Trauma prevention and early intervention approaches with children and young people
From a webinar hosted by The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS)
The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) reinforced what many in the child and family sector in Australia had long suspected – most children and young people (62%) experience at least one form of abuse or neglect before the age of eighteen.
From a wellbeing perspective, they know that these children are more than twice as likely to develop mental health disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and problematic alcohol consumption. (See Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) articles).
Trauma prevention and early intervention of child maltreatment approaches are critical to the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. Drawing on the expertise of Professor Daryl Higgins, a key researcher in the ACMS, and Shankari Sundaram, a counsellor at Rebuild – Relationships Australia, the webinar outlined strategies that practitioners, organisations and systems can use to contribute to trauma prevention and early intervention. A summary is as follows:
The Australian Child Maltreatment Study is the first nationally representative study in Australia to examine all five forms of child abuse and neglect: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence. The study randomly survey Australians aged 16 and over about their childhood experiences and current mental health and health-related behaviours.
The key findings are:
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Prevalence: The study revealed high rates of maltreatment, with significant percentages of the population experiencing each form of abuse. Notably, exposure to domestic violence was the most common, affecting nearly one in five Australians.
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Overlap: Many individuals experienced more than one type of maltreatment, with multi-type maltreatment being the most prevalent pattern.
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Consequences: Experiencing multiple forms of abuse significantly increased the likelihood of developing mental health conditions and engaging in health risk behaviours in adulthood, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal behaviour.
The trauma is not just about the events themselves, but about the nervous system’s response to those events. Early intervention is crucial because there is a window of opportunity after traumatic events to build protective factors and prevent long-term impacts. Interventions must be tailored to the child’s context and be flexible, focusing on building resilience and supporting the developing brain and nervous system.
Key intervention strategies are:
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Early Intervention: Act quickly after traumatic events to build protective factors and prevent long-term harm. Tailor support to each child’s unique context.
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Safe Relationships: Build trust and safety between practitioners and children. Use creative methods (like drawing or storytelling) to help children express themselves at their own pace.
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Supportive Communication: Mirror the child’s language, pay attention to non-verbal cues, and avoid pressuring for details. Focus on therapeutic support, not investigation.
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Prevention Education: Teach body safety, consent, and respect from an early age, both at home and in schools. Provide universal parenting support and make services accessible in community settings.
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Grounding Techniques: Use grounding and regulation methods (like bilateral movement or breathing exercises) to help children feel safe while discussing distressing topics.
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Parental Support: Help non-offending parents manage their own emotions, use supportive language, and maintain secure attachments with their children.
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Ongoing Dialogue: Encourage regular, open conversations about safety, respect, and online risks in everyday situations.
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Trauma-Informed Care: Recognise and address mental health issues early with trauma-informed approaches focused on safety and emotional regulation.
A recurring theme is the importance of creating safe, supportive environments where children feel comfortable disclosing abuse. Practitioners must develop comfort with these topics and prioritise the relationship with the child. Techniques include:
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Using different expressions (drawings, storytelling, metaphors) to help children externalise and discuss their experiences.
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Allowing children to express themselves at their own pace, without imposing adult needs for information.
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Grounding their own emotional responses to avoid making the child feel unsafe.
Practitioners should avoid imposing their own language on children’s experiences. Instead, they should mirror the language children use, honouring their ownership of their stories. Practitioners must be child-led, attentive to non-verbal cues, and prioritise building safety before seeking information. The role is therapeutic, not investigative, unless required for reporting purposes.
There is a need for both trauma prevention and trauma recovery. Prevention strategies include:
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Body Safety and Consent Education: Teaching children about body autonomy, consent, and respect from an early age, both in schools and at home.
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Parenting Support: Providing evidence-based parenting programmes and supports universally, not just to high-risk families. Early and ongoing support for all parents is key to genuine prevention.
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Community Hubs: Delivering services in places where families already are, such as schools and community centres, to reduce stigma and increase accessibility.
The ACMS found that a significant proportion of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by peers, not just adults. This underscores the importance of equipping children and young people with the language and confidence to discuss consent, respect, and bodily autonomy. Parents and practitioners must have open, ongoing conversations about these topics, using everyday opportunities to reinforce these messages.
When child sexual abuse is disclosed, non-offending parents often experience their own trauma and shock. Practitioners support these parents by helping them ground themselves, seek support, and manage their responses to avoid creating additional trauma points for the child. Maintaining secure attachments and providing space for grief and loss are crucial for recovery.
The ACMS shows some positive trends, such as a reduction in sexual abuse by parents or caregivers and a decrease in the use of corporal punishment. However, there is an increase in peer-perpetrated sexual abuse, particularly affecting young girls in dating relationships. The complexity of maltreatment cases is increasing, with more individuals experiencing multiple forms of abuse.
Adults who experienced child maltreatment are at significantly higher risk for mental health disorders and risky behaviours. Early recognition and trauma-informed interventions for children and adolescents are essential to prevent these long-term effects. Practitioners should focus on re-establishing safety, secure attachments, and somatic practices to support recovery.
The webinar underscores the widespread nature of child maltreatment in Australia and the urgent need for prevention, early intervention, and trauma-informed practice. Building supportive relationships, fostering open communication, and providing universal parenting support are key strategies for reducing the prevalence and impact of child abuse and neglect.
Watch the 68 min webinar here.
[WOTS: Statistics for UK can be found here - see Adverse Childhood Experiences (Public Health England) and The devastating effect of divorce or separation on Adverse Childhood Experiences]
To help prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences in your community, could your organisation run a Resilience Challenge event?
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From a webinar hosted by The Australian Institute , 14/01/2026