49 min
Episode 1: Making Sense out of Confusion: How Grooming a Family Led to Abuse The Survivor Story Podcast
-
- Documentary
Paul P grew up in Newcastle in a strong and loyal Catholic family who experienced financial and emotional difficulties in Paul’s early years. By age 11 he and his twin brother John were repeatedly abused by the local Catholic priest Peter Brock, who had become a close family friend, regularly taking the boys away on holidays and staying overnight. Paul describes very clearly the grooming techniques of Peter Brock and the way that music played a key element in keeping the abusive relationship close and secret. His friendship with the family caused on-going confusion for Paul for many years. Despite the challenges of his childhood, Paul became a successful musician and music teacher for many years until he became unwell as the abuse caught up with his mental health. His powerful story demonstrates his resilience and determination in coming to terms with what happened to him as a child and teenager and his ongoing commitment to dealing with the outcomes of sexual abuse as a child.
Content warning and Ethics
The content in the following interviews contains distressing accounts of childhood sexual abuse. If you experience distress, please reach out for help:
1800 RESPECT: 24 hour phone support 1800 737732
LIFELINE: 24 hour phone support 13 11 14
BLUEKNOT Help Line: 9am-5pm phone support 1300 657 380
KIDS HELPLINE: 24 hour phone support 1800 551 800
RAPE CRISIS CENTRE 24 hour phone support 1800 424 017
The Survivor Story Project is funded by the Marist Brothers Australia in conjunction with its aim to engage in restorative justice processes for survivors of child sexual abuse in Marist schools in Australia. The Survivor Story Project has ethics approval from the University of Newcastle Australia, ethics approval reference number: H-2019-0195
The names of the participating survivors are their own except for CQT who opted to use a pseudonym.
Paul P grew up in Newcastle in a strong and loyal Catholic family who experienced financial and emotional difficulties in Paul’s early years. By age 11 he and his twin brother John were repeatedly abused by the local Catholic priest Peter Brock, who had become a close family friend, regularly taking the boys away on holidays and staying overnight. Paul describes very clearly the grooming techniques of Peter Brock and the way that music played a key element in keeping the abusive relationship close and secret. His friendship with the family caused on-going confusion for Paul for many years. Despite the challenges of his childhood, Paul became a successful musician and music teacher for many years until he became unwell as the abuse caught up with his mental health. His powerful story demonstrates his resilience and determination in coming to terms with what happened to him as a child and teenager and his ongoing commitment to dealing with the outcomes of sexual abuse as a child.
Content warning and Ethics
The content in the following interviews contains distressing accounts of childhood sexual abuse. If you experience distress, please reach out for help:
1800 RESPECT: 24 hour phone support 1800 737732
LIFELINE: 24 hour phone support 13 11 14
BLUEKNOT Help Line: 9am-5pm phone support 1300 657 380
KIDS HELPLINE: 24 hour phone support 1800 551 800
RAPE CRISIS CENTRE 24 hour phone support 1800 424 017
The Survivor Story Project is funded by the Marist Brothers Australia in conjunction with its aim to engage in restorative justice processes for survivors of child sexual abuse in Marist schools in Australia. The Survivor Story Project has ethics approval from the University of Newcastle Australia, ethics approval reference number: H-2019-0195
The names of the participating survivors are their own except for CQT who opted to use a pseudonym.
49 min