‘You will be believed’: CEO’s lived experience shapes Geelong’s family violence response

THE chief executive of Geelong’s Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre knows first-hand that not everyone is ready to seek help.

Kerriann Campbell-Jones says it took her 20 years to begin her own healing journey and wants others with lived experience to know there is no timeline for seeking support.

Living in regional South Australia, Campbell-Jones was sexually assaulted at 15. At the time, she said conversations about sexual violence were uncommon, and she chose not to tell anyone.

A few years later, she began a relationship she now understands to have been violent.

“I didn’t know how to keep myself safe,” Campbell-Jones said.

“I didn’t have the awareness [to know] what I was going through was violence and abuse. It wasn’t until somebody pointed it out to me.

“I often wonder how long I would have stayed in that scenario had somebody else not educated me on what was happening in my home,

“It’s been really tough to navigate both sexual assault and family and domestic violence, but we’re seeing women do it every day.”

Stepping into her role at the SAFV Centre 18 months ago, Campbell-Jones is using her own experience to help shape a service built around dignity, choice and self-determination.

“It’s so important to know that regardless, you’ll be believed,” she said.

“We’re not here to ask questions. We’re just here to support you.

“But it goes further than that. It means that you can choose. I never chose to report, I never chose to fight this all the way through and that choice was respected.

 

“People met me where I was at and I want to ensure that our service does the same thing.”

As one of only two Victorian organisations focused on both sexual assault and family violence, the SAFV Centre delivers both crisis response and prevention programs.

Campbell-Jones said concern about family violence had grown, with community support and engagement increasing across Geelong over the past 18 months.

That support has enabled the SAFV Centre to maintain and expand its 24-hour crisis response, refuge and emergency accommodation, counselling, clinical and education services, while also providing greater flexibility for staff.

“The generosity of the funds that we get from our community is what helps us to diversify our services and meet clients where they’re at,” Campbell-Jones said.

“I don’t want our clients or our community having to be agile and flexible to fit in our organisation. I want our services to be agile and flexible to meet the needs and wants of our clients.

“It’s us that has to change, not the clients.”

Campbell-Jones’s leadership is driven by the centre’s vision for a community free from sexual assault and family violence.

She said conversations like the one she had as a young woman were increasingly important in preventing and identifying violence, warning that avoiding difficult conversations could leave people at risk.

“The number one thing we all need to do is get very comfortable in being uncomfortable,” Campbell-Jones said.

“We need to help each other stay safe, share knowledge and do it in a way that centres the victim survivor.

“As you’re thinking about how you’re going to approach someone, you’re thinking about their experience – not yours – because by thinking about their experience, you’re thinking about their safety.”

She said the more victim-survivors have these conversations, the more comfortable they are in sharing their experiences and voicing what they need to be safe.

Uncomfortable conversations can also form early intervention and be important educational opportunities, something she said is a whole-community responsibility.

Reflecting on Australia’s sports culture, Campbell-Jones said the impact clubs can have on challenging the status quo and developing positive gender equity and respect should not be underestimated.

 

She said the work can complement conversations happening in schools and homes, while providing potentially cycle-breaking education for young people experiencing violence.

“I truly believe that sporting clubs are the culture… and basically the engine of culture in our society,” she said.

Partnering with Geelong-based sports clubs and leagues through Respect Starts Here is one of the many educational programs Campbell-Jones is proud to see the centre providing.

As for the future of the centre, she wants to see it continue to evolve and meet community needs, while still hoping for a world free from sexual assault and family violence.

For those in the community who need help, are scared, think it has been too long, or believe the centre is not available to them, Campbell-Jones made her stance clear.

“You are a person, we care about you and we also believe you,” she said.

And for the broader community, Campbell-Jones had one piece of advice.

“Get really good at being uncomfortable because there’s so many people out there that need more comfort.”

If reading this story has affected you in any way, contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

Those who may be distressed can also phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 224 636.

For 24-hour support, call the Sexual Assault Crisis Line on 1800 806 292 or Safe Steps on 1800 015 188.

If you need help immediately, call emergency services on Triple Zero.