Trauma can affect how people communicate in the courtroom – and their ability to comply with directions and orders of the court.
It is well understood that many people appearing before courts and tribunals have been impacted by trauma.
By becoming trauma-informed, you can effectively manage the effects of trauma in your court or tribunal room.
In this experiential, skills-based event, you will:
- enhance your understanding of trauma – and how it presents in your court or tribunal room
- learn skills and techniques for working with trauma-affected parties to balance procedural fairness with sensitivity
- be supported in your learning by facilitators who are experts in trauma and trauma-informed practice.
Facilitators.
Family Violence Social Worker
Abbey Newman
Abbey Newman is the first social worker to obtain a family violence accredited from the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and has been in the family violence and sexual assault sector for over 17 years. Working across all areas including with victims, perpetrators, children and young people, crisis intervention, education, prevention and within the justice system.
Abbey operates a private practice providing:
Specialist family violence court reports and appearing as a single expert witness.
Ongoing therapeutic recovery,
Clinical supervision.
Abbey is currently employed with Forensicare as the Specialist Family Violence Advisor and has a particular interest in the intersection of family violence, sexual assault, and mental health.
Abbey has lectured with RMIT University in the undergraduate and masters social work program, in the subject Violence and Abuse.
Abbey believes that dignity, trust, and safety are essential components when working with anyone who has experienced trauma.
Family Violence Social Worker
Abbey Newman
Abbey Newman is the first social worker to obtain a family violence accredited from the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and has been in the family violence and sexual assault sector for over 17 years. Working across all areas including with victims, perpetrators, children and young people, crisis intervention, education, prevention and within the justice system.
Abbey operates a private practice providing:
Specialist family violence court reports and appearing as a single expert witness.
Ongoing therapeutic recovery,
Clinical supervision.
Abbey is currently employed with Forensicare as the Specialist Family Violence Advisor and has a particular interest in the intersection of family violence, sexual assault, and mental health.
Abbey has lectured with RMIT University in the undergraduate and masters social work program, in the subject Violence and Abuse.
Abbey believes that dignity, trust, and safety are essential components when working with anyone who has experienced trauma.
Blue Knot Foundation
Merrin Wake
Merrin Wake (she/her) holds an honorary doctorate from Deakin University for her work in inclusive healthcare and public advocacy. She works as a health and education consultant, this includes clinical and therapeutic work as a LGBTIQA+ child and family practitioner as well as a trauma informed and diversity and inclusion educator for government, corporate, schools, health services and not-for-profit sector. Her work has led her to focus on community engagement and ensuring the needs of the communities she works with are listened to and heard. Merrin has a passion for working alongside families and carers of young people with a whole of family approach to support our kids to be all they can be.
Merrin is a survivor of child sexual abuse and the proud parent of a transgender young person. Merrin uses her own lived experience alongside her clinical knowledge to break down stigma and advocate for the stories of individuals and families. Merrin believes that change happens when people are met where they are. She uses storytelling and practice knowledge to help change attitudes and systems which she believes is achievable when we first acknowledge pain and harm and when we honour our stories, our lives and our own strengths.
Blue Knot Foundation
Merrin Wake
Merrin Wake (she/her) holds an honorary doctorate from Deakin University for her work in inclusive healthcare and public advocacy. She works as a health and education consultant, this includes clinical and therapeutic work as a LGBTIQA+ child and family practitioner as well as a trauma informed and diversity and inclusion educator for government, corporate, schools, health services and not-for-profit sector. Her work has led her to focus on community engagement and ensuring the needs of the communities she works with are listened to and heard. Merrin has a passion for working alongside families and carers of young people with a whole of family approach to support our kids to be all they can be.
Merrin is a survivor of child sexual abuse and the proud parent of a transgender young person. Merrin uses her own lived experience alongside her clinical knowledge to break down stigma and advocate for the stories of individuals and families. Merrin believes that change happens when people are met where they are. She uses storytelling and practice knowledge to help change attitudes and systems which she believes is achievable when we first acknowledge pain and harm and when we honour our stories, our lives and our own strengths.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Magistrate Michael King
Dr Michael King is the Dandenong Drug Court magistrate. For almost 20 years he has presided as a magistrate in mainstream and specialist court lists in Victoria and Western Australia. He is recognised internationally as an expert in therapeutic jurisprudence and solution-focused judging. He is the author of the Solution-Focused Judging Bench Book and a co-author of Non-Adversarial Justice. He is the author of over 40 published articles on therapeutic jurisprudence, solution-focused judging, judicial ethics, non-adversarial justice, coronial practice, trauma-informed court practice and meditation.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Magistrate Michael King
Dr Michael King is the Dandenong Drug Court magistrate. For almost 20 years he has presided as a magistrate in mainstream and specialist court lists in Victoria and Western Australia. He is recognised internationally as an expert in therapeutic jurisprudence and solution-focused judging. He is the author of the Solution-Focused Judging Bench Book and a co-author of Non-Adversarial Justice. He is the author of over 40 published articles on therapeutic jurisprudence, solution-focused judging, judicial ethics, non-adversarial justice, coronial practice, trauma-informed court practice and meditation.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Magistrate Ros Porter
Magistrate Porter is the Supervising Magistrate of the Assessment and Referral Court, a therapeutic court supporting individuals with mental health and cognitive disability to access support and be motivated to make changes to lead better lives. She has been a Magistrate for 13 years in the Children’s Court and Magistrates’ Court. Previously Magistrate Porter was a lawyer for 20 years, working with Victoria Legal Aid and in private practice, with child and adult clients in the child protection, family law and criminal law areas of practice, many with trauma experiences. She has an interest in the intersection of the law and mental health issues and is passionate about how we can make the experience of court more therapeutic.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Magistrate Ros Porter
Magistrate Porter is the Supervising Magistrate of the Assessment and Referral Court, a therapeutic court supporting individuals with mental health and cognitive disability to access support and be motivated to make changes to lead better lives. She has been a Magistrate for 13 years in the Children’s Court and Magistrates’ Court. Previously Magistrate Porter was a lawyer for 20 years, working with Victoria Legal Aid and in private practice, with child and adult clients in the child protection, family law and criminal law areas of practice, many with trauma experiences. She has an interest in the intersection of the law and mental health issues and is passionate about how we can make the experience of court more therapeutic.
Victoria Legal Aid
Elanor Peattie
Elanor Peattie is the Associate Director Therapeutic Justice at Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) and oversees VLA’s legal services in the Assessment and Referral Court, Drug Courts, Koori Courts and the Neighbourhood Justice Centre. Elanor’s role also involves promoting and supporting the use of therapeutic and restorative justice approaches across all VLA’s criminal law services and policy and advocacy work. Elanor has worked for over 20 years as a criminal lawyer in both defence and prosecution roles, including extensive practice in therapeutic courts and has a Master of Laws (Human Rights).
Victoria Legal Aid
Elanor Peattie
Elanor Peattie is the Associate Director Therapeutic Justice at Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) and oversees VLA’s legal services in the Assessment and Referral Court, Drug Courts, Koori Courts and the Neighbourhood Justice Centre. Elanor’s role also involves promoting and supporting the use of therapeutic and restorative justice approaches across all VLA’s criminal law services and policy and advocacy work. Elanor has worked for over 20 years as a criminal lawyer in both defence and prosecution roles, including extensive practice in therapeutic courts and has a Master of Laws (Human Rights).
Victoria Police
Sergeant Mark Stephens
Sergeant Stephens has been in Victoria Police for 45 years. He worked operationally for approximately 20 years including 12 years as a police negotiator. Sergeant Stephens became a prosecutor in 2001 working at Melbourne, Moorabbin and the Neighbourhood Justice Centre. He has been the lead prosecutor in Koori Court at Melbourne Children’s Court since it started 17 years ago, the Melbourne Magistrate’s Koori Court since it started 8 years ago and the Melbourne ARC List since just after it started about 12 years ago.
Victoria Police
Sergeant Mark Stephens
Sergeant Stephens has been in Victoria Police for 45 years. He worked operationally for approximately 20 years including 12 years as a police negotiator. Sergeant Stephens became a prosecutor in 2001 working at Melbourne, Moorabbin and the Neighbourhood Justice Centre. He has been the lead prosecutor in Koori Court at Melbourne Children’s Court since it started 17 years ago, the Melbourne Magistrate’s Koori Court since it started 8 years ago and the Melbourne ARC List since just after it started about 12 years ago.