Ratu Nida Farihah - Homecoming

Name: Ratu Nida Farihah - Homecoming
Start: 2026-05-06T18:30:00+10:00
End: 2026-05-06T18:30:00+10:00
Location: Upstairs at Gleebooks

About

6pm for 6:30pm Wednesday 6 May

Homecoming by Ratu Nida Farihah, launched by Brenda Gaddi

What if home isn’t a place you arrive at, but the moment your body exhales and your nervous system feels safe?

Blending the clarity of her healthcare background with the courage of a survivor of domestic, family and sexual violence, Ratu Nida reframes trauma not as dysfunction, but as the body's attempt to survive the unsurvivable.

More than 1 in 4 Australians live with complex trauma. Yet most trauma conversations stop at awareness. Homecoming goes further, guiding you to see your story without shame, understand what trauma does to your nervous system, and rebuild safety, boundaries and self-trust.

If you’ve read Brené Brown, Gabor Mate and The Body Keeps the Score, you’ll resonate. But Ratu’s voice carries a distinct migrant, intersectional and postcolonial lens, refusing to separate personal healing from systemic harm.

This book doesn’t offer a quick-fix, but something far more powerful: a way back to yourself.

‘A thoughtful and compassionate starting point for those beginning to ask what healing might look like.’ Anna Coutts-Trotter, Director/Co-founder, The Survivor Hub

‘A courageous and deeply affecting work, offering readers a mirror and a map through trauma towards the possibility of an exit.’ Sharyn Graham Davies, PhD, Monash University

‘Ratu writes with clarity and courage, illuminating how healing is entangled with questions of identity, belonging and structural inequality, particularly for migrant women.’ Dr Monika Winarnita, University of Melbourne

‘Thanks to Ratu for her courage in sharing her journey to support the healing of others.’ Nicole Yade, CEO, Women’s and Girls Emergency Centre

About Ratu:
Ratu Nida Farihah is a complex-trauma recovery and survivor advocate, bridging trauma science, storytelling and social justice. She is the founder of Women’s Lantern, a survivor-led initiative supporting migrant women rebuilding after domestic, family and sexual violence through economic empowerment and sustainable product design. Read more at ratunida.com.

About Brenda:
Brenda Gaddi is the Founder and Executive Director of Women of Colour Australia, leading national work in racial justice, gender equity and inclusive leadership. Grounded in lived experience and the philosophy of Kapwa – our shared humanity – she brings a relational, systems-informed lens to conversations on belonging, healing and structural change.