-face training on managing wellbeing and overcoming and managing trauma. The training will take place from May to August 2024 and be delivered by an experienced psychologist and wellbeing trainer, both of whom are highly experienced in trauma informed training, facilitation and consulting.

Learn more online and register for an upcoming one-day session in Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Bathurst, Griffith or Glen Innes here: https://benefolk.org/resources/central-west-special-project.

Or Register for the Training in your area:

● 3 May 2024 - Wagga Wagga

● 24 May - Dubbo

● 14 June - Bathurst

● 28 June - Griffith

● 2 August - Glen Innes

In addition, grassroots groups across these regions can access free online masterclasses, self-paced

courses and online resources, including The Community Well – the social sector resilience and wellbeing

hub, which has more than 100 practical resources designed specifically for NFP organisations.

Sign Up for the Masterclasses, using code: Sponsored100

● 9 May - Understanding & Preventing the Impacts of Trauma

● 5 June - Workplace Wellbeing Strategy - build a plan on a page

For any questions, email hello@benefolk.org.

Why is training needed?

Demand for organisational mental health and wellbeing services and training increased over 2022 and 2023, as organisations continue to grapple with the impacts of drought, bushfires, COVID and then flooding, as well as recent changes to workplace legislation.

Organisation leaders are telling us that their teams are exhausted, and the impact this is having on service

delivery. Many staff and volunteers are not trained to respond effectively.

Research tells us that 20% of frontline responders go on to experience PTSD as a result of being exposed to the trauma of their client. Not-for-profit and charity leaders in regional and rural NSW have told us over recent months that their teams are exhausted, and many also outlined the impacts this is having on service delivery.

The Northern Rivers program also captured the barriers to training and advisory as perceived by local

organisations. This included:

- 34.2% citing cost/budget;

- 72.6% citing time; and

- 56.4% citing local accessibility.

During engagement with Northern Rivers charities, we heard comments like:

“We have staff leaving the sector now from burning out. It’s just too hard.”

“We are doing a one-handed doggie paddle just to keep up.”

“The grant is helping us from not falling over from exhaustion.” and

“Often we burn ourselves out doing our job.”

Many organisation leaders have also told us they feel ill-equipped to prevent the impacts of trauma in their

organisations, with many staff and volunteers not trained to respond effectively to the level of trauma

experienced.

In addition, NSW psycho-social legislation changed in 2023 and it is imperative for all NFPs and charities to

be on the frontfoot of staff and volunteer wellbeing. As a government funded training program, it is helping

organisations achieve these objectives.

For more information, contact Sally Alden, Program Manager, via hello@benefolk.org.