Course Profile

Children in Acute Emergency Situations: Management and Care

Specialist child health and welfare personnel have a specific range of skills, they may be called on in an acute emergency or disaster situation to provide immediate management and care for children. There are also circumstances when personal support team members may be required to support distressed children.

This one day course is designed to develop the existing knowledge and skill base of participants to focus on the immediate impact of emergency events on children, and their needs in this context. The course also provides strategies for supporting and helping children in order to give a sound basis for their longer term recovery from the impact of an emergency incident.

 Topics covered include:

• Children's reactions to trauma and emergency situations.
• Children's needs, age specific responses to trauma and effective trauma management strategies.
• Early and process intervention.
• Psychological first aid.

This course will be conducted by Ruth Wraith, Psycho-social Consultant for the Department of Human Services and a specialist in child trauma and disaster management, and shall involve a mixture of lectures, small group work, and exercises.

Suggested participants

• Child and Maternal Health Nurses and School Nurses
• Preschool and Child Care Centre staff and School Psychologists
• Counsellors, Members of Personal Support Teams
• Centre for Adolescent Mental Health Staff

Enquiries

Please contact Bill Little by e-mail at Bill.Little@dhs.vic.gov.au

Registration