Workshop: Trauma-informed evaluation

Date and time: Tuesday 13 May and Tuesday 20 May 2025, 10.00am - 1.00pm AEST (registration from 9.45am) Registrants are to attend both sessions. (full day workshop - 2 sessions)

Venue: Via Zoom. Details will be emailed to registrants just prior to the workshop start time.

Facilitator: Jo van Twest Farmer

Register online by: Monday 12 May 2025. Spaces limited to 25 participants

Fees (GST inclusive): Members $325.00, AES Organisational member staff $460.00, Non-members $535.00, Student member $155.00, Student non-member $250.00* (GST inclusive) *Students must send proof of their full-time student status to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Workshop Overview

Evaluators regularly work on projects with people, populations and in contexts where experiences of trauma are prevalent. It is important that evaluation is conducted in a way that not only minimises harm to participants, but supports their safe and inclusive involvement. Having an understanding of trauma, and how to use trauma-informed practice, leads to safer and better-quality outcomes for evaluation participants and evaluators.
This workshop will give evaluators an introduction to trauma-informed practice and the key considerations in commissioning, designing and conducting evaluations.

Workshop Content

The workshop will focus on understanding the theoretical concepts of trauma, including what trauma is and how it presents in evaluations. The workshop will be a practical and engaging introduction, underpinned by trauma research and practice.

The first session will be focused on understanding the fundamental concepts of trauma, including the causes and effects of trauma, including complex and intergenerational trauma. This will lead into sharing the principles of trauma-informed evaluation, and key concepts for conducting quality trauma-informed evaluation, including understanding power, strengths-based approaches, and lived experience involvement. The first session concludes with a focus on evaluator wellbeing, both at the individual and team level.

The second session will delve deeper into trauma-informed evaluation methods, sharing practical examples of tools and techniques. It will provide an overview of the key considerations for a trauma-informed approach along the lifecycle of an evaluation project. Along the way, participants will learn more about how to plan a trauma-informed evaluation, support participants who may be experiencing distress, analyse data, and conclude an evaluation process well. The workshop focuses on qualitative methods, but also provides key considerations for quantitative data collection and analysis.

Workshop Outcomes

Learning outcomes will include:

• an introduction to the fundamental concepts in trauma

• increased understanding of the principles of trauma-informed practice

• practical considerations for planning and conducting trauma-informed practice

• responding to trauma, distress and disclosures

• looking after ourselves as trauma-informed evaluators.

PL competencies

This workshop aligns with competencies in the AES Evaluator’s Professional Learning Competency Framework. The identified domains are:

•  Domain 1 – Evaluative attitude and professional practice

•  Domain 2 – Evaluation theory

• Domain 3 – Culture, stakeholders and context

• Domain 4 – Research methods and systematic inquiry

• Domain 5 – Project management

• Domain 6 – Interpersonal skills

• Domain 7 – Evaluation Activities

Who should attend?

The workshop is designed for people with some experience of evaluation (including those conducting and commissioning evaluation), who hope to improve their understanding of how to plan for, design and undertake trauma-informed evaluation. This workshop is both foundational and intermediate.

About Jo van Twest Farmer

Jo is an evaluation consultant, specialising in mental health and trauma. She focuses on designing and conducting evaluations that provide a psychologically safe and engaging experience for participants.
Her experience, as a consultant and internal evaluator, includes extensive work with individuals and populations experiencing individual and intergenerational trauma. Jo’s work is informed by training and research into trauma-informed research, and her own lived experience.

Workshop start times

• VIC, NSW, ACT, TAS, QLD: 10.00am

• SA, NT: 9.30am

• WA: 8.00am

• New Zealand: 12.00pm

• For other time zones please go to https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.htm