SESSION OVERVIEW
Whether you’re working directly with students, managing teams or supporting colleagues, knowing how to respond to distress and disruption is essential. This interactive session introduces trauma-informed de-escalation strategies that work across all roles, from student services to leadership. We’ll explore how to effectively recognise and respond to an escalation in behaviour, stay grounded in tense moments, communicate with clarity and compassion and protect your own wellbeing while supporting others. Through relatable scenarios and exploring practical techniques, participants will leave with renewed confidence to navigate difficult interactions with empathy, confidence and care.
PRESENTER
Kim Copeland is Director and Principal Consultant at Avyon Consulting. She is a consultant and trainer with a strong focus on people-centred approaches. Drawing on her social work background and executive leadership experience across government, military, higher education and non-government sectors, she works across all levels of organisations to support leaders and teams to embed trauma-informed approaches and strengthen human-centred practice.
Kim specialises in creating safer, more responsive workplaces by improving policies and practices, building trauma-aware frameworks and practices, and guiding cultural transformation. Her work relevant to this session includes supporting staff who lead and manage complex teams, oversee student leaders, and those who need to respond to challenging behaviours with clarity, care and accountability. She brings a practical, systems-focused lens to leadership development, helping people build cultures that prioritise wellbeing, uphold standards, and support inclusive, high-performing environments.