Published on Friday 20 March, 2020

This week our Executive General Manager, Practice Assurance & Quality, Servena McIntyre, shares the experience of a recent learning circle with an international expert on trauma.

Lifestyle Solutions had the privilege of hosting Dr Brodie Paterson, who is Head of Research and Practice for CALM Training, during his recent trip to Australia. Brodie is recognised as a leading expert on violence prevention, developing positive residential care cultures and staff well-being. His particular interest is in the reduction of restrictive practices.

Brodie’s expertise is sought by government and non-government organisations in Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia.

In a learning circle hosted by Allan Parrot, Brodie shared his knowledge with members of our Board, executives and staff, as well as representatives from peak organisations, along with Christine Shewry, CEO of Joblink Plus, who made this opportunity possible. (That's Christine with Brodie and me in the photo at the top of this message.)

Brodie described how CALM provides services and training to organisations supporting children and adults whose ‘distress’ presents as ‘challenging behaviours’. He explained that the root cause is often trauma and the appropriate response is to become a responsive trauma-informed organisation.

Christine Shewry described how Joblink Plus has engaged with CALM and why being a trauma-informed organisation is important to not only people we support but also to our workforce.

The learning circle allowed us to explore how CALM can assist behaviour support planning and the potential interaction with the various therapeutic models we use across Lifestyle Solutions. We are pursuing further conversations with Brodie and CALM.

Brodie is a former Senior Lecturer at Stirling University in Scotland and holds a number of degrees and post-graduate qualifications in Psychology, Sociology and Education. He is also a registered Disability/ Mental Health Nurse.

He is the author of a number of books, and a contributor to and author of over 100 academic papers and journals.

For further information about CALM, visit their website.

A number of key people behind this visit should be acknowledged, including Allan Parrot (Practice Development), Lisa Isa’ako (National After Hours Manager), Marina Stephens (Practice Specialist – Child and Family) and Sheree James (National Clinical Specialist NDIS).