Postgraduate Certificate in Trauma-Transformative Support

Summary

Gain the knowledge, cultural competence, and practical skills to respond to people affected by trauma.

Available from 2027

The Postgraduate Certificate in Trauma-Transformative Support will be offered from 2027.

In the Postgraduate Certificate in Trauma-Transformative Support (PGCertTSS), you’ll learn the key principles of effective trauma support.

You’ll build understanding of trauma, how different types of trauma affect people at different times. You’ll also study the impacts of trauma on people, families, whānau, communities, and systems. Learn how people respond to trauma and how systems contribute to retraumatisation and healing.

You can continue your study with the Postgraduate Diploma in Trauma-Transformative Support (PGDipTSS). In the Diploma, you’ll apply the principles and perspectives of trauma-transformative support. You'll also learn the skills to lead and implement change in your organisation.

Who can study for this qualification

The PGCertTSS is ideal if you work with trauma survivors or plan to in the future. It suits education professionals, health professionals, social workers, and other community workers.

It's also suitable for graduates looking to deepen their knowledge of trauma and its impacts. You'll learn about trauma-transformative support and practice.

The programme's structure allows you to study online in manageable stages while working. You’ll learn to reflect on your own practice, build key skills, and apply your learning in real-world settings.

How you’ll study

If you study full time you’ll take two courses worth 60 points in one trimester.

You’ll learn with:

• weekly online modules with readings, interactive tasks, and self-quizzes
• online, pre-recorded lectures with captions and recorded interviews with experts, advocates, and practitioners
• live online tutorials for one-to-one support
• assessment modules with assignment guidelines, resources, and how-to videos to help with assessment tasks
• live seminars on hot topics, perspectives, and practice issues (recorded for viewing later)
• discussion boards to connect with classmates and build community/whanaungatanga
• webinars with guest speakers, experts, advocates, researchers, practitioners, and people with lived experience.

Why Te Herenga Waka

Te Herenga Waka is the first university in New Zealand to offer a staircased trauma-transformative programme that equips graduates to lead systemic change beyond trauma awareness and trauma-informed care. The Faculty of Education, Health, and Psychological Sciences provides the expertise behind the programme, helping you explore trauma as a complex practice and systems issue.

What you'll learn

The PGCertTSS combines the latest research, perspectives, and evidence-based practice. It also draws on holistic, traditional, and Indigenous knowledge and approaches. You'll learn from experts in education, health, and psychological sciences.

You’ll be at the forefront of trauma-transformative practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. You’ll have the research-led, lived-experience-informed, and culturally grounded expertise to understand:

• the causes, prevalence, and impacts of trauma
• how people respond to trauma
• what effective, responsive and transformative support looks like
• the skills and confidence to collaborate with individuals, whānau and communities, and lead meaningful, system-level change.

Future careers

You’ll be equipped for trauma-informed practice and leadership across different sectors:

Education

• youth worker, child and adolescent services, family support worker, and disability services
• educator, teacher (early childhood, primary and secondary, tertiary)
• resource teaching and behaviour specialist, Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO), teaching assistant.

Health

• counsellor
• psychologist (including educational psychology)
• therapist
• crisis response team (traumatic incident management team, civil defence response team)
• social worker (working with children, young people and families, housing, and refugee and migrant communities)
• mental health (support worker, addiction support worker)
• GP, nurse, or midwife
• health and safety officer
• suicide prevention and postvention coordinator
• NGOs (working with vulnerable populations) and registered charities.

Justice

• corrections officer or probation officer
• police, police prosecutor, or court official
• age concern and elder abuse team.

Continue your study

After finishing your PGCertTTS, you can continue your studies with the Postgraduate Diploma in Trauma-Transformative Support (PGDipTTS).

The Certificate in Trauma-Transformative Support is a standalone qualification, but you can use th...