Child to Parent Violence and Abuse: Understanding the Types of Traumas Experienced by Families and Whānau

This report examines Child to Parent Violence and Abuse (CPVA) through a trauma-informed lens, highlighting the complex, cumulative, and often overlapping forms of trauma experienced by parents, caregivers, siblings, and whānau. It shows that CPVA is a multifaceted form of family violence that exposes families to ongoing harm, including primary, secondary, filial, complex, and systems trauma, all of which deeply affect emotional, physical, relational, and spiritual wellbeing. The report emphasises that trauma in CPVA is shaped not only by the violence itself but also by chronic stress, enforced caregiving proximity, and systemic failures that often minimise, misunderstand, or inadequately respond to families’ needs. These experiences can lead to conditions such as PTSD, blocked care, disenfranchised grief, and long-term relational disruption across the whole family system. The report also highlights cultural considerations, particularly for Māori, where trauma is understood as impacting collective wellbeing and requiring relational and culturally grounded healing approaches. Overall, it calls for trauma-informed, whānau-centred, and coordinated system responses that prioritise safety, validate lived experience, and address both the immediate and long-term impacts of CPVA on families and communities.