An Outstanding CP(NSW) Member Event

May 29, 2025 Uncategorised

On 21 May 2025, Michelle Benjamin (and her dad, The Honourable Robert Benjamin AM SC) delivered something special: a presentation on trauma-informed practice that was as emotionally resonant as it was intellectually sharp.

Their combined insights – drawn from frontline therapeutic work, courtroom experience and decades of leadership – created a space where humour, humanity and tricky truths could comfortably co-exist. Their dynamic was disarmingly warm. You could feel the mutual respect, the familial rhythm (and the occasional lovingly-delivered eye-roll).

But make no mistake, this was a serious and significant conversation.

Trauma-informed practice is a critical pillar for collaborative professionals – not just to support our clients through difficult life transitions but also to safeguard ourselves and our colleagues from the cumulative impact of our work.

While many collaborative professionals already practice in a trauma-informed way, Robert Benjamin respectfully challenged the audience to move from unconscious competence to conscious intention, to think carefully, act compassionately and structure our processes with trauma awareness as a deliberate design principle, not an accidental side effect. Michelle’s therapeutic lens added deep texture to that call. Her grounded understanding of what trauma looks like in real time, especially for children, for people with disabilities and in intergenerational contexts, reminded us why this work matters so much.

Our thanks go to both Michelle and Robert for generously sharing their time, wisdom and warmth with the CP(NSW) community.

Special thanks also to the venue host, Lander & Rogers and to the Family Law Education Network, who recorded the session so it can live on as a training resource for CP(NSW) members.