THE horrific stories of abuse coming out of the royal commission hearings in Ballarat are bad enough for most people to take in, but for survivors of abuse they’re something worse.
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South Western Centre Against Sexual Abuse (CASA) acting senior practitioner Lin-Rose Bright said the accounts could serve as “triggers” for abuse survivors, sparking depression, moodiness and flashbacks.
Ms Bright urged anyone experiencing such things to call CASA and talk to someone.
She said CASA had an increase in calls during the Rolf Harris court case last year. “(Sexual abuse) happens in private where there’s not a lot of witnesses or no witnesses (but media coverage helped to bring) something private into the public and people started to talk about it … and people discussing it actually breaks down the myths around sexual abuse,” Ms Bright said.
“At CASA we’ve supported a number of people to go to Melbourne and tell their story at the royal commission.
“It was rewarding for them. For one woman, she just needed to be heard and needed to be validated. It was quite cathartic for her.”
South Western CASA can be contacted on 55 644 144.