Bibliography

Adult survivors of abuse

Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault; Bavinton, Tim.
Male survivors of sexual assault.
Aware: Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault Newsletter no.2 Nov 2003: 15-18, and Online (74K)
http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/newsletter/n2.html#samssa

This article presents an interview with Tim Bavinton, Coordinator of the Service Assisting Male Survivors of Sexual Assault (SAMSSA), in which he discusses working with male victim/ survivors of sexual assault. It includes development of the service and the framework within which it operates; key issues facing male victim/ survivors of sexual assault, including results from the SAMSSA Needs Assessment Survey in which men list the impact and effects sexual violence has had in their lives; how needs of male victim/ survivors differ to those of women; and the level of recognition that men can be victims of sexual assault.

Available from: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 300 Queen Street, Melbourne Vic 3000. Email publications@aifs.gov.au. Internet http://www.aifs.gov.au/

Basham, Sandra.
Service profile: Incest Survivors' Association (Western Australia).
Aware: Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault Newsletter no.8 Jun 2005: 26-30, and Online
http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/newsletter/n8.html#serviceprof

The Incest Survivors' Association in Perth provides counselling for adolescent and adult survivors of incest and other child sexual assault. In this profile of the organisation, the following are discussed: the origins of the organisation; the philosophy of the service and how it differs from mainstream sexual assault services; issues specific to survivors of childhood sexual assault; the importance of having a separate service for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse; the services the organisation offers; the public conception of childhood sexual assault; challenges the service faces; and lessons learned.

Available from: Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault, Australian Institute of Family Studies, 300 Queen Street, Melbourne Vic 3000. Email publications@aifs.gov.au. Internet http://www.aifs.gov.au/

Birchmore, Kristina.
Moment by moment I coped: South Australian women on the subject of childhood sexual abuse.
North Adelaide, SA: Women's Health Statewide, 2005, 65p, figures, tables, Online (PDF 873K)
http://www.whs.sa.gov.au/pub/Moment_by_Moment.pdf

31 South Australian women participated in this research into the long term effects of childhood sexual abuse. The report records and discusses their accounts of the impact of the abuse and the coping strategies they have employed and includes a description of the research methodology and a literature review.

Available from: Women's Health Statewide http://www.whs.sa.gov.au/

Briere, John.
Treating the long-term effects of childhood maltreatment: a brief overview.
Psychotherapy in Australia v.10 no.3 May 2004: 12-18

The psychological treatment of abuse effects is likely to be complex and require specialized skills and information. John Briere outlines the central principles of the 'self-trauma model', a therapeutic approach to child abuse-related issues in adults. This perspective calls upon cognitive-behavioral and relational research and theory to address the many cognitive, emotional, behavioral and interpersonal effects of child maltreatment. The critical balance between exposure to traumatic history and the consolidation of safety and stability is explored. Implicit to this model is the importance during trauma processing of internal (or 'self') capacities such as the skills of affect tolerance and affect modulation. Some clients may require extensive 'self-work' before any significant trauma-focused interventions can occur. (Journal abstract)

Available from: PsychOz Publications Pty Ltd, PO Box 534, Carlton North Vic 3054. Email psychoz@psychotherapy.com.au. Internet http://www.psychotherapy.com.au

Bullen, Jane; Jacobs, Julia; Le Pont, Lou Lou; Martin, Michelle; Smith, Constance.
A collaborative approach to working with women who have experienced sexual violence as children - Stepping Out Housing Program.
In: NSW NGO Conference 2004 - NGOs Mental Health and Community: Turning the Tide, March 2004. Sydney, NSW: Mental Health Coordinating Council, 2004, 17p, Online only (PDF 56K)
http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/43309/20040719-0000/www.mhcc.org.au/conferences/2004/papers/JaneBullen.pdf

Stepping Out Housing Program is a medium term supported accommodation service in south western Sydney for women (with or without dependent children) who have experienced child sexual assault and are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This paper addresses the needs and experience of tenants who tell the story of being considered 'Too Hard' to work with and who have trouble locating services that respond adequately to their complex needs. Tenants and staff from Stepping Out were interviewed about their experiences of collaboration between services including mental health services, and the paper includes the voices of the those interviewed. Ideas are suggested for positive ways forward toward a better outcome.

Available from: Mental Health Coordinating Council, PO Box 668, Rozelle NSW 2039. Email info@mhcc.org.au. Internet http://www.mhcc.org.au/

Crome, Sarah.
Male survivors of sexual assault and rape.
Melbourne, Vic: Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault, Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2006, 8p, table (ACSSA wrap no.2), and Online
http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/wrap/w2.html

The sexual abuse of males is underrepresented in sexual abuse literature, statistics and programs. Current research about male survivors of sexual assault and rape is summarised in this paper. The paper discusses definitions, theoretical perspectives, reporting, prevalence and incidence reports, victim characteristics and risk factors, impact on survivors, treatment options, policy initiatives, and service responses and limitations.

Available from: Australian Institute of Family Studies http://www.aifs.gov.au/

Fergus, Lara; Keel, Monique.
Adult victim/ survivors of childhood sexual assault.
Melbourne, Vic: Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault, Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2005, 6p (ACSSA Wrap no.1), and Online
http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/wrap/w1.html

An overview of current information on childhood sexual assault is presented. The following areas are covered: what childhood sexual assault is, who sexually assaults children and how common it is, the effects on victim / survivors, service responses, barriers to reporting, criminal justice responses, and what needs to be addressed in terms of research and service responses.

Available from: Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/

Firestone, Andrew.
Essay: Children of the Holocaust.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy v.25 no.3 Sept 2004: 125-128

The book 'Children of the Holocaust' by Helen Epstein relates the stories of the children of Holocaust survivors. The author found the anecdotes moving, but questions whether there was any evidence that children of survivors ran into trouble more than controls. This article describes the use of Epstein's book in his work with two patients, and the long term effects commonly seen in survivors and their children.

Available from: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy Association, PO Box 135, Moorebank NSW 1875. Email journalsubs@anzjft.com. Internet http://www.anzjft.com/

Ford, Joy.
A very normal family.
Charnwood, ACT: Ginninderra Press, 2005, 63p

In this personal account, an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse describes her experience of abuse and subsequent efforts to overcome the trauma she suffered.

Available from: Ginninderra Press, PO Box 6753, Charnwood ACT 2615. Internet http://www.ginninderrapress.com.au

Fraser, Michelle.
Outsider-witness practices in developing community with women who have experienced child sexual assault.
International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work 2006 no.3: 52-58

The West Street Centre is a community based service for women and young people who have experienced child sexual assault. As a feminist service, the centre is interested in addressing the issue of child sexual assault in forums beyond the therapy room and therapeutic group programs. It has been committed to finding ways to strengthen the community of women who use the service, as well as the women who work to respond to this issue in the community. Narrative outsider witness practices and a number of other key feminist community development ideas have provided a foundation for the organisation of two community forum days over the last two years. This paper describes these community days and the thinking that informed them. (Journal abstract, edited)

Available from: Dulwich Centre http://www.dulwichcentre.com.au

Frederick, John; Goddard, Chris
Exploring the relationship between poverty, childhood adversity and child abuse from the perspective of adulthood.
Child Abuse Review v.16 no.5 Sept - Oct 2007: 323-341

This article discusses the relationship between early childhood abuse or other adversity and later poverty in adulthood. It reviews risk and protective factors, and family poverty as a risk factor for child abuse, and features results from a study of emergency relief recipients in regional Victoria on their life circumstances, including experience of child abuse, bereavement, family breakdown, foster care, and mental health. The study findings support the ideas of negative chain effects, or pathways into poverty caused by accumulated adversity.

Available from: British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.

Harrison, Eris
The forgotten Australians.
Family (Families Australia) no.8 Sept 2007: 17

The Alliance for Forgotten Australians (AFA) is a project supported by Families Australia, set up to support those people who were neglected or abused as children in Australian institutional or out of home care between 1930 and 1970.

Available from: Families Australia http://www.familiesaustralia.org.au

Higgins, D J; McCabe, M P; Ricciardelli, L A.
Child maltreatment, family characteristics and adult adjustment: mediating and moderating processes.
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma v.6 no.2 2003: 61-86, tables, figures

Recent debate within the child maltreatment literature has concerned the role of the familial environment, and how this may either account for, or interact with, the maltreatment experience. There has been a lack of research on mediating and moderating variables, and in order to address this, potential models of the relationship between different child maltreatment types, family environment and adjustment are evaluated. The authors predicted that negative family environment in childhood may lead to children being subjected to maltreating behaviours, in which case child maltreatment may mediate the relationship of childhood family characteristics and long term adjustment problems. However, the association between child maltreatment and adult adjustment may be explained by the mediating role of family environment. As demonstrated by the literature, more than one form of child abuse is often experienced by individuals, and the moderating influence of co occurring maltreatment types was tested. It was predicted that these interaction terms would contribute to prediction of adult adjustment. Finally, the possible relationship between the variables is that family environment and child maltreatment moderate each other. The authors hypothesised that these interactions between maltreatment types and family environment would contribute to adult adjustment problems.

Available from: Haworth Press, 10 Alice Street, Binghamton New York 13904-1580 USA. Internet http://www.haworthpressinc.com

Higgins, Daryl.
Differentiating between child maltreatment experiences.
Family Matters no.69 Spring - Summer 2004: 50-55, and Online (PDF 161K)
http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/fm2004/fm69/dh.pdf

Is differentiating between maltreatment sub types helpful in explaining outcomes for victims / survivors of child maltreatment? Results from an analysis of parent report data and adult self report data suggest that the degree (frequency and severity) to which young people experience abuse and neglectful behaviours is more important than the particular sub type of maltreatment in explaining subsequent psychological problems.

Available from: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 300 Queen Street, Melbourne Vic 3000. Email publications@aifs.gov.au. Internet http://www.aifs.gov.au/

Hunter, Ricky.
Point last seen: a road to recovery after childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence.
Noosa Heads, Qld: Debut Publishing, 2006, 264p

The victim of abduction and sexual abuse as a child and of domestic violence as a wife, the author recounts her experiences, the coping strategies she developed, and the path she followed to recovery.

Joyce, Peter R; Williamson, Samantha A H; McKenzie, Janice M; Frampton, Christopher M A; Luty, Suzanne E; Porter, Richard J; Mulder, Roger T.
Effects of childhood experiences on cortisol levels in depressed adults.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry v.41 no.1 Jan 2007: 62-65

This paper seeks to evaluate the impact of childhood abuse and parental bonding on cortisol levels in depressed adults. Cortisol levels were measured in 192 depressed patients. Childhood experiences of physical and sexual abuse were ascertained by interview, and perceived parenting by self-report. The authors find that maternal affectionless control, childhood sexual and physical abuse were all associated with cortisol levels. (Journal abstract, edited)

Available from: Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists http://www.ranzcp.org/

Lew, Mike.
Victims no longer: the classic guide for men recovering from sexual child abuse.
2nd ed.
New York: Quill, 2004.

This self-help book for male survivors of child sexual abuse discusses the nature of child abuse, its repercussions on trust and intimacy, and the concepts of masculinity and sexuality. It explains the benefits and processes of counselling, and introduces steps to recovery.

Lighting the path: reflections on counselling, young women and sexual assault.
Camp Hill, Qld: Zig Zag Young Women's Resource Centre, 2006, 241p

This book explores topics of feminist counselling practice, for counsellors working with young women who have experienced sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse.

Available from: Zig Zag Young Women's Resource Centre, http://www.zigzag.org.au/

Mammen, Gita.
After abuse.
Camberwell, Vic: ACER Press, 2006, 139p, figures

This guide is designed to help health practitioners work with the mental health of adults who have experienced childhood sexual abuse. It describes techniques for working with survivors, which derive from many schools of thought. The book discusses: the trauma of childhood sexual abuse, including developmental trauma, types of traumatic events, secrecy, the adult health aftermath of childhood sexual abuse and adult mental health; how service frameworks affect help available to survivors, the types of help survivors seek, survivor health care pathway, types of agencies and practitioners that survivors approach, relevance of service frameworks to a survivor, the current service spectrum, and how perpetrator work differs; assessment and goal plans; preliminary considerations, principles and pitfalls; underpinnings of early and ongoing abuse specific work; strategies and techniques in early and ongoing abuse specific work; memory; and the social context of abuse specific mental health care. Case studies are presented throughout.

Available from: ACER Press, Australian Council for Educational Research http://www.acer.edu.au/publications/acerpress/

Mann, Sue.
Deconstructing love in the context of sexual abuse.
International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work no.3 2004: 12-13

This reflection explores the complex realm of the experiences of women who were subjected to sexual abuse as children. Many of the circumstances of childhood sexual abuse can contribute to considerable confusion about understandings and experiences of love, as abuse often occurs in contexts which are described as loving. In some circumstances the person who has abused has, on occasions, also been loving to the child. This short piece offers some reflections on options for therapists in responding to women in these circumstances. (Journal abstract)

Available from: Dulwich Centre, Hutt St PO Box 7192, Adelaide SA 5000. Internet http://www.dulwichcentre.com.au

Mann, Sue.
The questions posed by our work with women who have experienced sexual abuse.
International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work no.4 2004: 3-12

This paper is one in a series by the author focusing on complex and challenging questions that arise in work with women who have experienced sexual abuse as children. In this paper the author describes the principles which shape her approach in this work, as well as responses to questions about sex work and sexual identity that have arisen in her conversations with women. (Journal abstract, edited)

Available from: Dulwich Centre, Hutt St PO Box 7192, Adelaide SA 5000. Internet http://www.dulwichcentre.com.au

Mann, Sue.
How can you do this work? Responding to questions about the experience of working with women who were subjected to child sexual abuse.
International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work no.2 2005: 11-22

Many women who consult the author, a therapist who works in the field of child sexual abuse, ask how she can do this work. This article considers the complexities involved in answering such a question. It considers how the therapist can respond to the question and how counsellors can explore the meaning of their experiences of this work. The article discusses the women's past experiences of talking about abuse; their understandings about therapy; the effects of abuse; the women's values and intentions in asking the question; what the question means to the author; the isolation of women who experienced child sexual abuse and community; understanding and responding to distress and sorrow in the work of therapy; and ways of understanding experiences of therapist distress. The article describes a case study of a woman who was concerned that her counsellors would be affected by her abuse.

Available from: Dulwich Centre, Hutt St PO Box 7192, Adelaide SA 5000. Internet http://www.dulwichcentre.com.au

Mullinar, Liz; Robertson, Julia.
Paper (Effective affordable healing from childhood trauma.)
In: Ninth Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, November 2003: Many Voices, Many Choices - ACCAN papers and presentations. Sydney, NSW: Department of Community Services, 9p, Online only (PDF 147K)
http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/docswr/_assets/main/documents/accan/papers/1s5j-1.pdf

Mayumarri is a healing centre where guests attend a residential program to heal from the effects of their childhood trauma. Cost is a nominal and affordable contribution, and the program was devised by survivors, for survivors and is run by survivors. An overview is provided of visitor characteristics, including types and source of abuse, and of two separate evaluations over the last two years. Visitors completed a 10 point Depression Index on their first day at Mayumarri, again just before they left the retreat, and a follow-up questionnaire to measure their depression levels 6 months after visiting Mayumarri. Reasons are suggested why the program is so effective, and principles of the healing week are summarised.

Available from: NSW Department of Community Services, Locked Bag 28, Ashfield NSW 1800. Internet http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/html/contact/contact.htm

Najman, Jake M; Dunne, Michael P; Purdie, David M; Boyle, Francis M; Coxeter, Peter D.
Sexual abuse in childhood and sexual dysfunction in adulthood: an Australian population-based study.
Archives of Sexual Behavior v.34 no.5 Oct 2005: 517-526

Self reported sexual functioning in individuals reporting a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) was examined in this study. The study used a representative sample of the Australian population, selecting 1793 people between the ages of 18 and 59 from all states and territories. Approximately one third of women and one sixth of men reported unwanted sexual experiences before the age of 16. The study showed a significant association between CSA and symptoms of sexual dysfunction for both men and women. The results show that CSA is common in the Australian population and contributes to impairment in the sexual functioning of adults, particularly women.

Available from: Springer Publishing Company

O'Brien, Louise; Henderson, Corinne.
Reframing responses: improving service provision to women survivors of child sexual abuse who experience mental health problems.
Auseinetter no.27 no.2 Nov 2006: 20-21, and Online (whole issue PDF 3.4MB)
http://www.auseinet.com/resources/auseinet/netter27/auseinetter_27.pdf

The Reframing Responses project aimed to improve services to female survivors of childhood sexual abuse who experience mental health problems. This article summarises the research on the service needs and service usage of these women, explains the research study design and summarises the study recommendations.

Available from: Auseinet http://auseinet.flinders.edu.au

Pullen, Linda; Hudson, Eric.
Who can a man tell? Supporting male survivors of childhood sexual assault.
In: Papers from the 2004 National Men and Family Relationships Forum. Deakin West, ACT: Family Services Australia, 2004, 5p, Online only (PDF 18K)
http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/43308/20050921-0000/www.fsa.org.au/content-sections/files/Who%20Can%20A%20Man%20Tell%20V2.pdf

This paper provides an overview of a workshop for practitioners working with men who have suffered childhood sexual assault (CSA). The workshop investigated ways of recognising the impact of CSA on men and their families, how CSA may manifest itself in adult male behaviour, and strategies for helping men who have been sexually assaulted as children.

Available from: Family Services Australia, PO Box 326, Deakin ACT 2600. Email fsa@fsa.org.au. Internet http://www.fsa.org.au/

Robinson, Greg; Haddock, Lianne.
Speaking out: adult survivors of child sexual abuse.
Gosford, NSW: Central Coast Community Women's Health Centre, 2004, 1 video (43 min), 1 booket/discussion guide

The journeys of five adult survivors of child sexual abuse are followed as the program takes the audience through processes of counselling and healing. The film uses song, dialogue and flashback scenes to give voice to the stories, and identifies ways survivors can seek support through friends, counsellors and group work. The project aims to raise community awareness of child sexual abuse and encourage survivors to seek support and assistance.

Sanderson, Christiane.
Counselling adult survivors of child sexual abuse.
3rd ed.
London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2006.

The revised and expanded third edition of this text provides comprehensive coverage of the theory and practice of counselling survivors of child sexual abuse. Additional new material examines how trauma models explain and describe the impact of CSA, and considers CSA in relation to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma reactions.

Sloan, Jodie; Suchting, Mailin.
Respond SA, for adult victim/survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Aware: Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault Newsletter no.11 May 2006: 27-34, and Online
http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/newsletter/n11.html#profile

Respond SA is a new service for adult survivors of childhood sexual assault. In this interview, the manager of Respond SA and a manager at Relationships Australia discuss: the establishment of Respond SA and its key aims and objectives; the service delivery frameworks and models that were used in the development of Respond SA; why survivors of childhood sexual abuse have been under served; the specific needs of adult survivors; whether Respond SA could be modelled in other areas of Australia; the research that is needed concerning the effects of childhood sexual abuse; the services that Respond SA offers; Respond SA's participation in the workforce development of staff in other agencies; the evaluation of Respond SA; and the success of Respond SA so far.

Available from: Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/

Spitzer, Carsten; Barnow, Sven; Gau, Kay; Freyberger, Harald J; Grabe, Hans Joergen
Childhood maltreatment in patients with somatization disorder.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry v.42 no.4 Apr 2008: 335-341

There is converging evidence indicating a close association between trauma, particularly childhood trauma, and adult somatisation, but studies using both structured interviews and self report measures to assess childhood adversities in patients with somatisation disorder are scarce. In this study, a total of 28 patients with somatisation disorder underwent the Structured Trauma Interview (STI) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). The comparison group consisted of 28 patients with major depression but without a lifetime diagnosis of somatisation disorder. Results showed that somatising patients had been exposed to childhood sexual and physical abuse significantly more often than major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. Sexual abuse emerged as the only significant predictor, and the odds of having been sexually abused were ninefold higher in patients with somatisation disorders relative to MDD subjects. There were no differences between somatising and depressed participants with respect to other types of maltreatment. The study concluded that childhood sexual abuse is an important factor in the multifactorial aetiopathogenesis of somatisation disorder. Diagnostic and therapeutic implications are discussed.

Available from: Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists http://www.ranzcp.org/

Taylor, Caroline S.
Surviving the legal system: a handbook for adult and child sexual assault survivors and their supporters.
Port Melbourne, Vic: Coulomb Communications, 2004, 196p

This book provides information on the criminal justice system's dealing with sexual assault and child abuse cases in a handbook form for survivors of sexual asssault, rape and child abuse. Information about how to deal with police and the court system as well as the procedures, strategies and tactics of defence baristers in sexual offence trials is presented in an accessable languge and format.

Taylor, S Caroline.
Court licensed abuse; patriarchal lore and the legal response to intrafamilial sexual abuse of children.
New York, NY: Peter Lang, 2004, 312p (New literacies and digital epistemologies v.11)

This book is based on research that analyses transcripts of intrafamilial child sexual abuse. It examines flaws in the adversarial legal system through an analysis of the cross examination of child victims of sexual abuse and presents arguments on how law and psychiatry silence and blame victims of sexual assault. Six trials are studied as textual case studies from a critical, feminist point of view. Trials are seen to enact a narrative template that maintains a patriarchal status quo around intrafamilial child sexual abuse.

Van Loon, Antonia.
Promoting capacity with homeless women survivors of child sexual abuse misusing alcohol, drugs or gambling: final report.
Glenside, SA: Royal District Nursing Service of SA, 2005, 115p, figures, Online (PDF 674K)
http://www.rdns.org.au/research_unit/research_publications/CSA Final Report_Nov05.pdf

Over 93 per cent of homeless women at Catherine House in Adelaide reported childhood sexual abuse, with some attributing their use of drugs, alcohol and gambling to efforts to overcome the trauma of sexual abuse. The aim of this study was to promote the capacity of these women to generate personal resources that would enable them to manage the transition to independent living, and to achieve a healthier, life affirming future. The study employed a participatory action research approach. One of the outcomes was the writing of a book, 'Reclaiming myself after sexual abuse', to explain the group process and help other sexual abuse survivors.

Available from: Royal District Nursing Service of SA Inc. http://www.rdns.org.au/

Van Loon, Antonia M; Kralik, Debbie.
Reclaiming myself after child sexual abuse.
Glenside, SA: Royal District Nursing Service of SA, 2005, 197p, Online (PDF 2326K)
http://www.rdns.org.au/research_unit/documents/Reclaiming_Myself_Resource.pdf

An action research project was undertaken by the Research Unit of the Royal District Nursing Service of SA with homeless women survivors of childhood sexual abuse to find ways of capacity building that would improve the women's self care. This book is an outcome of the project. The decision to write it was made by the participants of the study, to explain the healing process to other sexual abuse survivors and to provide guidance and resources so that they can undertake the process themselves.

Available from: Royal District Nursing Service of SA Inc. http://www.rdns.org.au/

Van Loon, Antonia M; Kralik, Debbie.
Facilitating transition after child sexual abuse.
Glenside, SA: Royal District Nursing Service of SA, 2005, 212p, figures, Online (PDF 1718K)
http://www.rdns.org.au/research_unit/documents/Facilitating_Transition_Resource.pdf

A key role for service providers working with women survivors of childhood sexual abuse, particularly those who are homeless or who have drug or alcohol addictions, is to support and facilitate their transition from a disrupted life to a more positive, competent way of living. This resource for service providers is a companion volume to Reclaiming myself after child sexual abuse. It describes the action research project undertaken by the Research Unit of the Royal District Nursing Service of SA with homeless women survivors of childhood sexual abuse to find ways of capacity building that would improve the women's self care. It explains the group work process and provides guidance and resources for facilitators of similar programs.

Available from: Royal District Nursing Service of SA Inc. http://www.rdns.org.au/

Van Loon, Antonia; Kralik, Debbie.
A capacity building process for women with a history of child sexual abuse.
Australian Journal of Primary Health v.12 no.2 Aug 2006: 167-176, figure, table

We report the research process used to promote the capacity of women made homeless by the consequences of addictions to alcohol, drugs or gambling, that are considered the result of being sexually abused as children. We aimed to improve the capacity of service providers working with this client group. We used the participatory action research (PAR) process 'Look, Think, Act', employed by Stringer (1999; Stringer & Gene!, 2004). 'Looking' involved building a picture of the issue based on available information. Participants described what was going on so a clear picture of the context emerged. "Thinking" was the clarification phase where meanings and feelings generated by the experience were explored. It involved sense-making questions such as, "What is happening and why? How am I feeling about this?" The aim was to understand the when, what, where and how of the experience. After describing the issues the women were invited to think about what they could do about the issue. 'Acting' (a difficult phase), involved effecting change. Action required involvement with the situation. It was a new skill for many women as they had become disengaged with their lives. They were encouraged to choose actions that moved them towards chosen goals. Many women had become so disempowered they ignored their needs and had few hopes or aspirations. We encouraged them to take the smallest and most easily managed actions likely to have the most benefit for their wellbeing. The process arid the outcomes are described in this paper. (Journal abstract)

Available from: Australian Institute for Primary Care, La Trobe University in association with the Primary and Community Health Network. Internet http://www.latrobe.edu.au/aipc/ajph

Women's Health Statewide.
Responses to sibling sexual abuse: as harmful as the abuse itself.
North Adelaide, SA: Women's Health Statewide, 2005, 27p, figures, table, Online (PDF 217K)
http://www.whs.sa.gov.au/pub/Sibling_Sexual_Abuse.pdf

There is increasing awareness of the difficulties faced by both children and adults in disclosing childhood sexual abuse, but less is known about the impact of disclosing sexual abuse by siblings. In this study 19 women participated in focus group sessions, and the data drawn from the sessions were analysed for metaphors and themes reflecting popular discourses about sibling sexual abuse. The focus of the study was on the impact of the attitudes and responses rather than the impact of the abuse itself. The findings highlight the oppressive and harmful impact of many discourses.

Available from: Women's Health Statewide http://www.whs.sa.gov.au/

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