Emma's life story is a profound testament to the enduring impact of trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on an individual's lived experience. From a young age, Emma faced a series of harrowing events including domestic violence, parental mental illness, sexual abuse, and the breakdown of her family. These early traumas were compounded by periods of homelessness, the responsibility of caring for siblings with disabilities, and navigating the complexities of teenage pregnancy. Despite leaving high school at the age of 15, Emma’s determination led her to eventually earn a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master’s degree in Disability Policy and Practice.

As Emma transitioned into adulthood, the challenges persisted. The sudden death of her partner when she was six months pregnant left her as a single mother to a 10-year-old son and an 11-month-old infant. This profound loss was followed by the trauma of a house fire, further destabilizing her already precarious situation. Amidst these trials, Emma also undertook the role of a carer for family members, adding to her emotional and physical burdens.

Emma's narrative illustrates the cumulative and intergenerational effects of trauma, highlighting the resilience required to navigate such an array of adversities. Her experiences underscore the necessity for comprehensive support systems to address the complex needs of individuals affected by prolonged and multifaceted trauma. Emma's journey offers valuable insights into the pervasive nature of ACEs and the critical importance of targeted interventions to foster healing and resilience in similar circumstances.

In the wake of a major inquiry, Tasmanian child safety is reaching its tipping point for meaningful reform. In 2023, the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government's Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings tabled its final report, outlining devastating findings of abuse and trauma suffered by children in Tasmania, and making dozens of recommendations for change. 

However, the Commission of Inquiry is only one piece of a much larger puzzle, where wider issues of child safety, and the ability of the state to provide trauma-informed safety and practice, remain unresolved.

Victim/Survivors and Whistleblowers, many of whom gave evidence and were central to the inquiry's formation, are caught between the urgent hopes of meaningful reform, and the fears of familiar failures by government agencies to deliver on necessary change. Professionals that work directly with children in multiple settings have to find ways to bridge the gap between the abstract reform of service delivery, and the manifest reality of trauma-informed practice with children. 

Using Victim/Survivor and Whistleblower perspectives, this presentation explores the progress that has been made towards meaningful reform, the challenges that remain, and how those directly affected by the work of the Commission seek to deliver trauma-informed practice in Tasmanian children’s services and the wider spheres of state governance.

Trauma-Informed (TI) Supervision merges an understanding of trauma with supervisory practices, highlighting the dynamic interplay between trauma, the supervisor and supervisee, the helping relationship, and the surrounding context of the work environment. Often TI supervision and lived experience go hand in hand, but may not be known, or discussed. What can evolve when lived experience and TI supervision merges, either from the supervisee, supervisor, or both parties, is a compassionate, empathetic, and relational approach to supervision, that recognises the profound effects personal narratives of lived experience can bring into this professional relationship, whilst also emphasising the attention that both parties pay to their relationship. 

While the supervisor or supervisee may or may not be actively involved in a role defined by their own experiences, or even directly share their experiences in supervision, their awareness of how these experiences inform supervisory practices is pivotal. From this synergy a Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) Supervisory Approach can develop, characterized by core principles such as safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment. These principles not only enrich the supervisory interaction, but can mirror a healthy therapeutic connection between practitioners and those they serve—children, youth, and families affected by trauma.  A TIC Supervisory Approach can foster an environment where supervisees feel supported to participate and engage deeply with their work while maintaining a reflective practice that values resilience and healing. A TIC Supervisory Approach can also protect a workforce from secondary or vicarious trauma, as a consequence of the emotional demands of their work, and demonstrate a workplace or organisation’s commitment to implementing an integrated, trauma-informed system of care.