Complex trauma is a significant national health and welfare issue. It affects people of all ages and backgrounds, predominantly women and children. There is a strong correlation between complex trauma and poor physical, psychosocial and mental health. The relationship between trauma and the ongoing needs of victim-survivors is complex and requires collaboration between multiple service sectors to provide effective care for improved wellbeing. However, a lack of service options, communication and care coordination remains particularly apparent in rural and remote Australia. This creates gaps for victim-survivors, significantly compounding the adverse impacts of complex trauma.

In this presentation, Full Stop Australia (FSA) will propose establishing an integrated trauma recovery model to respond to the needs of victim-survivors and the broader community. The proposed model examines the current challenges of service access in rural and remote areas and maps potential ways forward.