Resources and stories

Transforming Education and Wellbeing: Emmaus Catholic Primary School’s Journey with ReLATE

Working with the Child Safe Standards in Victoria

Child safety is not just the responsibility of leaders within a school environment, it’s the responsibility of all members of the school community. Victoria has introduced Child Safe Standards that require all schools to be compliant with 11 standards under Ministerial Order 1359. The Order supports schools to create and maintain child-safe organisations that protect students from abuse.

Access free and expert-led professional development for educators

We've partnered with global thought leaders and subject matter experts to bring you timely, relevant and inspiring webinars to support you in your professional practice in schools. Each webinar is designed to equip educators, school leaders and principals with insights and practical strategies and counts towards PD hours.

New funding opportunity available for Power to Kids program

The Residential Care Learning and Development Strategy (RCLDS) is now offering a scholarship opportunity for implementing the Power to Kids in Out of Home Care program. RCLDS is offering to fund up to 80% of an organisation's implementation of the Power to Kids program, up to a maximum of $44,000.

Empowering aged care workers to tackle vicarious trauma

After interviewing aged care staff, researchers at RMIT found that 93 per cent of respondents had experienced physical violence at work. Despite this, the experiences of aged care workers are often overlooked. We spoke to Milly Kuranage, Head of Residential Care at Brotherhood of St Laurence Aged Care, who arranged for her staff to undertake our preventing vicarious trauma training.

Positive Schools Big Workshop 2024

Join Positive School’s unique two-day workshop-style event and walk away with practical strategies you can implement. The Big Workshop is designed to help you create positive cultures in your classrooms, schools and communities through actionable strategies that support wellbeing for staff and students.

ReLATE National Program Director Wins National Education Award

The MacKillop Institute is thrilled to announce Justin Roberts, National Program Director of ReLATE has been recognised for his unwavering passion and commitment to successful outcomes for children and young people by The Educator as 'Most Influential Educator 2024'.

New professional learning opportunities for education professionals launched

Tackling Trauma in the Classroom: Strategies for Overcoming Emotional Overload

In this article Justin Roberts discusses stratgies for overcoming the emotional overload of managing challenging behaviours in the classroom by using trauma informed strategies.

Building a Whole-School Culture of Wellbeing for Students and Staff

Our National Program Director of ReLATE Justin Roberts and ReLATE Practice Specialist Yvonne Lindross discuss how to build a whole school culture that supports the wellbeing of both students and staff.

Changes for the Power to Kids Out of Home Care Program

Power to Kids is embarking on the next exciting phase of its journey. In 2024, we’re excited for Power to Kids to transition to a new service model that will enable us to continue to deliver high-quality training and increase our focus on embedding implementation into practice. We will continue to build on the incredible achievements and learnings from the past two years and offer partner organisations a range of flexible and customised options to meet individual needs, budgets and timeframes.

Monash study reveals trauma-informed teacher training can prevent teacher burnout

A groundbreaking study by Monash University has revealed how prevalent trauma and burnout are among Australian teachers. The first known comprehensive study on the nature and extent of secondary trauma among teachers in Australia, highlights the benefits of trauma-informed teacher training.

Holy Cross Primary School: building school culture alongside ReLATE

Holy Cross Primary School opened its doors for the first time in 2021. With a brand-new school and a new team all starting at the same time, Holy Cross had a unique opportunity: a chance to build school culture from scratch and make intentional decisions on what that would look like. We spoke to Holy Cross Principal Mark Miatello and Deputy Principal Gemma Gowland about their journey with the ReLATE model.

Teacher Accredited PD

Accredited professional learning for teachers is provided across a range of The MacKillop Institute programs, workshops, training and PD for educators in schools across Australia.

Preventing sexual exploitation in residential care homes

Children living in residential care homes are at a greater risk of sexual exploitation, their vulnerable status making them a target for criminals and unwanted behaviours from peers. Since 2021, the South Australian Department for Child Protection has rolled out the Power to Kids program to help child and youth workers gain the skills to identify and prevent sexual exploitation of children and young people in their care.

Senate report on school refusal

The recent senate report on school refusal has identified a range of recommendations aimed at tackling the rising issue of school refusal. Trauma-informed practices in schools were identified as a key recommendation to support schools to re-engage students in learning without causing further distress.

Tackling workplace wellbeing with Sanctuary

Long regarded for its ability to create safe, trauma-informed environments, the Sanctuary model has been applied to health and human service organisations for over four decades. This article explores how the Sanctuary Model can combat common barriers to positive workplace wellbeing.

Is your workforce exposed to trauma?

Workers that support those impacted by trauma, are at risk of developing vicarious trauma. With workplace regulations around psychosocial risks changing in many Australian states and territories, it’s important to consider what you can to do to reduce the risk of vicarious trauma.

Join the Positive Schools Conference in 2023

Be engaged, informed and inspired at Australia's premier conference supporting wellbeing and a love of learning. For all primary and secondary educators, school leaders and allied professionals.

It’s time to rethink residential aged care

In partnership, the University of Melbourne and The MacKillop Institute are calling for a whole of sector rethink about the delivery of residential aged care in Australia. We should conceptualise residential settings as ‘intentional communities’ that provide a home ‘sanctuary’ for residents.

We can stand with Ukraine

How do you talk about the war in Ukraine with kids? This video and resource supports children to contextualise the war in Ukraine and empowers them to consider acts of empathy and kindness.

The ReLATE Circle

Seeking to build a feeling of safety, the ReLATE Circle helps to improve emotional literacy and trust in peers.

Origins of the Sanctuary model

The Sanctuary model emerged in the 1980s from the work of Dr. Sandra Bloom. Find out more about its origins.

Sanctuarys seven commitments

Core to the Sanctuary model are the seven commitments. Find out what they are and what they mean.

What happened to you Conversations on trauma resilience and healing

Find out why Oprah Winfrey's groundbreaking book draws on concepts of the Sanctuary model.

Trauma theory and the Sanctuary toolkit

Access trauma theory tools from the Sanctuary model.

Sanctuarys SELF Framework

The S.E.L.F. framework can assist with challenges or conflicts and help us to work through issues more easily. It can help us get out of the maze of confusing problems, like a compass, pointing us in the right direction.

Trust: the essential prerequisite for team building

Why is it we trust a flight attendant when in the air and hit turbulence? Learn how the conditions of reassurance, physical safety and psychological safety are similar when it comes to creating trust in schools and workplaces.

Why we should take care of our teachers

With greater responsibilities being placed on teachers and schools, a trauma-informed model can help support improved learning and wellbeing outcomes. Featured in Education Matters.

The Australian experience

Find out how we adapted the Sanctuary model to suit the Australian context.

Understanding adversity and self-care for school leaders

Leading in complex and uncertain times can have a detrimental impact on the health and wellbeing of school principals.

Helping students cope with stress and trauma

Recently featured in Teacher Magazine, learn how safety, relational trust, and shared language can support teachers and schools in improved teaching, learning and wellbeing.

Teachers are a lighthouse for all students but how do teachers keep their light burning

Teacher burnout is real. Find out how the ReLATE model helps to tackle it.

School leadership Enhancing learning environments through trauma aware practice

St Pius X Deputy Principal Stacey Atkins and Principal Joe Ewing share how their school has been putting the ReLATE model into action.

Learning environments and inclusive education

University of Melbourne and The Institute investigate the relationship between inclusive education and school learning environments.

Teachers are human too counter-stress environments make a difference

Stress and burnout strategies can reduce the negative impacts to the mental health and wellbeing of teachers.

Power to Kids program report and launch

Read the program evaluation report and watch the launch event featuring Dr. Robyn Miller, Minister Luke Donnellan, Dr. Gemma McKibbin, Victorian Principal Commissioner for Children & Young People Liana Buchanan.

Empowering young people with information

Empowering young people with information about sexual safety and relationship is key to keeping them safe now, and in the future. This case study demonstrates how “Power to Kids” embodies its name.

The power of brave conversations

Learn how the Power to Kids program upskills carers, enabling them to identify and prevent sexual exploitation of young people.

Sanctuary and community services organisations

If you've ever wondered how the Sanctuary model plays out in real life, read on.

CCYP Victoria Out of Sight report and recommendations

The Commission for Children and Young People’s Out of Sight report recommends Power to Kids be funded by the Victorian Government and rolled out to all residential care homes in Victoria.

Power to Kids receives Minister’s Highly Commended Program

Recognised in the 2021 Minister's Award for Innovation in Protecting Children for its innovative approach and creative intervention.