AUSTRALIA
Australian Women’s Weekly

By Michael Sheather
Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Australians have never needed to be more aware of child abuse and it traumatic effects than now, says Dr Cathy Kezelman, president of national support group, Australian Survivors of Child Abuse (ASCA).

“Childhood trauma directly affects an estimated five million adult Australians”, says Dr Kezelman. “It also affects their family, including their children and their communities. It’s like the ripples on the surface of a pond that reverberate out to the edge after someone throws in a pebble. It affects every one of us in one way or another.

“The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2013, and the recent extension for an additional two years of investigation, shows Australia’s commitment not just to survivors of child sexual abuse but to survivors of all forms of childhood trauma and abuse, be it physical,…