Child Trauma Expert Releases New Book in NT

‘The Three Pillars of Transforming Care‘, by Anglicare NT Board member Dr Howard Bath, was launched at Anglicare NT in Darwin today by Territory Families CEO Ken Davies. Dr Bath is a respected author, speaker and trainer in childhood trauma.

“On the back of the Royal Commission, it is critical our whole service system understands trauma and the way it can affect children and young people. This latest book from Dr Bath and its associated training framework will make an important contribution to anyone working with or interacting with children,” said Anglicare NT CEO Dave Pugh.

“The ‘Three Pillars of Transforming Care’ distils the core propositions of trauma theory into a clear, concise and accessible framework for those providing care, mentoring and education for young people. It doesn’t primarily target therapists or clinicians but residential workers, foster carers, kinship carers, teachers, and youth justice workers as well as those that support, train and mentor them.”

According to Dr Bath, the core needs of young people are the need to feel safe, the need for healthy connections and adaptive coping strategies. “Safety has to be our first priority for children. The second core need is for healthy connections and ‘normal’ engagement with the community. Finally, we need to help children and young people cope with their internal challenges. Good old active listening is a good place to start – listen and engage.”

Dr Bath has had a long career working with children and young people in the child welfare and youth justice systems. He has been a youth worker, house parent, program manager and agency director. Trained as a clinical psychologist, Dr Bath has also provided direct services for young people and their families as well as training and program support for agencies.

From 2008 to 2015 Dr Bath was the inaugural Children’s Commissioner in the NT with a mission to promote the wellbeing of vulnerable children. He currently provides a range of consultancy and training services across Australia and internationally, focusing on the impacts of severe adversity and the promotion of healing and growth.