1 in 4 Australian adults have experienced childhood trauma.  Many have not received the help they need to heal from it. This means that many survivors are living with significant impacts on their mental and physical health (Banyard et al, 2009), wellbeing, self-esteem and relationships, and educational and work opportunities. 

Sometimes people don’t recognise the ways in which their prior trauma relates to their current challenges. Others may not have identified what happened to them as traumatic. Sometimes a parent or caregiver has their own trauma history e.g. parent with a mental illness, parent who misused alcohol or drugs, parent in prison, victim of domestic and family violence. This can make childhood trauma harder to name.

Some people grew up in communities in which violence and abuse was the ‘norm’. Sometimes entire generations or communities are affected. Others experienced medical or dental trauma, or grew up in care which was ‘uncaring’ and abusive, and/or in situations of disadvantage.  

If you experienced any form of abuse, violence or trauma in your childhood you may be affected by its impacts. We hope that you find the following resources helpful.