THE head of central Victoria's Centre Against Sexual Assault has echoed Australian of the Year Grace Tame's calls to talk about sexual abuse.
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Kate Wright, the chief executive of CASA Central Victoria, hoped the 26-year-old survivor advocate's new platform would start conversations, prompt funding for education and awareness, and generate meaningful change for victims as they sought justice and support.
"The impact Rosie Batty had on family violence reform as Australian of the Year was phenomenal," Ms Wright said.
"I'm hoping Grace Tame, as Australian of the Year, will have the same impact for people who have experienced sexual assault."
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Ms Wright said having conversations about sexual assault was critical to prevention and to ensuring people were listened to and believed when they did disclose abuse.
In a social media post, Ms Wright highlighted some of the barriers to progress.
"Through our work at CASACV we know people, and the community, don't want to talk about sexual abuse. They say "how awful" and change the subject. Some victim blame and not many people or institutions want to understand grooming, power, fear, secrecy and trauma," the post said.
In a subsequent post commending Ms Tame's advocacy, Ms Wright said sexual assault was in every community.
"We all need to make some noise," the post said.
Accepting the Australian of the Year award, Ms Tame said she remembered the perpetrator of the abuse against her telling her not to tell anybody, and not to say a word.
"Well, hear me now, using my voice, amongst a growing chorus of voices that will not be silenced," she said.
Ms Wright said Ms Tame was the perfect example that sexual assault did not define a person.
"There's no shame in surviving. The shame sits at the feet of predators, of perpetrators of these crimes," Ms Tame was quoted as having said.
Ms Wright echoed Ms Tame in saying the labels, the fear and the blame that people who had experienced sexual assault encountered did not belong with them, but with the perpetrator.
"As a community, we need to embrace those messages," she said.
"She was also really clear about grooming."
Ms Wright said people often defended the character of the perpetrator in cases when a child or adolescent disclosed sexual abuse.
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She reflected on the importance of Ms Tame's voice being loud and listened to, as a role model and as a survivor advocate.
Ms Tame fought for the right to speak out about her experiences, which she was legally prevented from doing under Tasmanian law.
While the law gagged her, the perpetrator of the abuse bragged about his offending.
Ms Tame's campaign paved the way for others to speak about sexual assault.
Ms Wright was conscious hearing about Ms Tame's experiences might prompt people to seek support and assistance.
She encouraged anyone in need of help to reach out to their local CASA.
CASACV has about a four-month wait list of adults and a two-month wait for children in need of services.
"All evidence indicates that the sooner you can access services, the better the outcome will be," Ms Wright said.
She reassured people that the wait list didn't mean people wouldn't get help when they called.
"We will give them an immediate service and then we check in with people who are on the wait list," Ms Wright said.
She hoped Ms Tame's recognition as Australian of the Year would prompt governments of all levels to further respond to sexual violence and trauma, and to recognise that victims of all ages needed to be believed and to have access a service when they needed it.
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Ms Wright encouraged people who might be concerned about how to have discussions about sexual assault and how to respond if someone made a disclosure to seek expert advice.
She said there were fact sheets on the CASACV website. CASACV was also available to deliver evidence-based, best practice education and training to agencies and organisations, as well as community members and groups.
"We are committed to working with the community to prevent sexual abuse and violence," Ms Wright said.
If you or someone you know needs support, help is available. Call:
- Centre Against Sexual Assault Central Victoria - 03 5441 0430, from 9am - 5pm on weekdays.
- Sexual Assault Crisis Line - 1800 806 292, at all other times.
- the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service, 1800 RESPECT - 1800 737 732, available 24 hours
If life is in danger, phone 000.