Professional Development Workshops

“I never know what to say!”
Have you found yourself struggling with the task of showing support to someone who has gone through grief or trauma?

For Business and Organisations

Speaker and Workshop Facilitator on Grief and Trauma in the Workplace is working with two female leaders on developing compassionate practices.

The Compassionate Leadership workshop empowers leadership teams with essential skills to effectively support staff through grief and traumatic life experiences. Key topics include:

  • modern understandings and impacts of grief and trauma,

  • empathetic communication,

  • clear practical strategies in creating supportive work environments, and

  • interactive skill-building sessions aimed at enhancing confidence in navigating challenging situations.

  • Customisable workshop length and focus

    Facilitated by experienced trainer Trish Carpenter, this evidence-based, 5-hour course is designed to foster leadership skills in empathy and emotional intelligence, making it ideal for leaders committed to supporting their teams' well-being and success.

For Schools and Educators

A woman with brown hair and a white shirt smiling at the camera against a neutral background.

The Compassionate School Leadership workshop equips educational leaders with crucial skills to effectively support staff and families navigating grief and traumatic life experiences. In addition to the sessions included in the Compassionate Leadership workshop above, an additional session devoted to the school community context explores:

  • developmental responses of childhood loss and trauma

  • student support through family illness and palliative care.

  • facilitated discussions around policy, procedures, roles, and upskilling within the context of education.

    Led by seasoned trainer Trish Carpenter, this evidence-based, one-day course aims to cultivate leadership qualities in empathy and emotional intelligence. It is tailored for leaders dedicated to steadfast community support across all circumstances.

Who I've worked with and featured in or on...

  • Bear Cottage logo with a waving teddy bear on a pink background.
  • Logo of The Compassionate Friends Queensland featuring a person icon cradled by two hands.
  • Logo for Compassionate Communities Australia featuring stylized birds and text.
  • Text 'Dying to Know Day 8 August' in stylized blue and white letters on a dark background.
  • Illustration of a white handprint inside a black circle with a smaller black handprint on top.
  • Abstract illustration of a hummingbird with green and purple colors
  • Logo of Ladybird Care Foundation featuring a red and black ladybug-patterned umbrella with the text 'Hope and help for grieving families.'
  • Colorful vertical bars above the text "Memphis Public Libraries" in gray font.
  • Palliative Care Australia logo featuring an orange heart with rays, text reads "Palliative Care Australia - Matters of life and death."
  • Proveda logo with multicolored petal design and text
  • Logo of Redkite featuring a red kite icon and the text 'Redkite: For families facing childhood cancer.'

PRAISE FOR
THE COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP

 “I highly recommend that all people managers attend Trish Carpenter’s Compassionate Leadership Training. Trish's lived experience, expertise and approachable teaching style made the session both engaging and informative.

What stood out to me the most were the practical advice, scripts and templates that Trish shared. These tools are not only insightful but also immediately applicable, making it easier for me to implement compassionate leadership in my daily work. The memorable exercises and discussions during the session have stayed with me, continuously reminding me of the importance of empathy and support in leadership.

I am confident that this training will make me a better leader, help me create a more supportive and cohesive team environment, and allow me to effectively support my team.”

- Workshop Participant – Trudi Plaschke

__________________________________________

 “I would recommend the workshop. I think its important for workplaces to think about their work force compassionately, but also realistically and practically. I think the workshop provided a lot of "food for thought" and helpful tips/reminders on how to keep this all balanced, in a workplace environment.”
________________________________________


“Really enjoyed the day, thanks. Trish is an amazing presenter, so heartfelt and connecting. Lovely day of connection, thank you.”

Professional development workshop offerings

Our Workshop Offerings are listed here but there is always the opportunity to develop a customised workshop for your workplace.

Webinar resources are on the way!

Options for self-paced module packages as well as interactive virtual training programs will be launched in July of 2025.

People sitting and taking notes at a conference or seminar, focusing on hands writing in notebooks.

Compassionate Leadership

  • 5 hours

    • Evidence-based Grief & Trauma Education
    • Enhanced Emotional Intelligence & Empathy
    • Practical Strategies & Resources
    • Interactive & Engaging Learning Experiences
    • Customisable Content to Fit Your Needs

  • $2500

Woman speaking into a microphone, wearing a floral dress and burgundy jacket, seated indoors.

Compassionate School Leadership

  • 6 hours - Leadership Staff Focus

    • Evidence-based Grief & Trauma Education
    • Enhanced Emotional Intelligence & Empathy
    • Practical Strategies & Resources
    • Interactive & Engaging Learning Experiences

    Schools and Community context

  • $2500

Audience attentively listening during a conference, with people taking notes and focusing on a presentation at "Product School."

Compassionate Staff Communities

  • Custom Workshop length

    75, 90 or 120mins -

    General Staff Focus

  • 75mins - $800

    90mins - $1000

    120mins - $1500

 Book me to speak

Trish Carpenter brings over twenty years of educational expertise and lived experience to her role as a workshop facilitator, specializing in empowering leadership teams to support staff and communities through grief and traumatic life events. Trained as a bereavement mentor at QLD Children’s Hospital and Hummingbird House, Trish is also a published author and highly regarded public speaker. Consider inviting Trish to speak at your next event on topics including strength, grief, resilience, and effective support strategies. Her insights and engaging approach promise to inspire and equip your audience with valuable tools for navigating challenging circumstances.

“Do you know what to do or what to say if your employee tells you that their loved one has just died? Did you know that most people in the workforce spend more time with their colleagues than their families and friends? 

The Compassionate Leadership Workshop is ideal for anyone who would like to deepen their understanding of how to respond kindly to employees who have experienced trauma and/or death of a loved one. 

Trish delivers this workshop with humility and humour and this interactive workshop will help you to become an empathetic leader who can drive meaningful change towards a kinder, caring and compassionate workplace.”

- Taki Langlasse, Family and Community Support Practitioner, Hummingbird House 

  

Black and white portrait of a woman smiling, with long hair and earrings, against a textured wall.

About your trainer

Bringing over two decades of experience as an educator, Trish Carpenter specialises in guiding leadership teams to effectively support staff navigating traumatic life experiences. A trained peer bereavement mentor with QLD Children’s Hospital and paediatric hospice, Hummingbird House, as well as a published author and public speaker, Trish has developed and facilitated workshops aimed at both businesses and school leadership teams. These professional development workshops are situated in the realm of staff well-being, underpinned by current research, engaging pedagogy and skill building to empower organisations to create supportive environments where teams can thrive.

Feedback from The Compassionate Workplace Forum Sydney, August 2024

Woman giving a presentation on grief, emotion, and empathy, standing with a microphone in front of a screen displaying a slide with an image of two hands reaching towards each other.
Promotional graphic for 'Dying to Know Day' event titled 'Compassionate Workplace Forum', scheduled for August 23, 2024, from 9:45 am to 3:00 pm at Dee Why RSL. Features five headshots of individuals against a teal and yellow abstract background.

I attended the Compassionate Workplace Forum facilitated by Proveda. Trish, the main facilitator was outstanding - such a lovely, warm, skilled presenter who connected the theory and personal aspects of grief to illustrate the need for workplaces to support staff with the difficult life losses that can happen to any of us at any point in time.

Louise Hall​​​​, National & International Partners Lead, MacKillop Seasons

“Congratulations on a fabulous workshop on Friday.  I gained so much being in a room with so much compassion.  The panel discussion was inspiring.  Trish is fabulous.  Learning from someone with such passion and courage instilled messages of empathy and compassion and strategies for real life situations.  And the best facilitator I know.  Thank you for a great day”.

Madeline - Workshop Participant