If you have experienced childhood trauma, you can speak with a Blue Knot Helpline trauma counsellor including for support and applications around national redress
1300 657 380 Monday - Sunday between 9am - 5pm AEDT or via email helpline@blueknot.org.au
Do you live with disability? Have you experienced abuse, neglect, violence or exploitation? For support for Disability Royal Commission or general support contact our National Counselling & Referral Service
October 2019
We also feature the second part of Guest contributor Bec Moran’s findings from her study which looks at lessons learned from the Australian Child Abuse Royal Commission. Specifically, this article looks at the challenges that survivors had in ‘fitting in’ with the format of the Commission when providing their submissions and testimonies. While many survivors found the experience of the Commission affirming and empowering, some were re-traumatised by the experience.
The 10th anniversary of Blue Knot Day was held on 28th October, and we would like to thank everyone who were involved in events, spoke to the media or contributed their Blue Sky Moments across social media. It’s wonderful to show solidarity and support for survivors, and let them know that they are not alone on their journey of recovery.
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**Unravelling Trauma in the Body, Brain and Mind--a Revolution in Treatment**
Peter Levine demonstrates in a very accessible way how trauma sticks in the body in this YouTube clip
For further information, visit www.somaticexperiencing.com
Survivor Workshops
This full-day educational workshop, informed by current research, provides a safe space for people who have experienced abuse or trauma in childhood, to learn more about abuse and other traumas and how trauma experiences can affect people, at the time of the trauma, and afterwards. It will raise awareness about survivors’ strengths and resilience, the role of coping strategies, how the brain responds to stress, and, most importantly, research which shows that recovery is possible. There are still places available for Survivor Workshops in the following cities:
Identity and Belonging
This fact sheet explores how complex trauma can affect our sense of self and identity as we grow into adulthood. Depending on the age and stage in which complex trauma occurs, sense of self, capacity to regulate levels of arousal, emotions and behaviour can also be significantly affected. It is important to understand this when engaging with a person who has experienced trauma in their childhood. Download the Fact Sheet here to learn more.
Trigger warning
Marie Claire spoke to two survivors of complex trauma to get a better understanding of the ongoing pain, recovery and impact on their lives. Read more
To other women still struggling to leave abusive relationships, Samantha says it’s important to “have a vision”. Read more
Scarlett Franks shares her story in order to improve understanding about complex trauma among the public, health professionals, and the legal and child protection systems. But most of all, to help other survivors feel less isolated. Read more
Assistant Minister for Children and Families, Michelle Landry, today highlighted the important role of Blue Knot Day in providing hope and optimism for Australians who continued to battle the ongoing impacts of trauma that they experienced as children. Read more
One year on from the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, the complex trauma experienced by survivors remains part of a hidden public health crisis. Read more
Two thirds of people presenting to public and private mental health services have experienced sexual or physical abuse. Read more
The Kimberley Stolen Generation Aboriginal Corporation (KSGAC) recognised Blue Knot Day through healing art activities with members and friends. Read more
Blue Knot Foundation is excited to announce our professional development training calendar for Feb-Jun 2020. Blue Knot’s trauma training is informative, interactive and engaging, and is facilitated by experienced clinicians and trauma trainers around Australia. The following training programs will be running publicly for the first time:
• Trauma Informed Care and Practice: Working with People with a Disability • Trauma Informed Care and Practice: Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Professionals may claim CPD hours/credits/points as a pre-approved or self-directed learning activity.
If you have any questions please email training@blueknot.org.au.
In 2012 we launched our Practice Guidelines for Treatment of Complex Trauma and Trauma Informed Care and Service Delivery. The publication was highly endorsed and acclaimed by clinicians, researchers, academics and people with a lived experience of complex trauma alike. Downloaded over 25,000 times the 2012 guidelines still stand and provide a helpful introductory guide for practitioners who are new to this work, as well as to people living with experiences of complex trauma and those who support them.
In addition a companion guide to the 2019 Guidelines has been released – combined Complementary Guidelines which provide an overview of the differences between working with complex trauma clients and standard counselling approaches as well as a guide to therapist competencies for working with complex trauma and dissociation.
Lessons from the Australian Child Abuse Royal Commission
Rebecca J Moran, PhD Candidate, University of New South Wales School of Social Sciences To protect their privacy and anonymity, all of the survivors whose words are provided below have been given a pseudonym.
For further information about this study please email Rebecca at rebecca.moran@student.unsw.edu.au
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