Using HerSpace frameworks, this Padlet walks through what trauma-informed practice looks like in action — from the first moment of contact through to ongoing support. It explores practical approaches that centre survivors’ strengths, lived experience and decision-making.

Recognise
What trauma-informed care looks like in real-world interactions.

Respond
Using practical frameworks grounded in foundational trauma-informed principles.

Why this matters
Trauma can narrow how people see themselves, often shaped by fear, shame or harm. Narrative-informed approaches help open up fuller stories that honour resilience, strength and dignity.

For survivors of modern slavery
Naming exploitation for what it is can be a powerful and validating step. Being believed and acknowledged supports survivors to reclaim their identity and recognise that what happened was not their fault.

Pause and consider:

• What might shape this person’s needs right now?
  (e.g. safety, culture, communication, privacy, transport, fear of judgement)

Write your reflections:

• One thing I would listen for is:
  → _______________________________

• One assumption I will actively avoid is:
  → _______________________________

• One way I can adapt my approach is:
  → _______________________________

Practice prompt:

“What helps you feel safe or supported right now?”

Every survivor is different, and their needs will vary depending on their experiences, culture and current circumstances. You don’t need specialist tools to respond well.

Listening openly, asking curious questions and remaining flexible helps you understand what matters most — and how best to support them right now.

Use this activity to reflect on your practice and identify small, practical shifts you can make to support safety, dignity and agency.

How can I offer more choice and flexibility? When choice is limited or not available, have I explained why?

Reflect on power and choice:

• Where might this person have experienced loss of control?

Complete the prompts:

• Two meaningful choices I could offer are:

  1. 
     

  2. 
     

  
  

• If choice is limited, how I would explain this respectfully:
  → _______________________________

Practice prompts:

• “What would you prefer?”

• “Here are a couple of options — we can decide together.”

• “I can’t do that right now, and I want to explain why.”

Am I building safety, trust and respect into every interaction?

Check your foundations:
Which trauma-informed principles do I need to prioritise most in this interaction?

(✔ circle or note)

• Safety

• Trustworthiness

• Choice

• Collaboration

• Empowerment

• Cultural, historical and gender awareness

Complete the prompts:

• One thing I can do to build safety is:
  → _______________________________

• One affirming message I could use is:
  → _______________________________

Affirmations to draw from (use your own words):

• I believe you.

• It wasn’t your fault.

• You deserve dignity and respect.

• You are safe right now.

• I acknowledge the injustice you experienced.

→ ________________________________

Use it as a navigation tool — not a checklist — to guide how you tailor your response.

For example:

• Pre-experience of exploitation (risk and prevention)

• Experience of exploitation (identification and safety)

• Exit from exploitation (safe pathway out of exploitation)

• Recovery and stabilisation (holistic support)

• Opportunities post-exploitation (training, education, employment)

• Advocacy and systems change (lived experience)

How to think about this:

This is not about labelling a survivor or assuming a linear journey. The continuum helps you locate your role and response based on what is happening now.

• Safety

• Trust and predictability

• Choice and autonomy

• Collaboration

• Empowerment

• Cultural, historical and gender awareness

• The Continuum of Modern Slavery Response

• Trauma-informed care principles

• Judith Herman’s phases of recovery

• Psychoeducation

• HerSpace Model of Survivor Support

• Wellbeing Star

• Polyvagal Theory

• Narrative approaches

How to think about this:

You don’t need to use every framework at once. Consider which lens best supports what’s needed right now — for example:

• Psychoeducation to support understanding and reduce self-blame

• Herman’s phases to avoid rushing recovery or decision-making

• Polyvagal Theory to understand safety, threat and regulation

• The Wellbeing Star to identify practical support priorities

A way to think about this:

Tailoring support does not mean doing everything yourself. Consider how you might:

• Work collaboratively with colleagues, supervisors or specialist services

• Use referral pathways and contact information rather than holding responsibility alone

• Draw on trusted resources, such as the Australian Government’s modern slavery website, to stay across current laws, policy settings and guidance

• Share information in ways that support choice, understanding and safety

Refer to the Guide (pages 11-14) for practical ways to apply trauma-informed responses to modern slavery.