Sanctuary model
The Sanctuary Model is a workplace culture-change program that teaches people how to cope more effectively with adversity and stress, and aims to prevent trauma symptoms.
About the program
The Sanctuary Model is a workplace culture-change program that teaches people how to cope more effectively with adversity and stress, and aims to prevent trauma symptoms. The Sanctuary model introduces a number of workplace practices to create positive culture change.
Program Outcomes
- It encourages us to rethink the way we manage conflict and crisis intervention.
- It supports staff to form healthy communities and create a culture that prioritises safety and wellbeing at every level within an organisation.
- It creates an understanding of how past adversity can continue to have an impact throughout life.
- It creates organisation-wide understanding that trauma has an impact not only on the people who have experienced it, but also on the staff who work with them and on the organisation as a whole.
How does Sanctuary work?
The power of the Sanctuary model is in the process. This overview shows the step-by-step process that highlights how the model delivers results.
Measuring results
The impacts of adopting the Sanctuary model are observable and measurable. Results can include improved communication and morale among staff, fewer incidents of client to staff violence and reduced turnover. When fully embedded, an organisations' clients will benefit from fewer trauma symptoms, enhanced social skills, improved judgment and decision-making and healthier relationships.
Professional learning
Vicarious Trauma Training
Vicarious trauma is an occupational challenge for many people working in community services and other industries where workers are supporting others impacted by trauma. Our Vicarious Trauma Training teaches practical strategies to identify and prevent vicarious trauma and maintain healthy teams
View moreOther Professional Learning
Explore a range of Professional Learning modules covering topics like emotionally intelligent leadership and trauma awareness.
"In my 16 years in this organisation I've never seen staff at all levels nod and agree that one approach is the closest model of practice to where we wanted to be."
Sanctuary training participant, Department for Child Protection South Australia
Sanctuary's four key domains
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"An enjoyable, practical and informative workshop. Useful for the team to grow together in creating a healthy culture. It makes me want to do all the training. I also see a lot utility for clients, modelling safety plans and helping them become curious about creating their own."
Sanctuary training participant, Kinetic Medicine NSW
