The Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) is a non-profit/non-governmental organization that helps children who suffered abuse heal from their trauma in a nurturing and encouraging environment. Abused children are often caught up in a downward spiral of low self-esteem, stress, trust issues, and internalized trauma. The more a child feels alienated, disconnected, and misunderstood, the more they withdraw. Their learning skills and ability to concentrate suffers at school and this unleashes another wave of low self-esteem, stress, and other issues. Around 68% of the children referred to ACF trail their peers in academic development by at least two years.