The Office for Early Childhood Development (OECD) is designing a Trauma-informed Practice (TiP) professional development framework, to build the capability of the Early Years workforce to respond to the increasingly complex needs of children and families.

Improving early childhood educators’ understanding of trauma and its impact on development will enable educators to model positive relationships and embed trauma-responsive strategies to support regulation, engagement and learning, while addressing developmental vulnerabilities.

The Trauma-informed Practice professional development framework is structured into three tiers to support a progressive, practice-based approach to capability building.

1. Tier 1: Foundational early years (preschool) training delivered online through two complementary modules (Module 1 by the Department for Education; Module 2 by OECD).
2. Tier 2: Coaching support to help educators embed trauma-informed practices into daily routines
3. Tier 3: Advanced, in-person training delivered to Integrated Hubs, focused on supporting children and families with complex needs.

This procurement relates to Tier 1, Module 2 (content development only) and Tier 2 Coaching (design and delivery).

The OECD is seeking one or more suppliers to:

• Develop the content for a 1-hour online training module – Trauma-Informed Practice, Early Years, that builds on the Department for Education TiP Basics module, aligns with trauma-informed principles, and supports a foundational understanding of complex trauma, its impact on development, and trauma-responsive strategies in early childhood settings. Note: A third party (The Learning Hook) will convert the content into an interactive online format for publication on a training platform.
• Design a coaching framework and all supporting resources to guide coaching delivery across diverse early childhood service contexts. This includes tools, session outlines, educator-facing materials, and pre/post evaluation mechanisms. The program will provide tailored, practical support for educators who have completed the foundational training, to help embed trauma-informed strategies into everyday practice. Content will align with Module 2 and the broader TiP framework.
• Delivery of in-person or hybrid coaching support. This is a time limited intervention to be delivered within the first year a service is commissioned to deliver Preschool Plus, with flexibility to extend to the second year based on provider capacity and service readiness. Coaching will be delivered statewide to up to 70 services per year, commencing in 2026.

Briefings

Tender Briefing - Trauma-Informed Practise - online Training and Coaching

A briefing session will be held on 4:00 pm 24 July 2025.

Notes: Microsoft Teams - Registration essential, via oecd.preschoolboost@sa.gov.au Date 24/07/25 16:00 ACST