The challenge
Most existing vicarious trauma training was heavily focused on symptoms and potential harm, framed around individual resilience and self-care, and light on practical, work-based risk mitigation strategies. At the same time, organisations were strengthening their approach to psychosocial risk management – and leaders were asking hard questions:
- How do we prepare trauma-exposed workers to understand the risk and adopt safe work practices from day one?
- How can we support workers to feel confident and capable, rather than apprehensive about harm?
- How do we equip managers to recognise trauma exposure as a foreseeable psychosocial hazard and actively manage it?
- How do we move beyond awareness training toward practical, day-to-day safe work practices?
There was a clear gap between regulatory expectations, organisational intent, and the training tools available to support implementation. The eLearning modules were developed to bridge that gap.
The learning solution
We partnered with the program’s creator, Amy, to transform her Churchill Fellowship research into a scalable, system-focused eLearning program grounded in occupational safety principles. The program was designed in two versions: Mitigating Vicarious Trauma: An Introduction for employees – focused on awareness, early warning signs and safe engagement with trauma-exposed work – and An Introduction for Managers, with additional content on WHS obligations, system-level controls and leadership responsibility for psychosocial risk.
- Animated explainers
- Scenario-based storytelling illustrating uncontrolled vs managed exposure
- Interactive activities and system-mapping visuals
- Reflection prompts
Vicarious trauma is an occupational hazard. With the right controls in place, that risk can be identified early and managed in ways that protect both people and purpose.
The platform
We set up and configured the LearnWorlds LMS, preparing the platform for commercial rollout – a professional, ready-to-scale digital learning product ready for enrolments, licensing and organisational deployment.
The outcome
The project transformed rigorous research into an engaging, interactive experience that makes trauma mitigation practical and accessible. The client now has a commercially deployable course aligned with WHS psychosocial risk regulations, a structured way to support both frontline staff and executive leaders, and a learning asset that cements her position as a national thought leader in vicarious trauma mitigation.
More importantly, organisations now have practical guidance to move from awareness to action – they’re not just learning about vicarious trauma, they’re learning how to design safer systems of work.
I really can’t tell you what a delight it was to work with Hungry Minds.
