Kidsxpress School Partnership Program: Embedding Trauma Informed Education and Expressive Therapy Services Within a Southwest Sydney Public Primary School
Tracks
Ballroom 2 - In Person Only
| Wednesday, March 20, 2024 |
| 8:55 AM - 9:15 AM |
Overview
Robyn Turton, Kidsxpress
Speaker
Ms Robyn Turton
Trauma Informed Education Consultant
Kidsxpress
Kidsxpress School Partnership Program: Embedding Trauma Informed Education and Expressive Therapy Services Within a Southwest Sydney Public Primary School
Abstract
Creative expressive therapies in school benefit children impacted by trauma.
Creative-expressive therapy has become increasingly utilised in school-based trauma interventions and is now one of the most studied (Hudson et al., 2023) and effective (Morison et al., 2022) forms of therapy. Hampden Park Public School has 900 students, with 99% of students from a non-English speaking background and 13% having refugee status or refugee-like experiences. Providing creative expressive therapy in school benefits children with limited language skills and those impacted by trauma. 91.7 percent of children who attended KidsXpress identified positive change in themselves (CORS, 2023, Term 3)
Implementing trauma informed practice in schools needs a long-term partnership.
Unlike a program that may fly in and out of a school, the ‘School Partnership Program’ has allowed time to build long term, trusting relationships between KidsXpress and the school community. In a ‘School Partnership Program’ the KidsXpress therapeutic service and a Trauma Informed Education Consultant (TIEC) are based on school grounds for 3-5 years. Key factors to a successful partnership have been understanding and communicating the purpose of the program, having a highly supportive School Principal, listening well to one another, and working collaboratively.
An in-school partnership increases accessibility to mental health and trauma informed education support for children, parents and teachers.
In addition to providing training to staff and parents, the TIEC assists teachers in the implementation and embedding of trauma informed practice in class. They are present at school for ongoing consultation and can tailor support according to need. Children are identified as needing therapeutic support by KidsXpress, parents and school staff. Providing therapeutic services at school reduces barriers such as travel time and cost. The school is a trusted entity which creates a soft entry point for families to access mental health services for their children.
Creative-expressive therapy has become increasingly utilised in school-based trauma interventions and is now one of the most studied (Hudson et al., 2023) and effective (Morison et al., 2022) forms of therapy. Hampden Park Public School has 900 students, with 99% of students from a non-English speaking background and 13% having refugee status or refugee-like experiences. Providing creative expressive therapy in school benefits children with limited language skills and those impacted by trauma. 91.7 percent of children who attended KidsXpress identified positive change in themselves (CORS, 2023, Term 3)
Implementing trauma informed practice in schools needs a long-term partnership.
Unlike a program that may fly in and out of a school, the ‘School Partnership Program’ has allowed time to build long term, trusting relationships between KidsXpress and the school community. In a ‘School Partnership Program’ the KidsXpress therapeutic service and a Trauma Informed Education Consultant (TIEC) are based on school grounds for 3-5 years. Key factors to a successful partnership have been understanding and communicating the purpose of the program, having a highly supportive School Principal, listening well to one another, and working collaboratively.
An in-school partnership increases accessibility to mental health and trauma informed education support for children, parents and teachers.
In addition to providing training to staff and parents, the TIEC assists teachers in the implementation and embedding of trauma informed practice in class. They are present at school for ongoing consultation and can tailor support according to need. Children are identified as needing therapeutic support by KidsXpress, parents and school staff. Providing therapeutic services at school reduces barriers such as travel time and cost. The school is a trusted entity which creates a soft entry point for families to access mental health services for their children.
Biography
Robyn Turton, a social worker with over 20 years’ experience, is a ‘Trauma Informed Education Consultant’ for KidsXpress. Since 2006, KidsXpress has delivered Expressive Therapy services to children using art, music, drama, and play.
Based at Hampden Park Public School, Robyn and two expressive therapists work in a ‘School Partnership Program’ where they have a dedicated classroom for therapy. The program, in its fourth year, allows the team to work closely with students, families, and staff to provide mental health support for the whole school community, whilst building the capacity of staff to be trauma aware through training and consultation.
