The Silent Cost

The Flourish Movement led by Dr Adam Fraser PhD, is dedicated to enhancing the wellbeing and effectiveness of educators through evidence-based research and interventions in collaboration with Deakin University.

Recently, the team conducted a study on “Factors influencing the impact of secondary exposure to trauma on Australian teachers”. This research builds on findings from a 2023 Australian review by Oberg et al., published in Frontiers in Education, which highlighted a significant gap in understanding how supporting traumatised students affects educators.

While trauma-informed practices are helping students heal and thrive, the impact on educators themselves often goes unnoticed. Teachers and school leaders supporting traumatised students are increasingly vulnerable to secondary trauma - a silent cost of this vital work.

The research, led by John Molineux (Senior Lecturer, Deakin Business School), explored four key questions:

❓ How prevalent is this issue in Australian schools?
❓What are the key factors that lead to secondary trauma in educators?
❓What are the strategies that are used to manage it?
❓What strategies are most effective in minimising the impact of secondary trauma?

The scope of the study is striking in itself, involving interviews with 107 educators nationwide, 2,285 survey responses, and 1,068 personal stories.

With support from Deakin University's Science and Society Network, this work aims to shed light on the emotional challenges faced by educators and develop strategies to support their wellbeing.