RESEARCH REPORT “A deep wound under my heart”: Constructions of complex trauma and implications for women’s wellbeing and safety from violence
This project sought to develop a comprehensive picture of how complex trauma is being constructed in public policy and practice, and how it is viewed by women with experiences of complex trauma.
The research took the form of a multi-method study that combined policy and service analysis with qualitative research with women with experiences of complex trauma and the professionals who work with them, via:
- a policy audit of approaches to complex trauma
- service documentary analysis and qualitative interviews with professionals in Queensland and New South Wales
- qualitative interviews with women with experiences of complex trauma in Queensland and New South Wales
- online workshops in which professional stakeholders and women with experiences of complex trauma provided feedback on the findings of the study.
The research found that at the policy level, complex trauma overlaps with frameworks on violence against women and mental health. However, the impact of complex trauma is not comprehensively addressed by these frameworks, which contributes to the fragmented response to women in distress. It demonstrated that there is a strong need for a whole-of-government commitment to the implementation and coordination of trauma-informed practice across sectors.
The report includes recommendations for policy and practice.
Publication details
This work is part of the ANROWS Research reports series. ANROWS Research reports (Horizons) are in-depth reports on empirical research produced under ANROWS’s research program.
Authors
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MICHAEL SALTER
School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales
DR ELIZABETH CONROY
Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MOLLY DRAGIEWICZ
School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University
DR JACKIE BURKE
Jackie Burke Psychology and Consulting
PROFESSOR JANE USSHER
Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University
PROFESSOR WARWICK MIDDLETON
Trauma & Dissociation Unit, Belmont Hospital
DR SHERYLE VILENICA
Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University
DR BEATRIZ MARTIN MONZON
Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University
DR KYJA NOACK-LUNDBERG
Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University
ISBN: 978-1-925925-44-9 (print) | 978-1-925925-43-2 (online)
158 pp.
Suggested citation
Salter, M., Conroy, E., Dragiewicz, M., Burke, J., Ussher, J., Middleton, W., Vilenica, S., Martin Monzon, B., & Noack-Lundberg, K.(2020). “A deep wound under my heart”: Constructions of complex trauma and implications for women’s wellbeing and safety from violence (Research report, 12/2020). Sydney: ANROWS.