Growing up in Care: Brotherton Lecture with Professor Rachel Hiller

Young people in care (sometimes called State care or Child Welfare care) have some of the poorest mental health and wellbeing outcomes of any group of youth. Many have experienced trauma and adversity, and once in care face a system that can compound these experiences (for example, many will have no consistent caregiver). At least half of young people in care meet criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition. Yet, paradoxically, they often receive poorer access to evidence-based assessments and interventions.

In this talk, Professor Hiller will present research she has been running in the UK, which explores the mental health and wellbeing needs of children and teens growing up in the care system. This primarily focuses on understanding the challenges and opportunities for improving access to high-quality mental health care for this group, from recognising and assessing mental health through to treatment delivery. The talk will particularly focus on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex PTSD, but with implications for the broader mental health and wellbeing of this group of young people.

Following the lecture, we invite you to enjoy further discussion and light refreshments in the Kenneth Myer Buillding foyer, just outside the lecture theatre.

Professor Hiller is a 2024 Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences' Brotherton Fellow, a program funded by the Patricia Brotherton bequest, bringing esteemed international scholars to Melbourne to foster research collaboration in the psychological sciences.

Rachel Hiller, PhD, is Professor in Child & Adolescent Mental Health at University College London in the UK. She leads the UCL Child Trauma and Recovery research group, where her team seek to improve mental health outcomes for young people who have experienced complex trauma, and particularly those with experience of the care-system. Her team use multiple methods, including longitudinal studies through to treatment and implementation trials, and work alongside key stakeholders, including care-experienced young people, caregivers, cross-sector professionals, and policy experts to drive systems change in evidence-based mental health support for this group of young people. Rachel is also Co-Director of the UK Trauma Council and on the Board of Directors for the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Ian Potter Auditorium, Kenneth Myer Building, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, Australia