55 min
Episode 2: Losing One’s Innocence: Recovering from Sexual Violence in School and Society The Survivor Story Podcast
-
- Documentary
Sharon grew up and attended Catholic schools in Newcastle and her family was involved in the local Catholic parish. In this podcast Sharon tells her story about growing up in a Catholic community, and her abuse as a teenager by a Catholic school teacher and principal at a small girl’s Catholic school San Clemente in Mayfield, and the impacts that this has had on her life. Sharon reflects on the ways in which her experiences during this time affected her deeply and how she was unable to complete her education. She says ‘my innocence went, and I was forced to deal with an adult environment as a teenager’. Her relationships were damaged and she felt disconnected from her friends and family. Her adult life has been one of continually having to deal with the ongoing outcomes of the original abuse. Sharon demonstrates her resilience in coming to terms with what happened to her and her courage in speaking to continue her healing process and help others who have suffered similar experiences.
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.
Sharon grew up and attended Catholic schools in Newcastle and her family was involved in the local Catholic parish. In this podcast Sharon tells her story about growing up in a Catholic community, and her abuse as a teenager by a Catholic school teacher and principal at a small girl’s Catholic school San Clemente in Mayfield, and the impacts that this has had on her life. Sharon reflects on the ways in which her experiences during this time affected her deeply and how she was unable to complete her education. She says ‘my innocence went, and I was forced to deal with an adult environment as a teenager’. Her relationships were damaged and she felt disconnected from her friends and family. Her adult life has been one of continually having to deal with the ongoing outcomes of the original abuse. Sharon demonstrates her resilience in coming to terms with what happened to her and her courage in speaking to continue her healing process and help others who have suffered similar experiences.
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.
55 min