UO Foundations of Childhood Trauma

The aim of this course is to enable students to develop specialised knowledge of child abuse and neglect, the impact of childhood trauma on children and young people and theoretical concepts relevant to childhood trauma from abuse and neglect. This course introduces specialised knowledge of child abuse, neglect and childhood adversities, prevalence of these within Australia, and the relationship between child abuse, neglect and trauma. Course content also includes the impacts of trauma on domains of functioning for children and young people and a number of important theories relates to childhood trauma (such as attachment theory, child development, neurodevelopment and intergenerational and collective trauma). Given that childhood adversities are a risk factor for children and young people displaying harmful sexualised behaviours (HSB), prevalence and research regarding HSB in children and young people are also covered within this course. Finally, this course also introduces the concept of reflective practice as a central component to working with childhood trauma.