Teachers play a vital role in providing positive experiences for students, especially those who have experienced trauma. However, many teachers in Australia are leaving the profession, leading to a shortage of teachers.
Previous studies have found that teachers who work with students who have experienced trauma are more likely to experience compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout if they lack training on trauma awareness.
Glenys Oberg, Professor Annemaree Carroll, and Dr Stephanie MacMahon from The University of Queensland’s Learning Lab further investigate the impact on teachers working with students who experienced trauma.
Their recent publication with Frontiers in Education reviews existing research to explore the challenges faced by teachers and students in a post-COVID world. Their review suggests that more research is needed to understand the impact of working with traumatised students on teachers.
Researchers conclude that higher education institutions and schools should provide better training to prepare teachers to support traumatised students while taking care of their own wellbeing.
