Survivors find healing through music and creativity
Survivors of sexual assault and institutional abuse are calling on society to listen to their stories and learn from their experiences to destigmatize the issue and encourage people to come forward.
Natalie Gauci wowed audiences when she won Australian Idol in 2007, but says her success was followed by a wave of decline that took years to recover from.
It wasn’t until 2020 that she disclosed allegations that she was sexually abused by a music teacher when she was a teenager.
In Victoria, he filed a civil lawsuit against the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and the convicted sex offender teacher who allegedly molested him.
“Until I announced to the media that I was mentioning his name and asking people to come forward for the case (and as a result more than 25 people came forward),” he told AAP.
“This was really impactful in my healing process because I didn’t realize this abuse was happening to so many of us at the same time.”
Gauci first drew on his experiences as inspiration for his music with the song I Survived, which became part of the National Survivors Day campaign.
National Survivors Day, commemorated on 12 November, is an opportunity to recognize the courage of survivors of sexual assault and institutional abuse, as well as their supporters and whistleblowers across Australia.
“I never thought of myself as a survivor, I just thought I dealt with it and came out the other side,” she said.
“I find therapy in music, but what happened to me (the abuse) was done by a music teacher, so it’s a double-edged sword.
“But I believe God gifted me with my voice, and this is about using it in a helpful way.”
Clare Leaney, chief executive of the National Survivors Foundation, said evidence showed people would come forward about their experiences of abuse after hearing someone else’s story.
“We know that sexual violence affects approximately one in three girls and one in five boys, and it takes an average of 25 years for someone to disclose this abuse,” she said.
“Stigma, fear and the belief that you are responsible for what happened is something that is very common among survivors.”
Artist, author and child welfare advocate Melanie Jai has joined the foundation as an ambassador for National Survivors Day.
She created the Brave Not Break movement, which encourages survivors to share their stories through creativity and art.
“Children who have no voice grow into adults who bear the silence,” Ms. Jai said.
“I found my voice through art, and I want survivors to know they can do it, too.
“National Survivors Day is about turning pain into strength and reminding all survivors that they are brave, not broken.”
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Resolution Support Service 1800 211 028
Lifeline 13 11 14
Child Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
