Why Graduate Certificate in Childhood Trauma?
Become a trauma-informed changemaker.
Child abuse and neglect is one of Australia’s greatest social and public health crises. Its impact is wide ranging, devastating and inter-generational.
Teachers, health and other frontline professionals that work directly with young people are often among the first to notice when something’s not right. But, if you don’t know the signs of abuse, it can be easy to miss.
Knowing how to respond compassionately in the moments that matter. Connecting children and families with timely, appropriate supports. These actions are life changing and key to helping young people rebuild a sense of safety and hope for their future.
A future where all children can live safely and free from violence is possible – and that change starts with you.
Overview
Gain the skills to help young people who have experienced trauma rebuild a sense of safety in our 100% online Graduate Certificate in Childhood Trauma.
The first of its kind in Australia, this completely online qualification has been developed by experienced practitioners in child development and trauma. It’s been designed to align with national strategies for improving the prevention of child abuse and trauma and is informed by contemporary research undertaken by our world-leading Australian Centre for Child Protection.
Best suited to professionals that are currently working in the education, social work or healthcare fields – the graduate diploma is for those who wish to deepen their knowledge of trauma and evidence-based supports available to support young people. Extend your knowledge of child abuse and neglect and the evidence-based supports that are available to support young people. Increase your knowledge and skills in recognising and responding to child abuse and neglect, harmful sexual behaviours and the impact of trauma on child and adolescent development.
Gain the skills and confidence to work with young people and their families across a range of therapeutic, direct care and advocacy settings.
Key features
Acquire the skills to understand, recognise and respond to signs of trauma in children resulting from abuse and neglect. - Learn from industry experts, including child development and trauma specialists.
- Develop evidence-based approaches to effectively support and care for young people who have experienced complex trauma.
- Study 100% online and engage with your studies at a pace that suits you.
- Engage with world-leading research undertaken by our Australian Centre for Child Protection.
- Build a network of professional peers through regular, reflective community of practice sessions.
What you'll learn
Our Graduate Certificate in Childhood Trauma has been designed to provide you with specialised knowledge and a deeper understanding of how to work therapeutically with vulnerable children.
Studying part-time and 100% online, you will complete four courses:
- Foundations of childhood trauma
- Principles of responding to childhood trauma
- Assessing childhood trauma
- Therapeutic responses to childhood trauma.
Learn to better understand, recognise and respond to child trauma from abuse and neglect. Explore important topics including neurodevelopment, attachment, trauma-informed care, case planning, referral, assessment and reflective practice.
Throughout your studies, you’ll take part in regular community of practice sessions. These sessions provide an invaluable opportunity for you to connect with specialists and peers to work through the course content in an interactive and supportive environment. Framed by your professional experience, they offer a way to meaningfully reflect on concepts and apply these in the context of your professional practice.
With course materials that draw on world-first research and evidence-based approaches to practice, you’ll graduate with the skills and understanding to move forward in your career.
What courses you'll study
Complete 24 units comprising:
- 24 units for all Core courses
Complete 24 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
UO Assessing Childhood Trauma
|
Course code
SOCI5005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Foundations of Childhood Trauma
|
Course code
SOCI5006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Principles of Responding to Childhood Trauma
|
Course code
SOCI5007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
UO Therapeutic Responses to Childhood Trauma
|
Course code
SOCI5008
|
Units
6
|
Career outcomes
Child abuse is a complex topic, and understanding and responding to it requires a nuanced approach. The skills gained in the Graduate Certificate in Childhood Trauma will allow you to look at this field holistically and from a trauma-informed perspective. Enabling you to apply your knowledge across a range of sectors and opening specialised career pathways in areas such as child protection, government and human services, social and youth work, education and health.
If you have an existing role as a police officer, you could incorporate trauma-informed practices to create more positive, supportive interactions with traumatised young people and their families. Already work as a teacher? You might apply your expertise to modify your classroom environment and teaching strategies to better support students impacted by trauma and their families. Or perhaps you’re currently a case worker – you could help young clients, and their families avoid further re-traumatisation by delivering services in a way that prioritises safety and focuses on building strengths.
Whatever your area of interest, career paths are available in a wide range of sectors including:
- Child protection agencies
- Education
- Family support services
- Foster care and adoption services
- Healthcare
- Juvenile justice programs
- Research and policy development
- Victim advocacy services
- Youth services.
Industry trends
Many cases of child abuse are not disclosed to authorities, and there is evidence to suggest the actual statistics are much higher than what gets reported. According to the most recent figures, 1 in 32 Australian children came into contact with the child protection system in 2022-23. More than two-thirds of these children were repeat clients (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Child protection, 2024).
Experiences of and exposure to traumatic experiences as a child or young person can have both immediate and lifelong negative effects on the health, wellbeing, development, and life satisfaction of victim-survivors. Furthermore, interactions with core services – healthcare, education, human services, criminal justice – can often be re-traumatising due to a lack of adequate provider understanding of the wide-ranging impacts of trauma (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Family domestic and sexual violence, 2024).
In recent years, there’s been a huge uptake of knowledge and awareness of the detrimental impacts of child abuse and neglect trauma on the developing child. As a result, trauma-informed perspectives, principles and practices are being adopted by organisations and systems across a wide range of sectors including education, healthcare, social and human services, and criminal justice. Professionals with a good working knowledge of this growing evidence base will continue to be sought-after –especially in these industries that work directly with children and their families (WA Department of Communities, 2021).
Your study experience and support
Studying 100% online with Adelaide University means joining a dynamic community of learners – all supported by dedicated teams committed to your success. From day one to graduation, you’ll have access to comprehensive academic, student and technical support teams to ensure you get the most out of your online learning journey.
Student support services
Need help with enrolments, managing your study load, or setting your academic goals? Our student support team is here to assist. They’re your first point of contact for advice and are available seven days a week, including out-of-hours and on weekends. Get the help you need – when it suits you.
As an online student, you’ll also have access to our specialised on-campus student support services. Whether you’re looking for career advice, health and wellbeing support, international student assistance, accessibility services, or something else, we’ve got you covered. Visit the Support webpage to explore the services available.
Online academic support
From understanding course content to tackling assignments, writing, and referencing, our expert academics are here to guide you. Available seven days a week, they’ll provide personalised support to help you progress through your studies.
Tech support
We’ve got your back when it comes to technology. Our IT support team is available 24/7 to resolve any tech challenges you might face. With fast response times and tailored solutions, we’ll ensure nothing stands in your way. You’ll also enjoy free access to software downloads required for your program.
Study hours
Adelaide University’s 100% online programs offer the flexibility to fit your lifestyle. You can engage with course materials at any time that works for you – there’s no need to log in at set times. To stay on track, we recommend setting aside 10 to 15 hours per week for each course, but you can adapt your schedule and your study load to suit your needs.
Assessment
All assessments, including exams (if required) are conducted 100% online – so you’ll never need to travel to submit an assignment or sit an exam. Depending on your program, your assessments might include:
- An industry-relevant project or case study
- An online presentation
- Essays and reports.
