Trauma-Informed Workplace: A Survivor’s Perspective

In recent years, the phrase “trauma-informed workplace” has become more common in conversations around mental health and employee wellbeing.

But what does this really mean? What does a trauma-informed workplace look like, feel like—and most importantly, how does it affect those of us who live with the invisible scars of trauma?

As someone who has walked this path, I want to take you beyond the definitions and statistics—to the heart of why this matters.

Trauma isn’t just a word—it’s a lived experience. It’s the emotional and psychological aftermath of a devastating event.

According to Herrera-Escobar et al. (2021), trauma often leads to long-lasting physical, emotional, cognitive, and even financial consequences, while Phoenix Australia and Heim et al. (2010) state that trauma can contribute to the development of many different forms of mental illness, including self-harm and suicidal ideation.

The stats are tough to read:

·        NSW ACI:  “estimated 75% of Australians have experienced a potentially traumatic event in their lifetime”

·        AIHW: “mental ill-health costs Australia between $13 and $17 billion per year”

·        The Black Dog Institute: “workplace mental health ..emerging public health crisis….”

·        NSW Government: “..psychological injury claims doubled in 6-yrs.cost of each claim ` $288,542…”

For Australian businesses, the impact is not just financial—it's personal, as it results in increased absenteeism, high staff turnover, reduced productivity, and falling team morale, all of which negatively impact your bottom line.

Living with trauma often means dealing with misunderstandings at work, as colleagues and managers may not understand that trauma can show up as anxiety, irritability, intensity, sensitivity, difficulty concentrating, or an involuntary withdrawal from team activities—often misread as laziness, disinterest, or an attitude problem.

But in a trauma-informed workplace, these behaviors are seen not as flaws but as signals that something isn’t ok – it calls for compassion rather than reprimand.

At its core, a truly trauma-informed workplace understands trauma and recognises that many employees carry its invisible wounds. It acknowledges the impact of trauma on employees and responds to it with policies, practices, and a culture that promotes safety, trust, empowerment, collaboration and empathy, rather than just focusing on ‘getting the work done’. It knows that their employees are their most valuable asset, and does what it can to support them.

Perhaps the most critical aspect of a trauma-informed workplace is to ensure that lived experience employees are not re-traumatisation experiencing ‘workplace psychological injury’, through the introduction of a zero-tolerance policy for bullying or harassment, ensuring that feedback is constructive and not punitive, and making sure that employees feel confident in reporting any inappropriate behavior without fear of retaliation.

An effective trauma-informed workplace doesn’t just passively acknowledge the effects of trauma—it is willing to adapt and actively responds.

From someone who has lived with trauma, here’s what makes the difference:

• A physically and emotionally safe space

• Clear expectations and a stable routine

• Managers who listen without judgment

• A culture where vulnerability is met with compassion

• Peer support and chances for meaningful connection

• Flexibility and autonomy over how work is done

• A focus on mental and emotional wellbeing, not just KPIs

These aren't luxuries—they're necessities. When leaders take steps to create trauma-informed safe environments, where empathy isn’t just an afterthought, but the foundation of the organisation, the impact is powerful as it allows for the creation of a more compassionate and supportive environment, stronger engagement, higher productivity, an increase in productivity, the reduction in worker compensation claims, and a workplace culture grounded in humanity.

But building this kind of workplace environment isn’t easy. It’s certainly not a ‘check box’ ticking exercise where you instigate a few minor changes decided by a group of individuals who have no lived experience of trauma.

It requires a cultural shift which must come from the top. CEOs, the Board, and senior leadership need to invest time, attention, resources and genuine care to create a safe and inclusive work environment that encourages transparent, honesty and open communication. Token gestures won’t heal trauma—authentic leadership will.

There are numerous books, online resources, workshops and guidelines – all aimed at supporting you in creating a trauma informed organisation. These are all great, but without the input and perspective of employees or individuals, who have lived experience of trauma, initiatives will fail to hit the mark.

So, including people with lived experience into decision-making is vital. Why? Because no one understands the needs of trauma survivors better than survivors themselves.

By implementing these principles, a trauma-informed workplace can create a supportive environment where employees who have experienced trauma feel valued as individuals, not just as workers – this is how teams and organisations thrive.

If you're part of an organisation that truly wants to embrace trauma-informed practices, let it be more than a mission statement – let it be a practice that is led by listening, learning, and the courage to change.

Because when we support people—we don’t just build better workplaces, we build better lives.

Rosanna Commisso - Founder, StressCare Solutions

Championing Workplace Wellbeing | Mental Health & Trauma Advocate

As the Founder of StressCare Solutions, my mission ‘to help organisations prevent burnout and build resilient teams’, is personal.

With over 30-years’ experience spanning health, training and community services, and my own lived experience of burnout, mental health challenges, and trauma—I bring both professional expertise and real-world understanding to my work.

Through engaging, evidence-based workshops, impactful keynotes, and hands-on trauma-informed support, I empower teams to build resilience, improve wellbeing and thrive.

Let’s build healthier workplaces—together.

📩 rosanna@stresscare.com.au | 🌐 www.stresscare.com.au