Interdisciplinary Trauma Research Network

About the network

Launched in 2018 the Interdisciplinary Trauma Research Network (ITRN) is led by sociologist and trauma researcher Dr Kathleen McPhillips. It is housed in the Centre for the Study of Violence. The aim of the network is to build interdisciplinary expertise and research strength by bringing together academic researchers and health industry experts to understand and respond to the complex social challenges that the phenomenon of trauma presents, both in Australia and wider to the global community.

Legal Redress Seminar 2021

On 7th October 2021 a group of legal experts, in conversation with the NSW Attorney General the Hon Mark Speakman, discussed legal changes to child protection laws following recommendations from the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Specialist child abuse lawyers John Ellis and Judy Courtin were joined by Dr Tamara Blakemore from Social Work at UoN.

Loud Sky 2022-2023

Loud Sky 2022-2023

Loud Sky is a collaborative exhibition featuring the work of five contemporary artists who have worked with the community of survivors of institutional child sexual abuse to represent through visual arts the impacts of institutional child sexual abuse.

The exhibition is currently open at the Lock Up Gallery in Hunter Street Newcastle and is open until May 21st.

LOUD SKY features artists Lottie Consalvo, Peter Gardiner, Fiona Lee, Damien Linnane and Clare Weeks and curated by Dr Rod Pattenden and Dr Kath McPhillips, in collaboration with The Lock-Up and the Clergy Abused Network.

ITRN Symposium

ITRN Symposium

On Monday 11thJune 2018, 20 people gathered at Nu Space for the inaugural ITRN symposium and launch. The symposium bought together academics, advocates and clinical experts working in the field of trauma to engage in conversations across disciplines, organizations and industry to explore the possibilities for a wider, more inclusive understanding of trauma. Papers covered historical accounts of sexual violence and colonial violence, the work of the Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse and reflections on the current state of trauma informed care by clinicians and advocates. International experts, Professors Joanna Bourke and Wendy Kline both gave presentations.

Writing Support Group

Writing Support Group

In 2018, the ITRN established a writing group to provide a dedicated block of time to support members working in challenging research areas such as child abuse, impacts of war on the mental health of soldiers and community psychiatry. The group meets every Wednesday between 10am-12noon in W202 and members of the Centre for the Study of Violence and ITRN are welcome (COVID space restrictions apply). Bring your laptop for some quality writing time without distraction. A zoom connection is also available.

The Survivor Story Project

The Survivor Story Project

The podcast contains interviews with survivors of institutional child sexual abuse who were invited to tell their life story and reflect on the impacts of being abused as a child in a Church based organisation. This innovative project is funded by the Marist Bros Australia Province and is part of social justice responses to the catastrophic impacts of child sexual abuse in the Hunter Valley.

Webinar on Organised Child Sexual Abuse, December 2020

Webinar on Organised Child Sexual Abuse, December 2020

This webinar was recorded on 7 December 2020 and features five experts discussing various aspects of organised child abuse in institutional and familial settings challenging commonly held notions of this topic and investigating it from interdisciplinary perspectives. The aim of the webinar is to explore organised child sexual abuse in a broader framework and link it closely to the operations of perpetrator culture. The Webinar is chaired by Dr Kathleen McPhillips, who leads the ITRN network. View the webinar abstracts (PDF 533KB). To watch the recording, please email Dr McPhillips.