How trauma-informed care empowers children in out-of-home care

The festive season often brings to mind images of comfort, joy, and memories of a safe and loving home. But for over 44,000 children across Australia currently navigating life in out-of-home care, Christmas can be a difficult time. It can often bring up feelings of loss and hurt. It’s a time when the need for support becomes most critical.

Ollie*, a curious and creative nine-year-old who loves Spiderman, Lego, and Pokémon. Like many children entering the child protection system, Ollie was removed from a chaotic world where he witnessed violence and instability from the time he was a baby.

When he was removed from home and placed into care, he often asked his Berry Street Yooralla Case Manager, Pauline one question:

Questions like this are ones Berry Street Yooralla staff hear often from the children in care they work with. In truth, they speak to a deeper sense of loss and rejection. Really, they are asking, “Am I safe? Will you stay? Do I matter?”

For Ollie, his trauma surfaced as disruptive behaviour, as he lashed out, bit, and hit. Often children do this as a means of “testing” the adults around them, will they abandon me too?

At Berry Street Yooralla, we understand first-hand that this behaviour is really a call for connection and security.

The experience of family violence and severe neglect leaves lasting imprints on a child’s developing brain. Children who have grown up in a state of hyper-vigilance often struggle to regulate their emotions. They often experience physical problems such as headaches, stomach pains, and nightmares. They may show intense feelings of guilt, shame, and anger, or exhibit behaviours like bedwetting.

Children impacted by trauma live in survival mode, often unable to relax or trust that their basic needs will be met. This state of chronic stress is exhausting and prevents them from forming the secure attachments necessary for healthy social and emotional development. Many children entering care need years of dedicated therapeutic support to recover from their trauma.

At Berry Street Yooralla, we know that placing a child in out-of-home care compounds trauma, no matter the circumstance. Our work focuses on interrupting this cycle.

The journey to recovery requires intensive, long-term wraparound support. It requires a comprehensive team to give the child the tools to make sense of their past and manage their emotions safely. We equip carers and staff with the knowledge to recognise trauma responses and respond with compassion.

The path to recovery from childhood trauma

Ollie’s recovery began when he was placed with his foster carer, Belinda,* and enveloped by a dedicated care team. This team, which included his case workers, specialists, and teachers, provided the consistent presence he needed.

Crucially, our organisation provides therapeutic services that help children understand their emotions and make sense of the past. In-turn, this helps lessen challenging behaviours.

A key part of Ollie’s therapy was the Therapeutic Life Story Work program. This program helped him process his past and own his story, providing him with a special book that explained why he was removed from his parents. Now, he keeps it in a special place under his blanket.

This support also extends to encouraging family connections wherever safe and possible; for Ollie, this means fortnightly meetings with his parents in the park.

Empowering a brighter future

The simple reality is that children like Ollie can recover from trauma with the right specialised support. They need consistent support and the therapeutic tools to do so. By empowering children in this way, we can help them to find belonging, engage at school and the ability to feel excited about days like Christmas.

Supporting our work means supporting a child's safe start and their journey towards thriving.

You can help ensure more children like Ollie find their way to a brighter future this Christmas. if you are looking for ways to support a child's safe home and healing journey, please donate now.

*Names have been changed for privacy.