Understanding trauma
Understanding trauma
Trauma occurs when an event, or series of events, overwhelms the way we process difficult emotions or situations. Being overwhelmed can make it hard for us to manage our emotions, thoughts, and behaviours. This can significantly change our internal world, the relationships around us, and the way we interact with our community.
Mural by Juzpop (Justine Millsom). Photo by Yoshi Yanagita.
Prevalence of trauma in our community
Trauma is common in Australia. Around 75% of Australians have reported at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Types and rates of trauma also vary across population groups.
Women and girls are more likely to experience trauma that is intentional, called victimisation trauma, and twice the amount of women live with PTSD as men.
Among populations considered vulnerable, rates of trauma tend to be higher than average. This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping, juveniles in detention, children involved in welfare services and more.
In a study in Victoria, 100% of people experiencing long-term homeless had experienced a traumatic event compared to the 75% Australian average. Of this 100%, 98% have experienced accidental trauma (e.g., violence, accident, disaster) and 60% have experienced victimisation trauma (prolonged abuse, usually in childhood).
Understanding adverse childhood experiences
Adverse childhood experiences, sometimes called ACEs, are stressful or harmful events that happen when we are young. These events can happen directly to us or around us. Adverse childhood experiences that are more serious are called childhood maltreatment. They include physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, or exposure to domestic violence.
10 areas where adverse childhood experiences could occur:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Neglect
- Domestic violence.
- Drugs and/or alcohol abuse
- Mental health issues in the family
- Loss of a parent due to separation or divorce
- Loss due to a death
- Family member in incarceration (prison).
Prevalence of adverse childhood experiences in our community
Adverse childhood experiences are common in Australia. At least 72% of Australians have experienced one adverse childhood experience. In populations considered vulnerable rates of adverse childhood experiences tend to be higher than average. This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping, juveniles in detention, children involved in welfare services and more.
Childhood maltreatment among Australians over 16 in 2023:
- 39.6% exposure to domestic violence in childhood
- 30.9% emotional abuse
- 32% physical abuse
- 28.5% sexual abuse
- 40.2% more than one type of abuse in childhood.
- 37.3% of women had experienced sexual abuse as children, twice as many as men.
- Among people aged 16-24 in 2023 rates of sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence were higher than the Australian average. Physical abuse was the only maltreatment that was lower.
Types of trauma
There are many types of trauma. They are categorised depending on the nature and duration of the event. Even within the same type, effects vary as much as people do. Some people will not experience lasting impacts while others may experience a combination of possible effects for weeks, months, years, or continuously or intermittently throughout their lives.
How trauma affects our behaviour across age groups
Possible effects, adaptations and signs of trauma can look different across age groups.
| Age group | Possible changes |
| Early childhood (0-6 years) | Possible signs include clinginess; separation anxiety; nightmares; disturbed sleep; re-enacting potentially traumatic events in play; skills regression including toileting, play, speech; learning ability and skill development beyond what is expected for a child's age group. |
| Childhood (6-12 years) | Possible signs include difficulty learning and paying attention; overly aggressive and oppositional behaviour; learning ability and skill development beyond what is expected for a child's age group. |
| Adolescence (13-17 years) | Possible signs include anger; aggression; increased risky behaviour; increased mood swings; difficulty with authority; difficulty making and maintaining relationships; difficulty at school; persistently being on alert. This can look like a teenager getting into fights; acting out; skipping school; drinking and/or using drugs; participating in activity considered criminal; showing defiance toward caregivers, parents, teachers and/or police; arguing with friends and pushing them away; school grades dropping; reading safe situations as dangerous and/or threatening and lashing out. |
| Adults (18-64 years) | Possible signs include persistent or recurring disorders such as anxiety and depression; social withdrawal; difficulty making and maintaining relationships; difficulty at work; burnout; alcohol and/or drug use that may increase over time particularly to manage stress; and more. |
| Older persons (65+ years) | Possible signs include traumatic memories coming back; symptoms labelled disorders can continue; PTSD signs can develop; adaptations can be misdiagnosed as dementia or aging. Previous signs can increase due to age-related stress, including retirement, health decline and illness, bereavement and grief, isolation. |
