Send me a PDF copyHighlights
- Build your capability to support learners who are living with the outcomes of complex trauma.
- Ideal for teachers in schools or early childhood education and care services, or other professionals.
- Equips graduates to lead a trauma-aware response in a range of workplace settings.
- Qualified teachers can fast-track their career by completing this course in just one year, provided they meet our entry requirements.
- QUT also offers a Microcredential in Trauma-Aware Education.
Highlights
- Build your capability to support learners who are living with the outcomes of complex trauma.
- Ideal for teachers in schools or early childhood education and care services, or other professionals.
- Equips graduates to lead a trauma-aware response in a range of workplace settings.
- Qualified teachers can fast-track their career by completing this course in just one year, provided they meet our entry requirements.
- QUT also offers a Microcredential in Trauma-Aware Education.
Why choose this course?
The Graduate Certificate in Education (Trauma-Aware Education) equips graduates to support learners in schools and early childhood settings who are living with the outcomes of complex developmental trauma. This major is the first of its kind in Australia and is designed to align with a growing national and global movement in trauma-aware education.
If you are a school or early childhood educator, or other professional, you can deepen your knowledge and skills in trauma-aware education and your capacity to lead a trauma-aware response in a range of work settings.
Be inspired by postgraduate students putting their learnings into action. Read their stories on our Education insights blog.
Subsidised fees available
This course is one of many Commonwealth Supported Places that QUT has secured to make postgraduate study more affordable and accessible.
Find out more here.
Why choose this course?
The Graduate Certificate in Education (Trauma-Aware Education) equips graduates to support learners in schools and early childhood settings who are living with the outcomes of complex developmental trauma. This major is the first of its kind in Australia and is designed to align with a growing national and global movement in trauma-aware education.
If you are a school or early childhood educator, or other professional, you can deepen your knowledge and skills in trauma-aware education and your capacity to lead a trauma-aware response in a range of work settings.
Be inspired by postgraduate students putting their learnings into action. Read their stories on our Education insights blog.
Learn from the best
Renowned expert and national leader in trauma-aware education, Dr Judith Howard, will lead a passionate and informed teaching team to deliver the course.
Our lecturers have experience working in education settings, policy roles, and in leadership roles in schools. You’ll benefit from the real-world experience they are able to share. The course is backed by QUT’s evidence-based research programs working to develop solutions to current and emerging issues in education.
The Trauma-aware Education major will equip you to:
- develop deep understandings of the impact of complex developmental trauma on child and adolescent development and the learner’s experience of education.
- understand the impact of complex development trauma on types or groups of learners, and what can be done to address this impact.
- build a toolkit of ideas, resources and capacities to support your leadership in trauma-aware education in your current or future work context.
- learn foundational trauma-aware education theories and research through peer collaboration to enhance educational policies and practices.
- explore the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on various life outcomes, examining key research from the CDC and Kaiser Permanente ACE Study.
- delve into the biology and neurobiology of child and adolescent development, the effects of complex trauma, and its intergenerational transmission, applying these insights to educational contexts.
- learn to lead and advocate for trauma-aware practices in educational settings, aligning with systemic frameworks to improve learner outcomes and staff well-being, while also developing skills for designing and delivering professional learning with peers.
Alternatively, you can study a fully customisable Graduate Certificate in Education by choosing units tailored to your interests and needs.
Flexible delivery
You may study this course part time. If you choose a selection of option units you can choose to study full-time or part-time.
You can study on campus, online or select a blended approach to suit you. QUT provides a variety of online learning environments to enable you to participate fully, receive expert guidance and support, and be in regular contact with expert teaching staff.
Flexible delivery
You may study the course full-time or part-time. You can study on campus, online or select a blended approach to suit you. QUT provides a variety of online learning environments to enable you to participate fully, receive expert guidance and support, and be in regular contact with expert teaching staff. Gain specialist knowledge, while being able to work, with our flexible course options.
Careers and outcomes
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Education with a Trauma-Aware Education major will be qualified be able to put their capabilities into practice in many ways, including:
- school or early childhood practitioners can develop their capacities to lead a trauma-aware education response at their sites.
- education leaders in districts, regions, dioceses, or other entities can develop their capacities to lead a systemic response in trauma-aware education.
- other practitioners from support organisations or government agencies can develop their capacity to work from a trauma-aware focus with schools, early childhood services and education systems.
Course articulation
You have the option to keep learning and build towards a Master of Education.
Professional recognition
The Graduate Certificate in Education does not lead to teacher registration. If you are seeking a teaching qualification, the Bachelor of Education, or Master of Teaching may be suitable for you. Explore course options here.
Course articulation
You have the option to keep learning and build towards a Master of Education.
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2026 fees
2026: CSP $2,400 per year part-time (48 credit points)
2026 fees
2026: $18,900 per year part-time (48 credit points)
2025 fees
2025: CSP $2,400 per year full-time (48 credit points)
2025 fees
2025: $17,400 per year part-time (48 credit points)
Student services and amenities fees
You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
International Merit Scholarship
A high achievement scholarship for future international undergraduate and postgraduate students.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
International Talent Scholarship
A new scholarship for 2026 that covers tuition fees, with eligibility based on your prior academic achievements.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance