The Trust Guide was developed because many people with intellectual disability experience trauma, often from a young age. In Australia, nearly two out of every three people with intellectual disability aged 15 years and over have experienced at least one incident of violence.
Its creation was a direct response to these experiences. The Trust Guide provides practical guidance to foster trust, safety and positive health care interactions.
It has been developed to support health workers, health services, and health systems in providing trauma-transformative care with people with intellectual disability.
What is trauma-transformative care?
Trauma-transformative care goes beyond understanding trauma and its effects. It focuses on changing the practices, structures and cultures of health care to address the lasting effects of trauma and promote trust, safety and healing.
The recommendations in the The Trust Guide are structured across three levels. This reflects the understanding that everyone has a role to play in trauma-transformative practice.
A summary of the three levels is:
- Health workers - recommendations call for awareness and person-centredness.
- Health services - recommendations call for improved organisational capability, support, and culture.
- Health systems - recommendations call for connectivity and leadership.
Click here to read the full report.
