Kildare County Council was proud to support the inaugural Kildare, Trauma Informed Practice Conference at the Killashee Hotel, Naas. Over 220 professionals from statutory, voluntary and community organisations across County Kildare attended. The conference, hosted by the Kildare Trauma Informed Advisory Group comprising representatives from Kildare County Council’s Community Department and other statutory and voluntary organisations, marked a significant milestone in strengthening trauma‑informed approaches when working with individuals and communities. 

The programme featured keynote addresses from Mick Finnegan, Dr Catriona O’Toole, Dr Isabela Troya and Siobhán Prendiville, each offering valuable insights into trauma‑informed theory, practice and system‑wide application. Speakers explored the impact of trauma and adversity and highlighted the importance of compassionate, responsive and evidence‑informed approaches across services. 

Interactive workshops created space for participants to: 

• Explore evidence informed tools and approaches 

• Make clear links between trauma informed concepts and their own professional practice 

• Learn real‑world application when working with individuals and communities 

Speaking about the conference, Marian Higgins, Director of Services, Kildare County Council said; “This conference represented an important step in strengthening trauma‑informed practice across Kildare. By coming together across sectors, we can build a shared understanding that supports more responsive, compassionate and effective services for individuals and communities.” 

Participant described the conference as “reflective,” “thought‑provoking” and “well balanced,” with attendees highlighting an “engaging,” “experiential” and “informative” programme that was “inspiring” and “powerful.” 

The conference was funded by Kildare County Council, Healthy Ireland, Sláintecare Healthy Communities, HSE Dublin Midlands under Connecting for Life - Suicide Prevention Strategy and Kildare CYPSC.