A community forum, the first of its kind in the Latrobe Valley, will look at these impacts in an effort to educate people working with adult or child survivors of trauma.

Advocates for Survivors of Child Abuse (ASCA) will host the forum targeting counsellors, teachers, chaplains and parents, among others.

It will also run a workshop for survivors and their families.

ASCA volunteer Joy said survivors of child abuse and members of the public were still very hesitant in talking about the subject.

``There is a shame and guilt that goes with these issues,'' she said.

``The more they can talk about it and be open, the more the community is able to address those issues.''

Joy said one in three girls and one in seven boys will experience some form of abuse before the age of 18.

``The more information people can gather I think the more understanding there will be,'' Joy said.

``What people don't understand is that there are lots of ongoing effects for lots of people.

``Actual changes to the brain occur when a person experiences trauma.''

Joy said some of the effects of childhood trauma include disassociation, depression, self harm, substance abuse and relationship difficulties.

ASCA trauma therapist Meryl Lee will speak at the forum and workshop and hopes to broaden the knowledge of people working with survivors of abuse.

She is also keen to connect survivors with a network of people who have had similar experiences.

``Survivors of child abuse are often very isolated and one of the things that helps with healing is to meet with other survivors and find out the way they have dealt with it is normal,'' Ms Lee said.

``My hope is the survivors that come will learn they're normal and they're not alone.

``One of the things that happens is the child thinks they are at fault, they grow up thinking that they're wrong, they're bad, they're no good.

``When people have the accurate information I think it's an enormous relief for them.''

She said recent research had provided a lot more insight into the impact of childhood trauma and a person's development.

``Anything that makes a child feel powerless and overwhelmed can have ongoing effects.

``When a child is abused by care givers, what happens is that the whole capacity to relate can be damaged,'' she said.

``Our brains develop as a result of interacting socially, the contact we have with main carers shapes children and the people around us.''

Ms Lee said as people learnt more about child abuse and its effects ``we can eventually make it a less common event''.

``I will be bringing quite a number of resources down (to the forum) and anybody who's working with children, I can point them in the right direction in terms of current information.

``People who work with children, my hope is that they'll be resourced to help them in their work in their contact with people.''

Ms Lee encouraged anybody working with children, survivors and the public to attend the forum.

``If people can get informed it can make a difference.''

ASCA is a national organisation which aims to increase community awareness about all forms of child abuse and is also a social network for survivors.

There is a local group of members who meet regularly in the Latrobe Valley.

Joy said the group always welcomed new members.

``We can point people to areas where they might be able to get help, we are their first point of contact, we can provide a listening ear,'' she said.

``People don't need to be survivors to join, anybody who is interested can.

``One of the issues with child abuse is people can feel alone and isolated so it's always good to connect with people who understand and give people the ability to talk more openly.''

The community forum for those working with survivors of childhood trauma and interested members of the public will be held at Moe Community Health Centre, Fowler Street, Moe on Friday 30 May from 4pm-8pm. Cost is $10.

The workshop, aimed at survivors and their families, will be held at Traralgon Neighbourhood House (in the Kath Teychenne Centre), Breed Street, Traralgon on Saturday 31 May from 10am-3pm.

BYO lunch, tea and coffee provided.

For more information on both the forum and workshop, or to pre-register, contact Joy on 0412059203 or Mary on 0402082517.