WEBINAR: Trauma, Adaptability and Community Broadcasting - 7 December 2021

Being a community broadcaster is a rewarding role, one that often provides a strong and positive connection between the broadcaster and the community.

However, when our communities are impacted by events such as disasters or accidents, as community broadcasters we may be exposed to emotional aftereffects in the community, amongst our colleagues or even within ourselves. 

Knowing how trauma impacts individuals, communities and whole societies allows community broadcasters to build skill sets that can inform and enrich our work; support our friends and family and build our own resilience. Our webinar aims to equip broadcasters to stay resilient and effective in the face of trauma. We will look at:

• Understanding trauma and resilience
• Why community broadcasters need to know the reality of covering traumatic events
• Checks and reflections
• Further resources available

Presented by: Cait McMahon OAM

Cait McMahon OAM, PhD is a registered psychologist and the founding managing director of Dart Centre Asia Pacific since 2003. McMahon has been interested in the nexus of journalism and trauma since working as staff counsellor at The Age newspaper in Melbourne in the mid 1980’s and 90’s. This interest pushed her to pursue postgraduate research on trauma exposed journalists in 1993 with subsequent publications. Her PhD focused on Australian trauma reporting journalists, post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth. Cait has received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), one of Australia’s highest civil accolades, for her work with journalists and trauma.

About the Dart Centre Asia Pacific (DCAP)

Dart Centre Asia Pacific (DCAP) is a regional collaboration of journalists, researchers and health professionals dedicated to press freedom and quality journalism through trauma informed reporting. DCAP is affiliated with the Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma, a project of the Columbia University journalism school and has been operating for over 20 years.

This webinar was held at 11:00am (AEDT) Tuesday 7 December 2021