Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) Australia
Building Resilience | Protecting Futures
» What is TRiM?
Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) is a structured, peer‑led approach designed to manage the psychological impact of potentially traumatic events in the workplace. Originally developed by the UK Armed Forces, TRiM is now trusted by hundreds of organisations worldwide, including emergency services, healthcare, government, and other high‑risk industries. It provides a proactive, early‑intervention framework that supports staff after traumatic incidents, identifies those at risk of longer‑term psychological harm, and builds workplace cultures where conversations about mental health are safe and normal.
TRiM is not counselling or therapy. It is a fully documented risk assessment and monitoring process that integrates seamlessly with existing organisational health, safety, and wellbeing initiatives. Its structured, evidence‑based design ensures good governance and accountability, helping organisations meet psychosocial risk obligations and embed psychological safety into their everyday operations.
TRiM Practitioners – peer support in action
TRiM Practitioners are trusted peers selected for their interpersonal skills and operational credibility. They are trained to:
- Conduct structured trauma risk assessments following a potentially traumatic incident.
- Use evidence‑based tools to explore how individuals experienced an event and identify potential risk factors.
- Hold confidential, supportive conversations that reduce stigma and encourage openness about mental health.
- Engage individuals with additional organisational or external support services where required, ensuring no one is left to cope alone.
- Conduct follow‑up checks at one month and, where necessary, three months, to monitor recovery and maintain connection.
Practitioners are not mental health professionals; they are peers who understand the environment, speak the same language as their colleagues, and make early support a normal routine part of post‑incident response.
TRiM Managers – oversight and coordination
TRiM Managers are experienced Practitioners who undertake additional training to lead and coordinate the programme. They determine which incidents require a TRiM response, manage and support Practitioners, and oversee quality and consistency across all TRiM activity. They facilitate Post‑Event Team Reviews (PETRs), brief leadership teams, and maintain records for governance, assurance, and organisational learning. This ensures TRiM is delivered consistently, transparently, and aligned with organisational priorities.
» The benefits of TRiM
Proactive, early intervention – supporting staff before issues become entrenched or costly
TRiM identifies psychological risk early, conducting structured risk assessments after 72 hours and following up as required. This helps prevent stress reactions from developing into long‑term mental health issues, reducing absenteeism, compensation claims, and the personal cost of untreated trauma.
Stigma reduction – peer‑led support normalises conversations about mental health
TRiM conversations are confidential and held by trained peers rather than external clinicians, making it easier for staff to speak openly without fear of judgement or career impact. This peer‑to‑peer approach embeds support as a normal, accepted part of workplace routine, reducing stigma and encouraging early help‑seeking while protecting individual privacy.
Integration – TRiM works alongside existing wellbeing, safety, and HR initiatives without disruption
TRiM complements, rather than replaces, existing support services such as Employee Assistance Programmes, wellbeing initiatives, and safety systems. It delivers an organised, frontline response after critical incidents, fitting naturally into existing organisational structures without operational disruption.
Good governance and documentation – every step is recorded, ensuring transparency, confidentiality, and assurance
All TRiM activities are documented using structured electronic incident and risk assessment logs. These records are secure and confidential, providing an auditable trail of support actions and decisions while protecting individual privacy. This ensures organisations meet governance requirements, demonstrate duty of care, and monitor trends over time without compromising personal information.
Workforce resilience and retention – supported staff recover faster, feel valued, and stay engaged
Providing early, structured support helps staff feel safe, understood, and valued. This leads to faster recovery, stronger engagement, reduced turnover, and better long‑term performance under pressure.
Proven track record – trusted by hundreds of organisations globally to manage trauma risk effectively
TRiM is a well‑established, evidence‑based model used by hundreds of organisations worldwide. Its proven results in reducing the impact of trauma and building organisational resilience make it one of the most trusted approaches to workplace trauma risk management.