Synopsis:

One in four children in Australia grow up in homes marred by family violence. Yet despite growing awareness of the problem, children’s experiences are often overlooked. At RCH, the family violence team is helping staff to understand the immense difference they can make when they recognise and listen to children and their families who are living with violence.  During this Grand Round, Ruth Clare, author of the memoir Enemy, will share her personal experience of growing up in a home with a violent father and an alcoholic mother, and the impact this has had on her life. She will also reflect on the wisdom she has gained after many years of therapy dealing with fallout from her childhood, and the things everyone can do to help children experiencing family violence today. This powerful presentation will re-shape the way you think about family violence and child wellbeing and your role in changing the story.

Speaker:

Ruth Clare is the author of the award-winning memoir, Enemy (Penguin, 2016). She is also a TEDx and keynote speaker on resilience, child welfare, domestic violence and the transgenerational impact of war. A copywriter for over a decade, her writing has been published in The Good Weekend, Meanjin and Elle.