Every day, people show up to work carrying their own commitments, emotions, and challenges, yet they continue to make space for others. They listen with empathy, support people through difficult circumstances, and provide care when it is needed most. Whether in healthcare, social work, education, community services, or emergency services, their dedication and kindness have a lasting impact on the individuals, families, and communities they serve.

What Is Occupational Trauma?

Occupational trauma is the emotional impact that can develop when people regularly witness emotional or traumatic experiences of others through their work, they may carry some of those feelings with them which impacts on individual overall wellbeing.

Why understanding occupational trauma is important?

According to Safe Work Australia (2025), mental health conditions accounted for 12% of all serious workers' compensation claims in 2023–24, with psychological injury claims continuing to rise across Australia.

Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) found that workers in social housing and homelessness services often deal with difficult and emotional situations. Over time these experiences can affect their mental health and wellbeing. This highlights the importance of creating supportive workplace environments.

This urges the need for employees to understand that occupational trauma does not mean a person is not good at their job rather it is a normal reaction that can happen when someone works closely with people, takes on a lot of responsibility and fosters emotional connection. Anyone working in any profession can experience it regardless of their expertise and experience.

Different ways it may occur within the workplace environment

Occupational trauma can develop when people are regularly exposed to emotionally demanding situations in the course of their work. While experiences vary from person to person, some common ways occupational trauma may occur include:

• Listening to distressing or traumatic stories as part of your role.
• Supporting people who have experienced trauma, loss, grief, or significant hardship.
• Managing workloads that are consistently beyond what is reasonably achievable, leading to emotional exhaustion and fatigue.
• Experiencing workplace bullying, harassment, aggression, or ongoing conflict.
• Being exposed to critical incidents, emergencies, or other confronting situations.

Even when workers are not directly involved in these experiences, they can still be affected by what they witness, hear, or support others through. Over time, repeated exposure to these situations can have a significant impact on a person's emotional wellbeing.

Signs To Notice

Sometimes the signs are small and easy to miss. A person may feel emotionally drained at the end of the day or find it difficult to leave work related thoughts at work and keep replaying conversations after work hours. This may lead to:

• Lack of energy than usual
• Disconnection from activities someone normally enjoy or find it now harder to concentrate.

While work can provide purpose, connection and a sense of achievement, ongoing stress and challenging experiences can affect our overall wellbeing. Recognising these signs early, responding with understanding and support can make a meaningful difference. 

Few steps to consider 

Creating healthy and supportive workplaces is one of the most effective ways to reduce occupational trauma.

• Start considering short breaks during the day, step away for a while and shut the laptop, stretch or get some fresh air.
• Maintain a healthy, nutritious diet and avoid skipping meals. 
• Boundary Setting: Turn off work notifications after hours and avoid overwhelming yourself by saying yes to everything.
• Practice deep breathing or slowly relaxing your muscles.
• Try reverse counting to distract your mind.

Reaching out for Support

• Access a confidential, employer-funded initiative that provides employees and their immediate families with free access to professional support for personal and work-related challenges Employee Assistance Program (EAP) via workplace
• MHFA Wellness Hub Psychology Clinic provides a safe and confidential space to help you process workplace stress and difficult experiences. All sessions are led by highly trained clinicians under expert supervision, ensuring you receive specialised trauma support tailored to your unique career history.
• The MHFA Support Groups offer a completely free, confidential, and non-judgmental space to connect with peers facing similar workplace struggles.
• Mental Health First Aid Workplace Training by Michelle Kleinert OAM equips employees with the practical skills to recognise and respond to mental health crises like occupational trauma.

By creating supportive workplaces and encouraging open conversations we can help those who spend their days looking for others feel valued, supported and never alone.

References

• Safe Work Australia. (2025). Key work health and safety statistics Australia 2025. https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/media-centre/news/key-work-health-and-safety-statistics-austra…
• Batterham, D., Barnes, E., Hartley, C., Flanagan, K., Veeroja, P., Robinson, C., & Mackelprang, J. (2026). Workplace trauma on the social housing and homelessness frontline (AHURI Final Report No. 455). Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited. Workplace trauma on the social housing and homelessness frontline | AHURI

Blog Written by: Muhammad Sher Zaman, Social Work Intern

Blog Art Designed by: Bianca Joncevski, Media Intern