Dr Martin Power (University of Galway) giving a presentation to social care students and staff at Atlantic Technical University’s Mayo Campus. The presentation examined the preliminary findings of the perceptions of professionalisation in social care work study, which Martin was principal investigator for. Martin also discussed the PRAGRESS project, highlighting in particular the findings from the baseline report around the commonality in experiences of the impact of episodes of aggression or violence on care-givers. Indeed, the baseline report drew attention to the fact that in spite of the range of social-culturally diverse nations the participants hailed from, and the differences in care systems, and organisational norms and approaches, there was a markedly similar impact of incidents on carers. Shock and upset were most often the initial reaction, with feelings of guilt and self-blame typically emerging in the period after the incident. Unfortunately, in Ireland social care work has frequently been associated with incidents of aggression and violence and it is an all too common feature in some sectors of social care work. In light of the commonly of experience of carers, while some elements of the PRAGRESS programme may not be especially relevant to sections of the social care workforce, the modules that can support carers in preventing, managing and coping with episodes of aggression and violence will have resonance beyond care of older people