Our project scanned the Victorian emergency management sector to identify the risk of vicarious trauma in support staff and the ways agencies are addressing it. We interviewed wellbeing managers from fifteen emergency management agencies, to gather information on current measures and initiatives addressing vicarious trauma. Additionally, we identified support roles in the sector that may be vicariously exposed to traumatic incidents through reports, interviews, or other secondary communication. We conducted eighteen interviews with support staff from twelve different agencies to gain insights into their lived experiences of vicarious trauma, focusing on the impacts, their personal coping mechanisms, and their thoughts on current agency initiatives. Furthermore, we interviewed six subject matter experts and attended two industry workshops to gather information on available resources for understanding, preventing, and treating vicarious trauma. In order to foster ongoing conversation about vicarious trauma amongst support staff, our team also presented a webinar and recorded a podcast episode featuring individual stories and lived experiences of support staff from Victoria's emergency management sector.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Lenson, Federico
• Devault, Ella
• George, Gavin
• Daris, Hunter

Subject

• Well-Being
• Learning
• Project-Based Learning
• Community
• Health

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 115012
• E-project-121223-021944

Keyword

• Support Staff
• Vicarious Trauma
• Mental Health
• Emergency Management Sector

Advisor

• Chee, Jonathan
• Higgins, Lorraine D.

Year

• 2023

Center

• Melbourne, Australia Project Center - IQP

Sponsor

• Emergency Services Foundation

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 3 - Good Health and Well-being
• 4 - Quality Education

Date created

• 12/12/2023

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Source

• E-project-121223-021944

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2024-02-08