Survivors find healing through music and creativity

Survivors of sexual assault and institutional abuse are urging the community to listen to their stories and learn from their experiences to destigmatise the topic and encourage people to disclose. Natalie Gauci captured audiences when she won Australian Idol in 2007 but says her success was followed by a downward spiral that took years to recover from. It wasn't until 2020 that she revealed allegations she had been sexually abused by a music teacher as a teenager. She launched a civil claim in Victoria against the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and the teacher who allegedly abused her, who was a convicted sex offender. "It wasn't until I disclosed to the media that I mentioned his name and asked people to come forward for the court case (and) there were over 25 people who came forward as a result of that," she told AAP. "That was really powerful in my healing process because I didn't realise that this abuse had happened to so many of us at the same time." For the first time, Gauci has drawn on her experience as inspiration for her music with the song I Survived that has become part of the campaign for National Survivors' Day. National Survivors' Day, commemorated on November 12, is an opportunity to recognise the courage of survivors of sexual assault and institutional abuse, as well as their supporters and whistle-blowers across Australia. "I had never thought about myself as a survivor, I just thought I had dealt with it and come out the other end," she said. "I find therapy in music but (the abuse) that happened to me was by a music teacher so it's this double-edged sword. "But I believe God gave me the gift of my voice and it's about using that in a helpful way." Evidence shows people will make a disclosure about their experience of abuse after hearing someone else's story, National Survivors Foundation chief executive Clare Leaney said. "We know that sexual violence impacts approximately one in three girls and one in five boys and it takes on average about 25 years for someone to disclose that abuse," she said. "Stigma, fear and a belief that you are responsible for what has happened is something that is very common among survivors." Artist, author and child protection advocate Melanie Jai has joined the foundation as an ambassador for National Survivors' Day. She created the Brave Not Broken movement which encourages survivors to share their stories through creativity and art. "Children without a voice grow into adults carrying silence," Ms Jai said. "Through art, I found my voice and I want other survivors to know they can too. "National Survivors' Day is about turning pain into power and reminding every survivor they are brave, not broken." 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) Australian Associated Press