Dr Judith Howard is an Associate Professor from the Education Faculty at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She has an extensive career history with schooling in Queensland. She has worked as a teacher, guidance officer and behaviour support specialist and has held both regional and state positions overseeing work in the area of student behaviour support. Dr Howard’s work at QUT has a keen focus on the concerns of young learners who have experienced trauma. She promotes a neuroscience-informed approach - to which she believes every educator and worker in every school and early childhood service needs access. Dr Howard oversees pre-service and post-graduate teacher education in trauma-aware education, is the author of the popular book: “Distressed or Deliberately Defiant: Managing Challenging Student Behaviour due to Trauma and Disorganised Attachment”, is the principal chair of the biennial “Trauma-Aware Schooling” conference, and has developed online courses that are reaching thousands nationally and internationally.

2022 MHIS Presentation: “Trauma-Aware Education” in Australia

Dr Howard will be discussing the important and growing emphasis on “Trauma-Aware Education” in Australia. The worrying events associated with natural disasters and the global COVID-19 pandemic have led to a greater emphasis on the role of education sites and systems in supporting learners who suffer the mental health and well-being impacts of various types of trauma. There is also a greater emphasis on addressing the mental health and well-being needs of educators. Dr Howard will provide an overview of what Trauma-Aware Education looks like in schools, and some updated information on important activity regarding policy and practice reform and developing the leadership capacities of educators.