PhD top up award to help tackle systemic inequalities

UWA PhD student Elmie Janse van Rensburg is tackling systemic inequalities through research into childhood trauma, with support from Embrace @ Telethon Kids Institute.

Elmie is investigating the consequences of childhood maltreatment on the physical and mental health of survivors and survivor’s children, who have experienced similar consequences to their parents in some cases, even if they have not been directly traumatised themselves.

Understanding how to stop this cycle is important to improve outcomes for survivors and their children and to stop cycles of inequality which are largely influenced by systems of disadvantage.

The competitive top up award from Embrace recognises Elmie’s outstanding PhD work so far and is funded by Telethon Trust.

Elmie remains on track to submit her work in early 2024. She then plans to combine her dual passions as a psychologist and a researcher to help people overcome barriers formed through intergenerational trauma and systemic inequality.

“I am really passionate about practical ways that psychology can reduce systemic inequality. And from volunteer, work and personal experience, I landed on intergenerational trauma being a very important way that psychology can help to reduce cycles of disadvantage,” Elmie said.

“I hope that my PhD will help us to better understand exactly how consequences of trauma are sometimes passed from survivors to their children, so that we can prevent future generations from experiencing this and make the best therapies possible for survivors. “

Embrace @ Telethon Kids Institute is supported by Principal Partner Rio Tinto.

PhD student Elmie Janse van Rensburg studies intergenerational trauma.