Trauma, Domestic Violence and Meaningful Change

Cass Moriarty’s novels include Parting Words (UQP 2017) and The Promise Seed (UQP 2015), longlisted for the 2017 Dublin International Literary Award, and shortlisted for both the 2016 Queensland Literary Awards (People’s Choice Award) and the 2013 QLA (Emerging Author category). The Saturday Paper has published her short fiction and her creative non-fiction. Her work explores the silences and secrets in families. She is a book reviewer and critic, a writing mentor, an Australia Council recipient, a Queensland Literary Awards judge, and she presents workshops and hosts literary conversations. Cass is a staunch supporter of Australian authors and believes in the power of a supportive literary community.

Manjula Datta O'Connor is a clinical psychiatrist and Chair of the Royal Australian New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Family Violence Psychiatry Network. She is a clinician, researcher and advocate and works closely with community in the prevention of family violence.

Dr Ahona Guha is a clinical and forensic psychologist. Her first book, Reclaim: understanding complex trauma and those who abuse was published by Scribe Publications in 2023. She works with victims of abuse and trauma, and clients with a range of other difficulties — such as anxiety, depression, perfectionism, burn-out, and relationship problems. She also works with perpetrators of harmful behaviours to assess risk, and provides treatment to reduce the risk they pose to others. She writes widely for the media on matters related to mental health, health, social justice, and equity. Her work has appeared in The Age, The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Breathe Magazine, SBS, and ABC. You can find out more about her work at www.ahonaguha.com.

Nicole Madigan has worked as a print journalist for New Limited and an on-air reporter and presenter with the Nine Network, filing stories for Brisbane program Extra, lifestyle show Weekend Extra and National Nine News. As a freelance journalist her work has been published in the AFR, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, The Courier Mail, Sunday Life, MiNDFOOD, and Mamamia.