The Thinker: May 2025 | ThinkWell Consultancy

Ariane, Clare and Jessamy acknowledge that this week starting 27th May 2025 is National Reconciliation Week, celebrating the successful 1967 Referendum and the Mabo High Court decision. We share the devastation of many Australians at the result of the 2023 Referendum on the Aboriginal Voice to Parliament, and the negative impact this result, and the “No” campaign leading up to it, had on reconciliation. We embrace this year’s theme, Bridging Now to Next: “This is a time for growth, reflection, and commitment to walking together.” We encourage everyone to learn more about National Reconciliation Week here

As a new trauma-informed consultancy we’ve learnt that the idea of responding to “trauma” in the workplace can feel huge. So, we’ve made it easy to know where to start.

We’re approaching our first birthday! This is a tremendous milestone, and a chance to consider how our services have grown and evolved. Our core beliefs have remained steady - that it is the quality of connections between people that determines outcomes, and that mutual, reciprocal care of each other creates safer and more productive workplaces.

When we launched ThinkWell, we believed something simple: what helps people under stress also helps teams thrive. The core of trauma-informed practice is safety - emotional, relational, and physical. When we feel safe, we think more critically and manage stress more effectively. The results? Enhanced wellbeing and improved individual and team functioning. The flow-on impact for improved job satisfaction and performance is a no-brainer.

Why then, we wondered, do so many workplaces struggle to create safe conditions? Our answer? Combine trauma-informed, neurobiological, and systems-based approaches to build strong, resilient teams. And it’s working. In just one year, we’ve supported a wide range of ethical, forward-thinking organisations - from government programs to community services - who care about psychological safety and want to do better.

So, what does this work we do look like? It’s:

Helping leaders understand the brain’s response to workplace stress
Supporting teams who deal with traumatised or aggressive clients
Unpacking tough questions like: What does “feeling unsafe” really mean at work? and Can talking about trauma actually make things worse?

If you’re in a field where staff or clients are under pressure - and you want to respond in a way that’s informed, ethical, and effective - we can help. Start with our “Getting Started with TIP” bundle:

You can book them together or individually - and of course, we can always speak with you about your workplace’s unique needs, and come up with an accordingly unique solution.

What we have been up to this last month and what people are saying

Beyond Blue

We recently wrapped up a three-month project with Beyond Blue’s Executive Team, exploring organisation-wide trauma-informed approaches and practical strategies for building cohesive, connected teams.

ThinkWell Consultancy’s series of executive workshops brought new depth to the way our leadership team understands the dynamics of trauma experiences, occupational stress, and wellbeing and resilience in the workplace. These workshops didn’t just raise awareness – we now have a shared language and concrete frameworks to build from. We now feel better equipped to lead through the constant change and uncertainty that’s facing every workplace and its people.

All for Smiles

We delivered a tailored full-day training for disability sector professionals, focusing on the fundamentals of trauma-informed care and its relevance to everyday practice.

This training was very engaging and informative. I learnt a lot about trauma and how it can impact adult clients that I am supporting. It helped me to feel more clear and confident in how to support and respond. I learnt a lot and would definitely recommend it.

Forensic Disability Services (DFFH)

We facilitated a three-part training series to deepen staff understanding of reflective practice and build their confidence to integrate reflection into daily work.

These workshops really helped me to better understand what reflective practice is, how it can help my practice and how it can help me. I’m looking forward to using it more.

Territory Child Care Group

We worked with leaders in early childhood services and out of home care to explore trauma-informed leadership and practical steps for implementing supportive, strengths-based approaches in their teams.

I always look forward to these sessions. They are so relevant to the work we do as leaders and our role as key mentors for our carers at TCCG. Building and developing our knowledge in relation to trauma-informed leadership is vital.

We delivered ‘From Trauma to Trust – Applying PACE in Practice’ on behalf of the AASW. This training provided participants with a strong understanding of why building trust is essential when working with young people who have experienced trauma. It introduced the core concepts of the PACE approach and explored how it can support practitioners and caregivers to build connection and attune more to those they care for.

This is an excellent training The presenter was extremely knowledgeable and very engaging.

The Brain Building Bit

Article: “My work? Well, I live it and breathe it” The seamless connect between the professional and personal/community self in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, by Michelle Dickson. This 2020 article is an exploration of what it means to be an Aboriginal healthcare professional, the challenges of working within mainstream services that practice differently to Aboriginal cultural norms, and the additional cultural load borne by those professionals. Access the full article here.

Video: Understanding Intergenerational Trauma (voiced by Uncle Jack Charles)

This YouTube clip, produced by the Healing Foundation, is a powerful telling of the story of the ongoing impact of colonisation and the Stolen Generations on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities today. We highly recommend it!

Video: How chronic stress affects your brain

Here’s a 4-minute clip that explains the impact of chronic stress on the brain and functioning. It’s a useful resource for anyone wanting to make sense of their own experience, as well as for explaining to others the importance of self-care and organisational care.