“My father died three years ago and at 52yrs old this was the first time in my life I felt free from his control and bullying. The sense of fear never leaves you but with therapy and support you learn how to manage it. On his deathbed the Dr told me all I could do now was hold his hand and tell him how much I loved him – my heart sunk because I simply couldn’t do that but wanted more than anything to be like a “normal” grieving daughter; he took that away from me. I can’t change my lived experience and now use it to train the police and support victims – without my childhood experiences I wouldn’t have the empathy and emotional intelligence I now possess nor the passion for the work I am privileged to do. Every cloud has a silver lining and I have turned my bad experiences into a positive – I have chosen not to let my past define me as a person and to find happiness. Never underestimate the long term impact of DA on children.”