Implementing Trauma-Informed Pedagogies for School Change

Shifting Schools from Reactive to Proactive
Dr Helen Stokes and Dr Tom Brunzell

Implementing Trauma Informed Pedagogies for School Change by Dr Helen Stokes and Dr Tom Brunzell is a thoughtful and practical guide for educators seeking to understand how trauma-informed practice can be embedded across an entire school. Drawing on a four-year longitudinal study in two Australian schools, the authors explore how their Trauma Informed Positive Education (TIPE) framework supports both student readiness to learn and teacher collective efficacy.

What becomes clear early on is the depth of the research and the care taken to translate it into workable actions. Stokes and Brunzell show how leadership structures, targeted professional learning and consistent classroom routines combine to create environments where students experience predictability and adults build relational capability. The book is grounded in real practice rather than simply broad theory, which makes it accessible to teachers, leaders, pre-service educators and support staff who want to understand what implementation actually looks like over time.

The authors also prompt readers to reflect on the everyday decisions that shape learning environments. How do our routines help students regulate? In what ways do our expectations and interactions support students affected by adversity? The TIPE domains of regulation, relationship and resilience provide a clear organising framework that helps readers see the purpose behind each strategy discussed.

This book is not about quick fixes. It is about sustained, whole-school cultural change and the patience required to achieve it. Stokes and Brunzell present a compelling argument for why trauma-informed practice should be a central consideration for any school striving to strengthen wellbeing, engagement and academic growth.

For educators committed to long-term improvement, this is a valuable and encouraging read. It offers clarity, evidence, practical direction and a reminder that thoughtful change is both possible and worthwhile.

Get your copy of Implementing Trauma-Informed Pedagogies for School Change now!