AUSTRALIA\u2019S National Survivors Day was marked last week and sought to highlight the experiences of victims and survivors of sexual assault and institutional abuse, as well as those who support them.<\/p>\n
Victorian survivors, family members and allies, including some from Ballarat, were invited to a morning tea at Government House in Melbourne with the aim of acknowledging their strength and advocacy.<\/p>\n
Artist and LOUD Fence member Rebecca Russell attended the event and is a survivor of familial child sexual abuse.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing able to be in such an extraordinary place was a real treat,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhilst I\u2019m not a monarchist, it\u2019s a place of power and influence, and so to be invited into that place and to have representation was really important to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike many people like me, we haven\u2019t had the opportunity for truth telling or to go through courts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Royal Commission was institutional abuse, and while that\u2019s been wonderful and has changed my life even though I wasn\u2019t a part of it, there\u2019s still a sense that so many of us, who experienced familial CSA, still don’t have a voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt like I was there representing those of us who have that kind of history, and there\u2019s no real pathway to take beyond speaking out every now and again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Russell said she values events like the Government House reception that\u00a0highlight\u00a0the issue of sexual abuse,\u00a0give\u00a0people a voice, and\u00a0help\u00a0facilitate connections.<\/p>\n
\u201cRepresentation is really important, and if you don\u2019t see and hear about these things, particularly CSA, it\u2019s an incredibly isolating experience,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvents like this are opportunities to feel that strength in numbers and that connection. I definitely felt that on the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was an overarching sensitivity, care, and genuine attempt at doing something. It would be great to see the day continue to be recognised, particularly by government and official bodies.\u201d<\/p>\n